Village denied water tower grant

FORT RECOVERY — Funding plans for a second water tower have changed.

Fort Recovery Village Council learned Monday its grant request for constructing another water tower was denied.

The village previously applied for $1.25 million in funding through the Ohio Department of Development. Village administrator Randy Diller estimated the total cost would be around $1.5 million for the tower planned for the north side of town.

(Fort Recovery originally had a second tower, but about 10 years ago it decided the cost of repairs outweighed the need for it.)

Grant monies allocated through the department originated from Ohio House Bill 168, which was signed into effect by Gov. Mike DeWine in June and appropriated funds from the federal American Rescue Plan Act. Approximately $250 million was designated toward establishing a water and sewer quality program providing grants to counties, townships and municipalities, according to a press release from DeWine.

Other locations in Mercer County — Celina and Rockford — were awarded grants through the program.

Diller said the village is looking into another grant for the same purpose.

Also Monday, council approved amendments to the zoning ordinance on a first reading.

Diller explained most of the changes were minor. The ordinance was last updated in February 2009.

Diller highlighted a few key differences as stated in the document:

•It is illegal to put storage containers — such as large shipping containers used for cargo — on any lot except for industrial lots.

•Chickens are not allowed in the village. (Diller noted they were not allowed before the addition to the ordinance, but because it was not specifically listed, the rule was not enforced.)

•Business and medical offices are allowed in the industrial park area under conditional use.

There were no comments on the zoning ordinance amendments from the public. Second and third readings will follow in future meetings before the ordinance’s adoption.

In other news, council members Greg Schmitz, Scott Pearson, Luke Knapke, Al Post, Cliff Wendel and Erik Fiely:

•Authorized village solicitor Erin Abels to file for an opioid settlement with Johnson & Johnson

•OK’d members of the Trinity Lutheran Church to park diagonally during church events

•Learned from Mayor Dave Kaup the Southwest Mercer Fire District was denied a grant for purchasing a new ambulance. The district may apply again in the coming year.

•Were informed mapping of Fort Recovery for the Geographic Information System has been completed.

•Heard about winners of the mayor’s annual Christmas decorating contest. Terry and Mary Hummel won the contest. Marty and Jaymi Stammen finished second, and Mike and Kathy Laux were third.