Easement approved at Cooper load-out

Cooper Farms’ expansion continues.

The village agreed to a related step in the process Monday.

Fort Recovery Village Council authorized village administrator Randy Diller to execute an encroachment easement with Cooper Farms for its feed load-out area along Railroad Street.

Cooper Farms is planning to expand its east mill, where the feed load-out area is located. Fort Recovery Zoning Board approved a variance request Sept. 11 for the expansion project, which calls for an additional three grain bins and a grain dump building on the west side of the property.

The feed load-out area, which has been on the property for decades, encroaches on the right-of-way on Railroad Street. It has encroached on the right-of-way since it was constructed.

“That’s where they built it, and it’s obviously a big part of that operation,” said Diller.

With the expansion project in the works, he explained, discussion circled around to the village granting an encroachment easement. The easement would allow Cooper Farms to continue to utilize the feed load-out area as it is currently but would not allow for additions to the structure or change in use. It also gives the village more indemnity in terms of liability.

Diller noted the village has granted encroachment easements in the past for residents’ garages or other buildings that encroach on street rights-of-way.

Also Monday, council amended the village’s wage ordinance to add a street maintenance trainee job to the street department. Fort Recovery native Derek Wendel will start in the position Oct. 21.

“We’re happy to have him,” said Diller.

Wendel will work alongside street superintendent Jerry Guggenbiller and street maintenance employee Brandon Wyerick in the coming months prior to Guggenbiller’s retirement in February. Hopes are to transition Wyerick — he’s been working for the department since 2021, having worked for the police department for 14 years prior — into Guggenbiller’s job and Wendel into Wyerick’s position.

In other business, council:

•Approved the following: a $421,830.30 pay request from Caldwell Tanks for ongoing work on constructing the village’s second water tower, which should be completed in July; and a $16,527.10 pay request from Capital Electric for finishing installation of the new traffic signal at the intersection of Elm and Butler streets, with Diller explaining the total cost of the project came in at $1,411.74 less than originally estimated.

•Discussed the village’s street light agreement with Miami Valley Lighting, which is set to expire at the end of the year. The company would like to renew for an additional five-year term with price increases. Diller noted plans to meet with the company Wednesday to hash out details for a new contract.

•Were reminded Fort Recovery Car Classics will host a cruise-in from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday along the brick portion of Wayne Street.

•Heard the new brush chipper for the street department has been delivered and is in service.