Safety improvements planned

Safety improvements are coming for pedestrians in Fort Recovery, specifically children and teenagers going to school.

Fort Recovery School Board heard about upcoming safety improvements to streets as well as other village projects Monday from village administrator Randy Diller.

He noted three different projects that will impact the school district in upcoming years. Most of them, he added, come at no cost to the school.

Currently, concrete work is ongoing for enhancing crosswalks at the intersection of Center and Elm Streets. (The work should be completed by the end of the week. Additional flashing beacons will also be installed at the intersection.)

Fort Recovery and Fort Recovery Local Schools initially agreed to split the cost of the project, with the school district’s portion coming to $30,000. Diller noted the work ended up costing approximately $75,000, but the village will cover the additional amount.

The village and school district were awarded $439,589 through the Safe Routes to School program in July for construction projects focused on safety for children walking or biking to school. The school district also received $18,000 for a non-infrastructure project to be completed in 2025. (The funding will be used to purchase safety equipment — radios, crossing guard materials and bike storage — provide annual walking and biking safety information to students and parents and plan safety-related events, such as an interactive bike safety presentation.)

Construction projects resulting from Safe Routes to School funding include:

•Installing 625 feet of sidewalk along the east side of Fort Recovery Elementary/Middle School and connecting it to Sharpsburg Road, estimated to be completed in 2026

•Building a crosswalk in front of Fort Recovery High School on Butler Street at its intersection with First Street

•Improving the visibility of markings and other enhancements at the five-point intersection of Butler, Boundary, William and Third streets

Also in the works is a multi-use trail project for pedestrians and biking traffic along Ohio 49, Sharpsburg Road and Flaler Road. The project is 90% funded through Ohio Department of Transportation’s Systemic Safety Funding grant and planned to begin in 2026. The village’s estimated match is $200,000.

Diller also mentioned a few other projects in the village, which include:

•A new traffic signal — it’s now operational — at the intersection of Elm (Ohio 49) and Butler (Ohio 119) streets

•An ongoing Ohio Department of Transportation project to resurface Ohio 119 and Ohio 49 in the village

•A second water tower that will be constructed on the north side of the village this year

•Reconstruction of Butler Street between Fort Site and Main streets, an estimated $1.53 million project partially funded by Ohio Public Works Commission and planned to begin next spring

•Efforts to re-vamp the village’s water and wastewater treatment processes and make upgrades to Ambassador Pool in the future

In related news, the school board also transferred $18,000 from the general fund to the Safe Routes to School fund. Treasurer Deanna Knapke noted the state will reimburse the school for purchases made for its non-infrastructure Safe Routes to School project.

In other business, Fort Recovery School Board members Mitch Fullenkamp, Sean Kahlig, Greg LeFevre, Nick Wehrkamp and Don Wendel:

•Heard Fort Recovery Elementary/Middle School will be hosting its open building from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 19.

•Learned sixth graders through high school seniors will be utilizing wellness program Platform in health and fitness classes.

•Approved the following: a five-year contract for Knapke effective Aug. 1, 2025, through July 31, 2030; bus routes for the upcoming school year; an annual resolution declaring the school board won’t provide career-technical education to seventh and eighth graders for the upcoming school year and an annual resolution allowing juniors and seniors attending Tri-Star Career Compact to drive themselves to the program; Tony Stahl as Fort Recovery Local Schools’ representative for Mercer/Auglaize Benefit Trust.

•Hired or renewed contracts with the following: Nancy Fleming, Darla Miller, Cristy Parker and Kendall Rodriguez as substitute teachers, Mindy Bubp as high school swim coach, Kylee Sutter and Abby Timmerman as volunteer high school swim coaches, Corey Gerlach and Jim Sheppard as volunteer boys bowling coaches and Alison Rosegrant and Steve Westgerdes as volunteer girls bowling coaches, Jessica Jutte as eighth grade class advisor and Jennifer Steinke as junior high football cheer advisor and junior high basketball cheer advisor.

•Accepted preschool program director, grand administrator and lead teacher Lacey Tipton’s resignation.

•OK’d Aimee Pottkotter as a van driver.

•Accepted a $60 donation from Blackbaud Giving Fund to Fort Recovery FFA.