Council approves fee hike for Franklin Park tournaments

Council amended a resolution to allow a fall softball tournament to be played at Franklin Park. At the March 2 meeting, which was changed from March 3, council agreed to increase the cost per team from $30 to $50 in 2027 and to $100 in 2028.

The fee is in addition to what is charged to each team by tournament organizers, who charge $475 per team for ages 8 and older and $575 for high school teams. At the Feb. 17 meeting, council agreed other tournaments that do not include Strasburg students will pay $100 per team. The tournaments are not connected to the school district.

Council President Pro Tem Wes Hostetler said the park committee met before the meeting and agreed to recommend the fee increase.

“The structure burn for training held March 1 was a success. Eight fire departments participated either in attack scenarios or providing an engine, or air trailer assist. Instructors from four departments filled live fire instructor positions. We will burn the garage and barn March 7,” Fire Chief Jason Ely said. “The state burn ban is in effect from March 1 through May 31.”

Mayor Bruce Metzger asked residents not to sign a petition to abolish property taxes. He said at a recent mayors meeting that if the request passes, it would take effect at midnight on election night. Metzger said mayors of villages in southern Tuscarawas County said police and fire departments would cease to exist immediately because they could not afford the costs. Metzger said it would affect police and fire departments, schools, libraries, senior centers, the Adams Board and anything that receives levy funding.

Council also did the following:

— Approved widening the garage door at the park garage to 10 feet by 12 feet at a cost of $4,600.

— Received in-kind donations from Tremcar totaling $20,000 and from Lowe’s for restroom equipment and tile for the new community center.

— Discussed renovating restrooms inside the football field and creating an exterior opening for use. Portable toilets cost $14,000 per season to be placed at the park.

— Passed a resolution supporting creation of a village community improvement corporation.

— Passed, as an emergency, a resolution to apply to the Ohio Department of Transportation for a grant to construct a Safe Routes to School project for wider sidewalks connecting Bodmer Avenue and Wooster Avenue along Fourth and Seventh streets SW. The grant request is for $654,000.

— Agreed not to hold a pickleball tournament this spring and instead organize a tournament this fall. A pickleball event will be held at the summer festival July 24-25 at Franklin Park.

— Discussed providing Franklin Township residents with a sticker to place in their vehicle windows. Residents must register at village hall to bring compost into the village. No commercial landscaping businesses will be permitted to bring debris to the compost site.

— Appointed Brent Miller to serve on the village planning commission.

— Passed an ordinance adopting permanent appropriations for fiscal 2026 totaling $15,362,666 in all funds.

— Held the second reading of an ordinance to amend charges for dumping compost at the village site. The cost would increase from $15 to $45 for Franklin Township residents and from $1 to $3 per month.

Other information

Seven areas on Wooster Avenue need asphalt repairs. Concrete will be added at the traffic light at the corner of Wooster Avenue and First Street. The cost is $75,625 for the project.

The police department responded to 91 calls from Feb. 16 to March 2, and the fire department responded to 28 calls for service from Feb. 16 to Feb. 28.

Spring cleanup will be held April 14. Items accepted are listed on the village website.

The next meeting will be held March 17 at 5:30 p.m. at 224 N. Bodmer Ave.