Bolivar prepares for massive water line project

At the March 7 meeting of Bolivar Village Council, members voted to seek funding for costs associated with replacing old water lines that are either too small or too old to properly or cost-effectively maintain.

Council approved a grant application for just over $2.1 million from the State of Ohio’s Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Program. Erin Wright, the director of infrastructure and community development for the Ohio Mid-Eastern Governments Association, attended the council meeting.

Wright, who has been assisting the village in applying for grants for the project, provided an update in key areas and offered additional suggestions for the village to source the funding. According to Wright, the total cost to complete the project currently sits at about $2.5 million.

Reports to council

Safety chair Loretta Dively read a letter from Police Chief Randy Haugh, who was unable to attend. Haugh reported having met with representatives from Staley Technologies to update emergency radios at no cost to the village.

Street and alley chair Tim White said potholes in the village are being identified and scheduled for patching, and he said there is a deep rut in front of a resident’s mailbox at the corner of Poplar and Fairview streets that needs to be addressed.

White further reported the committee recommends removing the no parking signs on King Street near the closed school and the one way and do not enter signs, also near the school. Street Supervisor Levi Kaser said those signs had been removed.

Kaser also reported having had a water line break repaired on East Street, adding he believed such repairs could be handled by village personnel in the future to save money. He also provided an update on the manhole cover needed on King Street, saying the county water and sewer department has been unresponsive after many attempts to reach them over several months.

Kaser also reported having assessed the condition of the tennis and basketball courts, saying he believes the basketball courts are repairable but the tennis courts may need to be rebuilt entirely.

In his village administrator’s report, Kaser informed council about the discontinuation of the township yard waste/composting program after 2025. He said he believes Bolivar residents were the primary users of the free program and hopes an alternative program can be developed for residents.

Parks and recreation chair Zac Nussbaumer said the committee is hoping to be able to move some of the playground equipment at the school to the Water Works ball fields to provide activities for young children whose parents are attending a ball game. He also mentioned checking with the local Trail Life USA group to see if their members could earn community service hours by helping maintain village flower beds and other outdoor areas.

Public comments

George Baumgardner, president of the Bolivar Area Historical Society, informed council of plans to ask Atlas Preservation to bring a cemetery preservation program to Bolivar this year. The group provides hands-on instruction in repairing and restoring graveyard markers. Baumgardner asked to use the Bolivar Cemetery on Pine Street as the location because it contains Civil War graves and other historic markers.

Legislation

Council approved the following measures:

—An ordinance to move police officer Robert Sterling from an auxiliary position to part-time, retroactive to Feb. 1.

—An ordinance approving a fire contract with Lawrence Township and the Bolivar Volunteer Fire Department for fire protection through the end of 2024.

—A resolution authorizing the village to apply for and accept a Water Supply Revolving Loan Account through the Ohio EPA and the Ohio Water Development Authority.

Bolivar Village Council meets the first Thursday each month at Village Hall. All meetings are open to the public.