FR council selects Fiely

Fort Recovery Village Council welcomed its newest member at its meeting Monday.
Erik Fiely was chosen on a 3-2 paper ballot vote, with Greg Schmitz receiving the other votes. Marv Collins and Jerry Byram were also on the ballot.
Council also passed a resolution approving 2016 appropriations.
Fiely, who has four children, said he wants to “make sure they had the same opportunities I had growing up.”
“It’s just a nice small town … I want to make sure it stays that way,” he said.
A seat was opened when Rod Thobe resigned after nearly 36 years on council.
Fiely will serve on council’s research committee and was appointed to the Southwest Mercer Fire District, a position also held by Thobe.
Fort Recovery’s appropriations next year total $4,046,756.
Nearly half of that, just over $1.9 million, is in the general fund, with another $576,500 appropriated for street construction maintenance and repair.
Other funds at more than $100,000 are storm sewer levy, $122,000; water capital improvement, $130,000; water revenue, $384,418; sewer revenue, $172,100; and sewer improvement fund, $285,000.
In other business, the council:
•Approved an ordinance amending the wage ordinance to set part-time patrol officer pay at $15 per hour.
When 2016 wages were set, that position was not filled, but at its previous meeting council approved hiring Bill Westgerdes. Currently a lieutenant with Mercer County Sheriff’s Office, he will join Fort Recovery’s department in April.
•Passed an ordinance amending the recreation board ordinance, which had been in conflict with Ohio Revised Code.
The park board has five members, three appointed by village council and two by the Fort Recovery School Board. The village’s selections are supposed to live within the village, while the school’s must be from the school district.
“We actually had that backwards in the 1993 ordinance for some reason,” village administrator Randy Diller said.
The new ordinance matches the residency requirements with the state’s laws.
•Passed a resolution establishing a fund for Ohio Department of Natural Resources grant money. The village’s $120,000 grant request for a trail around Community Park was approved last year.
The trail will memorialize Paul Staugler, whose family has contributed $50,000 toward the project.
•Heard from village solicitor and grants administrator Erin Minor that new benches and trash cans will be put in Community Park. Those interested in donating a bench should contact village hall at (419) 375-2530.
•Learned from Minor and Diller that they are considering purchasing tablets for council members and Mayor Dave Kaup to cut down on paper usage and copying costs and to share information more easily.
•Heard from Diller that Choice One Engineering is putting together a proposal and estimate for reconstruction work on Williams Street.