Bolivar Council passed an ordinance authorizing Mayor Robert Lloyd to enter into a one-year agreement with Kimble Recycling and Disposal of Dover for waste removal services, effective June 1, 2025, to May 31, 2026. Trash pickup will be each Thursday from around 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. The cost is $16 per month per household.
A 1.5-mill, five-year renewal of the police levy will appear on the May 6 ballot. The levy generates about $25,000 annually for the operation of the police department. There is no increase in property taxes.
The annual Strawberry Festival will be June 5-7 on Canal Street. The festival will be held Thursday, June 5 from 4-10 p.m. and Friday, June 6 and Saturday, June 7 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. On June 8 the village will celebrate its bicentennial birthday. The Homecoming Celebration will be held on Canal Street and will feature entertainment, a church service, gospel music, a crock auction, and a vintage base ball game and carriage events.
In May a front door/porch/store front decorating contest with a bicentennial theme will be held with winners announced at the bicentennial event. Those with old photos of village buildings, families or anything related to Bolivar will be accepted. The Bolivar Branch Library will help with scanning photos. Call for an appointment.
Council also did the following:
—Heard an employee was driving an unused police cruiser to deliver water notices, and some residents were frightened by a police cruiser stopping at their house. Magnetic signs will be purchased to place on the cruiser to make residents aware of who is delivering the information.
—Following an executive session, council agreed not to extend the probationary period of Rod Tusing, street superintendent, effective immediately.
—Passed a resolution authorizing the mayor and village administrator to hire up to two temporary part-time seasonal workers for 24-28 hours a week or as needed for the remainder of 2025.
—Was questioned why the village administrator position was not posted. The resident was told the village administrator was promoted within the village and the position did not need to be posted. Council appointed Patty Smith, assistant fiscal officer, to the position at the March meeting.
—Took under advisement a request to repair a fence on Canal Street for $685.
—Heard an arborist will canvass the village May 16 to prepare a plan to replace trees through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
Other information
Tuscarawas Valley Local School District students will pay it forward April 25 and do some jobs at the Bolivar Branch Library and other areas of the village.
Council asked residents to contact their state legislators about the cuts in library funding. Bolivar has a branch library through the Tuscarawas County Library System.
Council thanked Buckeye Career Center Graphic Arts Department for the village’s letterhead.
The bicentennial banners have been installed on the poles in the village.
Police responded to 34 calls in March.
The Bolivar/Wilkshire Hills garage/yard sales will be May 8-10.
Council changed the street and alley committee meeting to July 10 at 5:30 p.m. from July 16.
The Arbor Day Proclamation will be declared, and a tree will be planted April 25 in the village.
A zoning meeting will be Monday, April 21 at the Bolivar Town Hall, 117 Canal St. NE, at 5:30 p.m. to review the zoning ordinances.
The next meeting will be Thursday, May 1 at 7 p.m. at 121 Canal St. in Bolivar, the former American Legion building. The June 5 meeting has been changed to May 29 at 7 p.m. due to the Strawberry Festival needing the space of the building.
