Deteriorating sidewalks in Russell’s Point may soon be getting an evaluation to bring them up to code.
Russell’s Point Village Councilman John Huffman said during Monday evening’s meeting that something needs to be done so that the sidewalks aren’t “completely falling apart.”
Mayor Robin Reames suggested having a survey done of the sidewalks so they can be assessed according to what is needed.
The sidewalk discussion began after the village submitted a grant application to the Ohio Public Works Commission to repair sidewalks in need from the Mansfield Street intersection to Orchard Island Road, south to the post office, on the east side of the village and a few sections on the west side, as well.
But Reames said she was told by the panel awarding grants that Russell’s Point would likely not be receiving the grant due to a lack of funding for smaller projects.
And, according to Ohio Revised Code, Reames said sidewalks are property owners’ responsibility to maintain.
If an evaluation is performed, work could be done and property owners could be billed for the work done to bring the sidewalks up to code, the mayor explained.
“What we’ve done in the past is we have allowed them to put it on and assess it to their real-estate taxes and pay it over a five-year period,” she said.
Another Russell’s Point area still in need of repair is the municipal Playground.
Reames said the village is just waiting on it to be fixed, but has no estimate as to when that will be, as a final date for the work has not yet been set.
In other business, council approved:
• allowing St. Mary of the Woods Church access to a graveled area in the John and Mary Rudolph Nature Area to gain access into adjacent land to use to launch fireworks at 10 p.m. for a June 20 festival;
• a resolution authorizing the mayor through the board of public affairs to enter into a contract with Leary Construction Company Inc. of Greenfield, Ind., to maintain the north 100,000-gallon water tower for 10 years (through 2029) for an expenditure of $9,724 annually, and
• an ordinance on first reading enacting Title 11/Chapter 201 Indigent Burial to provide for the disposition of indigent residents.
David Goff of the St.Mary of the Woods Festival steering committee said he appreciates the opportunity to work with the village and to continue to grow the festival, which is conducted each summer.
“It’s nice to give back to the community and provide the opportunity for people to celebrate the Father’s Day weekend in patriotic style,” he said.
Councilman Greg Iiams said in the past all of the contracts for the water tower had been done with Leary.
“We can’t find anyone else to do the water tower — we’ve looked,” he said.
Iiams also said in regards to the Indigent Burial resolution’s first reading that it was a “doozy.”
“They can’t have any relatives, means of income, housing or property,” he said. “It’s very, very difficult to say, ‘This person will be indigent.’”
Reames also announced during the Monday meeting that during the month of January, the Mayor’s Court collected $352.50.
A total of $284.50 of the following fines remained in the village:
• $172 from waivers resulting from traffic and non-traffic offenses;
• $25 from the Bellfontaine Municipal Court for fines from a DUI;
• $75 from Bellefontaine Municipal Court for fines other than DUIs; and
• $12.50 from Logan County Juvenile Court.
Of that amount, $66.50 was forwarded to the following State of Ohio programs:
• $18 went to the Victims of Crime Fund;
• $45 went to the Indigent Defense Support Fund; and
• $3.50 went to the Drug Law Enforcement/Justice Program Services Fund; and
• $1.50 went to the Indigent Drivers Alcohol Treatment Fund and was forwarded to the Logan County Auditor.