Village, school partner on grant

The village has secured multiple grants in the last few months.

Word of another recently came from the governor’s office.

Fort Recovery Village Council heard Monday the village and Fort Recovery Local Schools were awarded $439,589 for construction projects focused on safety for children walking or biking to school.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Transportation director Jack Marchbanks announced July 2 more than $8 million will be funded through the Safe Routes to School program, including projects submitted by Fort Recovery and the school district. According to a press release from DeWine’s office, the program “supports education initiatives and builds infrastructure such as sidewalks and enhanced pedestrian crossings.”

The village and school district jointly applied for funding to complete street projects aimed at pedestrian and biking safety. Now in the works to be completed between 2026 and 2027, the largest project includes installing 625 feet of sidewalk on the east side of Fort Recovery Elementary/Middle School and connecting it to Sharpsburg Road. Other projects include building a crosswalk in front of Fort Recovery High School on Butler Street at its intersection with First Street and improving visibility of markings at the five-point intersection of Butler, Boundary, William and Third streets.

Fort Recovery Local Schools also applied for funding for a non-infrastructure project and received $18,000. (See related story.)

Fort Recovery village administrator Randy Diller noted the projects are 100% funded.

To be eligible for the grants, communities must develop formal plans that outline their intentions to encourage students to “engage in active transportation,” according to the department’s website. Fort Recovery created its School Travel Plan in July 2023 after a nine-month planning process in which a group of local representatives identified construction projects and programs aimed at increasing safe pedestrian and bike travel to school.

This year, the Safe Routes to School program is funding 29 projects in 19 counties.

“Creating the opportunity for children to walk and bike to school is so important, and this funding will help communities ensure that these routes are as safe as possible,” said DeWine in the press release. “Motorists should also do their part by paying attention, especially in and around schools.”

Also Monday, village council approved its budget for 2025.

Next year’s budget sits at approximately $4.2 million, a roughly $600,000 increase from the current year. Fiscal officer Roberta Staugler pointed to various capital purchases slated for next year. Diller explained they could include replacing a 30-year-old pump station on the north side of Wayne Street and replacing the village’s leaf vacuum. The village may also purchase a new police cruiser, estimated at $65,000, in 2025. 

Construction projects slated for next year include constructing a new water tower, with the village’s share at approximately $600,000 and reconstructing Butler Street between Fort Site and Main streets — hopes are to have the project, which is being funded by a $499,000 Small Government Program grant through Ohio Public Works Commission, completed by July 2025.

Council addressed plans for street superintendent Jerry Guggenbiller to retire in February. Diller noted hopes to transition street maintenance employee Brandon Wyerick — he’s been working for the department since 2021, having worked for the police department for 14 years prior  — into Guggenbiller’s position. (Diller is also considering retiring at the end of next year.)

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

•Heard plans to begin working on the final design for water plant improvements. The final design plans will take four to six months to complete. Hopes are to convert the plant into a reverse osmosis facility.

•Learned traffic signals have been installed at the intersection of Elm and Butler streets. Diller noted a few more steps in the process, including concrete work July 22 and painting and sign work Aug. 5, before the signals are activated.

•Gave permission to Schmitz and Knapke to join the committee for improvements to Ambassador Pool. (Ohio’s capital budget bill signed into law June 28 dedicated $450,000 toward renovations to Fort Recovery’s pool.) Officials are working with pool companies on specifications for the project.

•OK’d an economic development transfer (TREX) of an issued liquor permit from another jurisdiction for a proposed business at 112 N. Wayne St.