New London’s Wastewater Treatment Plant Project is set to begin soon

New London’s Wastewater Treatment Plant Project is set to begin soon.

Village administrator Shawn Pickworth told council members during their most recent meeting a pre-construction meeting was held on May 20 and the contractor will begin moving equipment on site. The expected completion date is set for May 20, 2022.

Pickworth also reported the following:

• The village is still waiting for the environmental to be completed for the Park Avenue Water Main Replacement Project to begin.

• Crews have been out in the township conducting the annual Backflow/cross Contamination inspections as required by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency rules and guidelines.

• Crews have been investigating/identifying services to be included in the Lead Service Line Replacement Project.

Pickworth said, New London is on the list for the project and it should be 100 percent principal forgiveness.

• An application has been submitted for the Ohio Water Development Authority Refinancing Program.

“If approved, the village will save over $600,000 over the life of the loan.

• The West Washburn Project has been awarded through Small Governments and the contracts will be sent out July 21, 2021.

Council members approved legislation allowing Pickworth to enter into a contract with Poggemeyer Design Group for the engineering and bidding of the West Washburn Project.

Council also approved a recommendation made by Pickworth to hire Clint Cherry full time.

Pickworth told council flooding has been an issue at

Recreation Park. “We have come up with a solution to address the problem and it is our plan to complete the project this summer.”

Police Chief Joe Hicks discussed the purchase of a new cruiser for the department. He said the newest car in the fleet is a 2017 and the oldest car is eight years old. The car with the least amount of miles is the 2017 with 45,500. The car with the highest miles is one with 120,000.

Hicks recommended the village move forward with the purchase of a 2021 Ford Explorer that will come fully outfitted, what they call ‘patrol ready’ at a cost of a $51,000.

Council members agreed to the purchase.

Hicks reported calls for service have picked up significantly. “We had 28 calls in a 24 hour period. “Normally I can leave work on a Friday afternoon and come back on Monday morning and we have about two dozen calls.”

Range qualifications have been completed by officers. “It is an annual thing,” he stated.

Officers also executed a drug related search warrant on Westwood Drive. We recovered some drug paraphernalia and do expect charges to be coming as a result. The Huron County Sheriff’s Department assisted

Officers will be doing CPR training at Firelands Ambulance Service in June.

He noted the department’s Facebook page is now up and running.

Council member Jennifer Ball reported for parks and recreation director Joe Thomas as follows:

• Things are going well at the reservoir and it has been busy.

• All camping spots were rented for the Memorial Day weekend.

Council members approved the hiring of Dusty Swiger and Emily Stevens.

In other business council members approved the following:

• An ordinance relating to the Ohio Department of Transportation maintenance and repair of state routes in the village.

• Second reading of an ordinance relating to residential parking permits within the downtown residential area.

• Second reading of an ordinance relating to the employee handbook and hours worked.

• An ordinance relating to authorizing an agreement with Poggemeyer Design Group for engineering services in connection with development of plans for the Reconstruction and improvements of West Washburn Street, by emergency.

• An ordinance relating to 2021 annual appropriations for needed operations by emergency.

• First reading of an ordinance authorizing the renewal of contracts with the Huron County Sheriff’s Department for dispatching services for the police and fire department.

• A resolution approving the Community Reinvestment Area agreement between the Village of New London and Tip Products, Inc. and authorizing the mayor to sign the agreement, by emergency.

Following an executive meeting, council members approved the termination of street and sanitation of Daison Gough for multiple violations of the employee handbook.

New London Council meet regularly on the second and fourth Monday of each month at 7 p.m. in chambers located on James Street. The next meeting will be held on June 14.