Warmer weather impacting lagoons

FORT RECOVERY — Weather changes bring a shift in the wastewater lagoons.

Fort Recovery Village Council heard from village administrator Randy Diller on Monday about the village’s lagoons, which he said were emitting some odors last week.

“We had a lot of sludge pops, which tells us that the lagoons are turning over because of the warmer weather,” he explained.

With the constant fluctuations between cold and warm weather, treating the lagoons is a difficulty.

“That’s what hurts us more than anything, if it would just — it (doesn’t) matter how long it takes, if it would just get warm and stay warm, at least warm enough to not flip it back over, we wouldn’t have the problems more than for a week probably,” he said.

Diller explained the village is monitoring the lagoons and has been treating it with product accordingly.

Village council also learned that Choice One Engineering has suggested preliminary plans for reconstruction of Gwendolyn Street between Milligan and Wiggs streets and Wiggs Street between Gwendolyn and Wayne streets.

Without a quorum present Monday, Diller noted, the council could not pass a resolution to declare it necessary to construct curbs and sidewalks on those streets, a legislative move the village must take before notifying adjoining homeowners. The board will revisit the proposed resolution at its next meeting May 1.

Also Monday, village council OK’d closing the northern brick portion of Wayne Street from 5 to 8 p.m. May 5 for Fort Recovery Merchants Association’s “First Friday” event, which will include vendors, food trucks and music.

Also, council members Cliff Wendel, Scott Pearson, Al Post and Luke Knapke, absent Erik Fiely and Greg Schmitz:

•Heard PMG Consulting is nearly finished with its study on the village’s water plant. The company has been working on recommendations for treatment processes since February. Currently, the village uses lime and caustic soda, which have drastically increased in cost. The company may be finished as soon as the end of April, Diller said.

•Heard signage notifying drivers about the exemption of the Ohio 49 railroad crossing on the north side of the village near Railroad Street has been installed. The village plans to add additional signage in the near future.

•Learned the village will be switching to Medical Mutual health insurance effective May 1. Village council members discussed the switch from its current insurance, Anthem, brokered by McGohan Brabender out of Dayton, Ohio, at a meeting March 20.

•Were reminded about the annual spring clean-up day in the village starting at 5 p.m. April 29, Fort Recovery Psi Iota Xi’s annual Brick Street Market craft and food fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 29 and Fort Recovery Merchants Association’s Cruise-in on the Brick Street from 6 to 9 p.m. May 12.