Mount Gilead Mayor Mike Porter thanked four Mount Gilead Village Council Members for their service and dedication to their work at the Dec. 21st council meeting. Steve Hart has served for 24 years; John Curtis for 16 years, Ed Kline has been on council 14 years and Emily Shaffer for 10 years.
Donna Carver is the one elected Council Member who will be sworn in at the January meeting. Interviews for the remaining three vacancies were conducted before the meeting for seven applicants. Their appointment will be announced in January after confirmation is received from the three who were chosen by council.
In other council business, Chief of Police Brian Zerman requested approval for reemployment of Officer Sonny Conger. Council approved the appointment pending final confirmation by the Mayor and Clerk-Treasurer. This brings the police force to seven part-time officers.
Fire Chief, Greg Young reported seven responses to fires. They were small fires. In the finance report, Tim Clapper said they were reviewing the budget and pros and cons of purchasing a new police vehicle.
Ed Kline stated that he hopes that next year the Zoning Committee “will have some teeth in the ordinance regarding vicious dogs.”
Village Administrator, Dan Rogers said he is looking into using LEDs for the wastewater plant to save some money. A new thermostat is also needed there. He is checking several bids on relining the sewer lines for the village. Rogers said the village can get by without an increase in trash collections this year.
Rogers reported that they’re pretty sure they have found the problem with the village swimming pool. It was losing 5,000 to 6,000 gallons of water every day last summer. He’s pretty sure that’s why everyone complained it was so cold. They found a crack on discharge lines and caulked it thoroughly. They have gradually been adding more water and it looks like they have stopped the leak.
Construction is underway on the Dollar Tree Store at the shopping center by Drug Mart. Rogers said they estimate that they can open the store by April (2016.)
Council approved the Solicitors contract with Griffith and Brininger for $33,528 for the year and also approved $5,500 for Village Magistrate, Dave Stamolis.
After the Council paid the bills and approved the budget for 2016 they enjoyed cake and punch in honor of the departing council members.
