Cadiz advances playground equipment plan for spring installation

New playground equipment is expected to be installed in Cadiz next spring, according to Council member John Vermillion. He told council Oct. 23 that he has been working with Village Administrator Brandon Ludwig on a grant to fund the project.

Vermillion said the total project cost is $102,016.93, but with the grant, Cadiz’s share will be $71,369. The Cadiz Community Improvement Corporation agreed to contribute $16,500, reducing the village’s portion to $54,869.55. Installation is expected to begin in April, with the new equipment planned for the area near the little league fields. Council voted unanimously to move forward with the project.

In his report, Ludwig said crews are continuing work on the North Main Street sidewalk project, completing the lower half first before moving on to the upper portion.

“I have had some pretty pleasant comments from the property owners that live on that street,” Ludwig said. “That will just kind of close that gap of the walkability on North Main Street.”

Ludwig also gave an update on the Ohio Department of Natural Resources–Sally Buffalo Dam HHPD Grant, noting the project has faced delays due to the recent federal government shutdown. Paperwork has been submitted, but construction is not expected to begin until fall 2026.

Water Treatment Plant Operator of Record Jim Jenkins reported that September’s readings were strong overall, though a chemical pump malfunction caused turbidity levels to temporarily rise above the EPA’s 0.3 compliance level, reaching 2.1 during a boil advisory. The issue has since been corrected, with current turbidity levels at 0.08.

“It’s the lowest turbidity that anybody has seen at the plant in a long, long time,” Jenkins said. “We’re doing very well with what we have to work with.”

He added that one of the plant’s four filters will soon be replaced, allowing staff to better assess the condition of the others. “We’re not out of the woods by any means,” Jenkins said. “Anything little that happens, like that chemical pump, can send us right back up.”

Mayor R. Kevin Jones announced that a town hall meeting will be held Nov. 1 at 6 p.m. at Wallace Lodge in Sally Buffalo Park. Topics will include development, new water resources and ongoing water quality concerns, including “reasons why your water is brown.”