Councilwoman Beverly Yoder updated the West Liberty Village Council on the developments at the Sherman Ricketts Park during a recent council meeting.
Students with Ohio Hi-Point Career Center are finalizing plans for building a shelter house at the park, and the hope is to break ground this fall.
The Simon Kenton Pathfinders are donating money for the purchase of a Bike Fix-It Station. The group is also looking for funding for a Water Bottle Refilling Station along with a fountain. An account has been set up at People’s Savings and Loan to collect donations for this project.
Beth Lantz (Ricketts family member) and Linda Vernon of the Logan County Land Trust are coordinating fundraising activities. Ron Ricketts is overseeing the building of the shelter house.
Councilwoman Jayne Griffith gave an update on the progress with repairing the Columbus Street bridge. She thanked the Logan County Historical Society for finding pictures, news stories, and legal notices regarding when the bridge was first installed.
The legal notices show that Logan County paid for and built the bridge in 1879. Mrs. Griffith asked that any residents with questions or wanting to help with the Columbus Street Bridge to contact her.
Fire Chief Darin Leach reported that the FEMA grant will be completed for new air packs for all firefighters. The Level 1 firefighter classes are going well and Level 2 classes will start at the beginning of the year.
He asked Mrs. Griffith to help with locating historic information regarding the West Liberty Fire Department, as the department will be celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2022.
Mike Hostetler, West Liberty Village representative for the Macochee Ambulance District, also gave an update, reporting that Chief Chris Jones is excelling as chief and was given a raise. Pay raises also were issued to other personnel to stay competitive in the area.
“The District is financially sound and has been very careful with the permanent improvement levies,” representatives said.
A new squad also is on order. No arrival date for the squad has yet been provided because of the supply chain delays.
Jake Vitt is volunteering his services to begin landscaping around the Town Hall. Mr. Vitt is using money donated in memory of his mother to begin the project. He also was thanked for his work on the Veterans’ Park.
Council members and Mayor Jill McKelvey expressed appreciation to the veterans, the veterans; families and the community support for the Purple Heart event.
Any West Liberty Purple Heart Veterans who were not recognized at the Oct. 21 event and who come forward from now until March 1, 2022, will be recognized in the spring when the village receives its Proclamation for a Purple Heart Community.
Each year after the proclamation event starting in 2023, the village will recognize those individuals on Aug. 7, which is National Purple Heart Day.
The council will meet Nov. 8 and 18 and will have one meeting next month on Dec. 13.
All meetings start at 7 p.m. in the council room.