Light Up Sugarcreek, holiday parade set for Dec. 6 as council approves key ordinances

Sugarcreek Village Council passed an ordinance at the Nov. 3 council meeting to enter into one-year contracts to provide fire protection and ambulance services for Sugarcreek, Auburn, Clark and Walnut Creek townships for 2026. Each township has a fire levy in place. Sugarcreek and Auburn townships issue the entire levy funds to the Sugarcreek Fire Department, while the other townships provide a portion of their levies to several entities.

Council President Jason Hamsher presided during the meeting in the absence of Mayor Walt Wilson. Hamsher said the personnel committee met prior to the council meeting to discuss adding a position for police cadet training. Council later, in the regular meeting, appointed Zech Haynes to attend the police cadet training, effective Jan. 1, 2026.

Light Up Sugarcreek will be held Saturday, Dec. 6, from 4-7 p.m. Sleigh rides will be held from 4-7 p.m. in the downtown area. There will be a caricature artist at Alpine Hills Museum, a model train display, cookies, a fire pit at the train depot for visitors to get warm and crafts at the Sugarcreek Library. There will be live music, free hot dogs, s’mores, cookies and hot chocolate in the downtown area while supplies last. Children can visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus and receive a goodie bag. The 2025 Organization of the Year and the honorary candle lighter will also be introduced.

Lineup for the parade begins at 3 p.m. at the First United Church of Christ parking lot, 526 W. Main St. The parade steps off at 4:30 p.m. and will march down Main Street to Huntington Bank, where it will end. For questions, call 330-260-1248 or visit sugarcreekbusinessassociation.com. Prizes will be awarded for the best tractor, float and wagon. Parade entries should be taken to The Budget, 134 Factory St., Sugarcreek. The deadline to register for the parade is Friday, Nov. 28.

Council also did the following:

—Adopted an ordinance setting salaries for elected officials and employees of the village, effective from Dec. 22, 2025, to Dec. 20, 2026. Employees will receive a 4% pay increase across the board; council 3% for newly elected officials only; and fire department wages were frozen for one year.

—Passed an ordinance authorizing an extension of a contract with W.E. Quicksall and Associates Inc. for professional engineering services for the village.

—Passed an ordinance to enter into an agreement with the Tuscarawas County commissioners for housing prisoners.

—Held the second reading of an ordinance accepting an application for annexation of territory owned by Skyline Meadows School.

—Held the first reading adopting amendments to the zoning code of the village to address short-term rentals.

—Held the first reading of an amended ordinance clarifying, updating and adopting employment policies for employees of the village, passed Nov. 6, 2023, that revises vacation leave.

—Learned installation of curbs on Maple Street will begin this week.

—Heard officials of the new Skyline Meadows School are waiting to hear if Skyline Corp. will approve a right-of-way to tap into a waterline so they can install a septic tank. The request will also need to be approved by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.

The next council meeting will be held Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. at 410 S. Broadway in Sugarcreek.