WEST LIBERTY VILLAGE COUNCIL
West Liberty Village Council members are hesitant to be “on the hook” for costly lighting for a Dodge Park project for a new baseball field.
Councilwoman Jill McKelvey said she didn’t think council was in a position to sign a note for $388,000 for lights for the field.
“There are so many things we need to address first,” she said.
One of the items she cited was the West Columbus Street Bridge.
The bridge was closed many years ago because it was condemned by county engineers. Council members are working on finding out who owns the bridge to ultimately turn it into a walking path to get into Dodge Park.
“I guess I’m just concerned they (the Ball Association) want to put all of us on the hook for that much money and they’re not willing to do any fundraising,” McKelvey said.
“I’ve thought and thought and thought about this and I want those lights so bad,” she said. “I think, like the splash pad, this has got to be a community-owned project. They need to raise some money. I know raising money for splash pad (was) a lot of work, but it’s been a lot of fun and has brought a lot of fun to the community. With the lights I think they’re missing something if they don’t approach it that way. This community owns that splash pad.”
Griffith said the resource West Liberty has is that the community will work together.
“That is our number one thing,” she said. “They can get those lights…but I think the ball has got to be in their court. We want to back them up, but we can’t stick our necks out this far.”
In other business, Street Supervisor Bill Detrick gave an update on the 34 trees in Lions Park he deemed unsafe.
Detrick said he met with the Lions Club about cutting down the trees and told them of the intention to cut them down.
The Lions Club was going to meet to discuss if they were going to aid council financially.
Council also passed an ordinance establishing updated salaries and wages for the street department employees and an amended ordinance establishing updated salaries and wages for the police department.