Jewett seeks police chief, administrator

Mayor Bo Bailie said during their Feb. 19 meeting they have interviewed one person in hopes of finding their next police chief with one more interview to go. He said later they have not given up on replacing former Chief Ron Carter who resigned in early January. In the meantime the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office has taken over with patrols in the community.

He said they’ve had trouble passing a police levy over the years so they will continue to move forward with a planned budget of up to $35,000 per year for that position. Incidentally, budget cuts were a reason for Carter’s retirement from Jewett as he told the News-Herald in a Dec. 29 article. He said the reduction in his and other officer’s hours was a part of the reason and was told “the failure of a recent police levy” contributed. But Carter said he’d been operating without a police levy since 2005.

“So we’re going to keep trying and see what happens,” Bailie said after the meeting.

Bailie said they are also continuing the hunt for a village administrator after Rick Meneely’s stepping down last year. He said they interviewed one person and are planning to interview a second person there as well.

On the village trailhead project, Bailie said survey work is expected to begin the first week of March, with completion slated for July 31. He said bid costs came in higher than expected, which eliminated restrooms and paving, including the area behind where the old school sat. Bailie said he is seeking funds to pave the area between the gray village building and the trail.

He said the first round of bids also came in high and the reason for casting a second round but after the latest, the Ohio Mid-Eastern Government Association had to go with it. Bailie added he will continue working with OMEGA to make those amenities happen.