Mineral City welcomes new firefighter, tackles park upgrades and safety issues

At its Nov. 13 meeting Mineral City council approved adding Cole Clarke as a new firefighter with the Mineral City Volunteer Fire Department. A former United States Marine Corps sergeant, Clarke currently lives in Bolivar.

In other fire and safety matters, council voted to pay half the cost of about $1,100 to service the roping mechanism on the flagpole at the fire station. The village paid for the installation of the flagpole because it is on village property.

Reports to council

Mayor Laurie Green said that Terry Nill, current council president, has resigned from council for personal reasons after retiring from his job. Green said the parting was amicable.

Nill’s departure adds to the number of open council seats, though, and will result in the lack of a quorum if any single member cannot be present at a meeting. Due to this situation, Green asked council members to make a renewed and dedicated effort to find residents willing to serve on council.

Fiscal Officer Becky Carpenter reported receiving the $25,000 check council was expecting from the Sandy Township fire levy distribution.

Carpenter also said she submitted a claim to the village insurance provider for the cost of fixing the guardrail damaged by an uninsured driver this summer. Village Solicitor Cassidy Wahlie said the driver failed to show at a bench trial Oct. 27, so a new trial will be scheduled. Wahlie also said it is likely that a warrant will be issued for the man’s arrest.

Rick Cain, chair of parks and recreation, said he submitted a grant request for $36,456 for several items for the new park, to be allocated as follows: roughly $24,000 for playground equipment, $11,315 for grass seeding and $740 for four bike racks. If received, the $36,456 will augment the $50,000 park grant received earlier this year from the Reeve’s Foundation.

Cain also reported having obtained pricing for a 16-foot by 32-foot pavilion with a cement pad, eight picnic tables and trash receptacles and said he will be applying for grant funding for those items, as well.

In zoning matters Moore reported on a walk-through of a burned home on Miners Street he completed with a representative of Farsight Management. A grant to demolish the home has been received, but a condition of the grant is identifying and removing any asbestos that may be present.

Based on the walk-through Moore said the company provided an estimate of $2,000 to test for the asbestos but not to remove any that may be detected. Moore said he believes he can find a lower estimate and will look for one.

Council member Mandy Lake said residents of a house on or near Fair Street have filled in a creek behind their home with dirt, apparently so they can place things on top of it. Recently a truck and trailer were spotted parked on top of the dirt. Lake expressed concern about an open stormwater pipe that extends out of the ground there and about problems that could result if it became blocked with dirt.

Announcements

Council member Darla Daugherty said the fire department’s annual Christmas auction and bake sale will be held Dec. 6 at the fire station. A 50/50 drawing will be held and the concession stand will be open for sales, all supporting the fire department. Doors open at 2 p.m. and the auction starts at 3 p.m.

Additionally, Daugherty thanked everyone who came out to support the fire department’s Christmas Craft Show Nov. 1, which also included the meat and freezer raffle.

Meeting dates changed

There will be no meeting on Nov. 27 due to the Thanksgiving holiday. Council will meet on Wednesday, Dec. 10 and Thursday, Dec. 18, both at 5 p.m. In January, council will resume its regular schedule, meeting the second and fourth Thursday of each month at 5 p.m. in Village Hall. All meetings are open to the public.