The hearts turned purple on Valentine’s Day as the West Liberty city council discussed plans Monday night to pay tribute to local veterans throughout the year.
While the focus will be on the 18 Purple Heart recipients in the community, attention will also be given to other veterans, culminating with a recognition event Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022.
“It’s a way to observe and honor our veterans while still moving forward,” Council member Patricia Kauffman stated.
“We need to preserve that history before we lose that history,” Mayor Jill McKelvey added.
This spring on April 4 or 11, the Ohio Military Order of the Purple Heart will make the proclamation bestowing on West Liberty the distinction of being a Purple Heart Community. Of the 18 Purple Hearts recipients, four West Liberty residents received two of these high honors. This announcement will take place at a village council meeting.
Purple Heart veterans will then have an opportunity to share their stories on video throughout the first week of May. These videos will be uploaded to the town’s website, mywestliberty.com. Once the historical society opens up the Bailey House Museum, the videos will be shown there as well.
Participating veterans will be invited to speak live as part of an open house on Memorial Day, May 30, at 11 a.m., followed by a meet and greet that afternoon. Each Purple Heart veteran or family member will have a table, to be provided, where they can display items like their uniform, along with photographs and memorabilia.
The annual Memorial Day parade will begin at 2 p.m.
All other area veterans will have the opportunity this fall to speak about their experiences on video, which will be shown at the Nov. 10 event in honor of Veteran’s Day.
In other news, the council announced the addition of two murals to the town. Though the location of the murals is yet to be determined, the artwork will be designed and painted by West Liberty business LA Designs, led by Lindsey McGlone. This project is being funded by the Logan County Visitors Bureau as a tourist photo opp location.
Also of note, the council reminded business owners it is not the village’s responsibility to clear sidewalks of snow and ice. Businesses that do not shovel sidewalks to the street are liable for any accidents that occur on their property. The street committee also stated they do not plow grass easements.
Other decisions at Monday’s meeting included:
• An advisory board has been established to take over parks and recreation decisions, allowing the council to focus strictly on final approval. This board will meet approximately two times a year. The next meeting is 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 17, at the West Liberty opera house.
• Due to aging water structure, including disintegrating cardboard sewer pipes, water and sewer rates will be raised 3 percent, by 85 cents and 93 cents, respectively.
• The prohibit medical marijuana ordinance passed on its third and final reading.
• A resolution authorizing the State of Ohio to paint a bridge on U.S. Route 68 was passed.
• Another resolution establishing a fund to accept American Rescue Plan funds from the government was also passed;
• Lawn ordinance 2021-20 passed on its third and final reading, as did ordinance 2021-21, which sets up a $10 business sign permit.
• Ordinance 2022-05 to increase police salaries was passed on its first reading. According to council member Jim Hoffman, this increase is merely “catching up.” The council wants that to turn to built-in raises from now on.
• A committee has been created to look for more competitive insurance rates for employees. The hope is to lower the cost while not putting those with pre-existing conditions at risk.
• Bills totaling $81,452.31 were authorized in finance committee action.
• Mayor McKelvey thanked the late Don Alig for his over 10 years of unpaid service to the West Liberty planning commission.
• The mayor asked the council to approve funds to assess the removal of asbestos from two West Liberty buildings. This assessment will cost between $2,000 and $5,000 per structure. The city hopes to obtain grants to cover the cost of the asbestos removal.
• Clerk/treasurer Cindee Boyd presented three bids for five new downtown trash cans. She also recommended the purchase of five 10-inch Fire tablets for council members at $109 each, which was approved.
The next council meeting will take place at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 28.