SYCAMORE - A verbal exchange ensued at the village council meeting Tuesday evening between resident Robin Mitchem and Village Administrator Charles Clark over the lack of street signs available for her brother, who is blind.
Mitchem told the council she contacted the state of Ohio and was told such signs are the responsibility of the village. However, Clark contended that signs on the state route, where Mitchem resides, are the responsibility of the state.
Clark told Mitchem that if she purchased the signs, he would have them put up. Mitchem said again the state said the village should provide them, and promised to go to the state ODOT facility in Lima to push the issue. Mitchem claimed Clark had promised at a previous meeting to obtain the signs, to which Clark replied he said he would look into it, echoed by Councilman Anthony Flood.
Mitchem asked council to do something about residents without sidewalks, saying she had to maintain hers and her brother should be able to walk around town safely. She said her brother could not obtain a guide dog unless safe sidewalks were available.
Police Chief Richard Blankenship reported he and Clark attended a meeting with railroad representatives regarding crossing gates. Blankenship said everyone at the meeting was in agreement of the need for gates, and the railroad is to apply for grants to cover the cost of the project. If the grants are approved, the project would take about nine months to complete at a cost of around $200,000.
Legal counsel James Gucker said regarding the new water treatment facility, one easement could not be located in his research and a new one would be drawn up for the Stewart property. He aid he spoke with attorney Chuck Bartholomew regarding a resident who recently purchased a property with a garage that sits 10 inches over the right of way. He said the village normally would grant an easement of encroachment, holding the village harmless, but if the garage was torn down in the future, another one could not be rebuilt.
Dates scheduled
include:
A finance committee meeting at 6 p.m. Sept. 25 at village hall to discuss sewer and water payments.
The next council meeting is 7:30 p.m. Sept. 25 at village hall.
Trick-or-treat night 6-7:30 p.m. Oct. 25.
