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Saturday, October 23, 2021
Harrison News-Herald Community
Adena vacates ‘unkept alley’ in busy October meeting BY SHAWN DIGITY twitter@DIGITYnodoubt
As the Adena village council opened their October meeting, visitors from Kimble trash services were present to go over the council’s September decision to place 2022 trash contracts out for bid. Kimble and the council discussed the pros and cons of a new contract with another company versus re-upping. Adena had agreed in the September meeting that putting the trash collection out to bid could be worth it. But there are tradeoffs to consider. For example, if every person in Adena is left to sign up for trash services independently, it could become inefficient. People would sign up for numerous days throughout the week, and piecemeal pickups by any trash service would add extra and unnecessary wear and tear onto the village’s infrastructure while also forcing the company to visit more often for fewer residents on a less optimized route. On the other hand, a designated trash day allows better routes on the collection company’s side and fewer occasions when trucks navigate Adena’s roads. Council member RJ Konkoleski stated that he would prefer to keep the contract exclusive, which is already established with the current contract. Nothing official was done regarding new agreements, but the village’s tire overabundance came into focus. Mayor Brenda Roski wants to get rid of the surplus of tires lying around the village. Konkoleski mentioned that some trash pickup outfits have days throughout the year where a company’s own staff would come in for tire removal. That could eliminate large swaths of tires, but Roski wants to attack the problem at its core. “It’s your responsibility to get rid of your own tires,” Roski stated. And she tossed out ideas for future prohibitions against bringing in more or excessive amounts of tires. In the past, new residents have brought in piles of tires that added to the village’s collection, sometimes even with semis. “Don’t bring your 500 tires here,” Roski demanded. According to Konkoleski, they’ve been accumulating for years. Council members mentioned that there are likely hundreds of tires that need to be removed, but the first move would likely take care of many of them in one fell swoop. As the Kimble reps left, Roski brought the remaining visitors into the spotlight. Two families, the Webbs and Burkes, had brought petitioning paperwork to the council’s attention requesting that the village vacate an alley between South Bridge and Elm Streets. It’s not being used by any resident or the village, so the petitioners requested to assimilate that property into their own parcels. The two petitioning parties, as the landowners, would split and absorb the land that currently makes up the unused alley. By submitting their petition, the families were willing to pay any additional property tax that would come after the village’s vacating of the alley, too. In cases like this, all abutting landowners must be considered and in agreement before any
movements can go further. However, there were only two, and both were present for the meeting. The council admitted to the alley’s shoddy condition. “There’s an unkept alley. It’s never been named. We’ve gone to the courthouse. We looked it up. Nobody uses it. It’s really bad,” Roski explained. “Can’t keep gravel in it,” Konkoleski chimed in. “And they’re willing to — if we will let them — close that, split the property in half, and they’ll both assume. And we’ll get more tax dollars. Because right now, it’s not being assessed for taxes,” Roski added. After solicitor Adam Martello confirmed the two abutting property owners, the council passed a motion to accept the petition. Then in November, an ordinance will be passed. After a short discussion on the recording process, it was settled that Adena would pay the $120 recording fee. As the council meeting shifted to waterrelated issues, Roski mentioned that the strongarming of delinquent water accounts had paid off. Once the village started turning water off, more payments started coming in. Roski credited the new water and sewage department for that. “They’re doing the very best they can,” Roski stated. And she’s “impressed” with the department’s results so far. Roski also added that in September, the council collected more water revenue than ever before. Sometimes you have to be “nasty” by Roski’s admission. New water payment tactics have become harsher, but it’s yielding results. “And if I catch anybody else stealing water: watch out,” Roski concluded. As the meeting started wrapping up, members moved to new business with some updates to the Dollar General development. “People, cross your fingers; it’s looking good. That’s all I’m going to say,” Roski exclaimed. She passed off to Konkoleski, and he informed the rest of the meeting that Dollar General had called him recently and inquired about Lemon Street, specifically. Lemon Street was unknown to many of the council members because it’s a somewhat hidden, barely used alley that runs back toward the old school property. It spans just one block, which was of importance to the dollar store reps. Lemon Street doesn’t go through to Main Street, so it wouldn’t require any residents to vacate property for the store’s development. While Lemon Street runs past the Legion, the dollar store wouldn’t take any accessibility from them, either. So the representatives that called Konkoleski felt assured the Lemon Street information would allow them to move forward. And he took that as a positive bellwether since it was the only topic they wanted info on. Additionally, Martello had been given a draft of the purchase agreement from Port Authority. While it was more of a “skeleton agreement,” lacking specific numbers, many of the discussed indicators were encouraging to the council members hoping for Dollar General’s arrival. “Hey, guys, I’m telling you now. If we get that dollar store, there will be a celebration.” Roski added.
November election has six contested races, but Cadiz has empty seats BY JD LONG jim@harrisonnewsherald.com HARRISON COUNTY—It might not have the fanfare of the 2020 election — the Silver Spade Ambulance District, Cadiz village income tax, prosecuting attorney, county recorder, and the 6th and 30th districts — but six local races will be contested on Nov. 2. The contested six — out of 28 county positions — will be up for grabs, but Jewett will be watched closely as George Bailie, the current acting mayor after Dwight Busby’s passing earlier this year, and Charles Hirschbach vie for the mayoral seat. In addition, seven candidates are vying for four Jewett council seats: Cheyenne Locko, Steven Stewart, Tammy Verhovec, and Joshua Walters. Locko, Stewart, Verhovec, and Walters will join incumbents Danny Dray, Rick Meneely, and Paul Prevot Jr. on the ballot. Stewart was appointed as a council member at Jewett’s Oct. 6 meeting to fill the vacancy left by Bailie when he stepped into the interim mayor role; that will remain the case till the end of the year, unless Stewart wins a seat in November. Jewett is the only village with contested council seats; the remainder is township trustee positions. Archer Township has two seats open between James Albright, Troy Blackburn, and Aaron Dodds. German Township also has two seats open with four running: Dusten Dulkoski, Dale Kellar, D. Ray Marker, and Nick Ramsey. Green Township has Ronald Hawkins, James Lathem Jr., James Moore, Jon Paul Pelegreen, and James Ward seeking two seats. Finally, Shortcreek Township, with its two open roles, is looking at Dewey Allison, Jay Hopkins, and David Richardson. Positions that will be noncontested include Juliet Humphrey for Bowerston council (unexpired term to end in 2023) and Paula Beamer, Karen Donovan, Melodie Beck, and Polly Wolfe for four additional open seats. Cadiz has four open seats, but only two candidates have their hats in the ring. The only current members are John Vermillion and Salvatore Deluca. Incumbents Terry Capers, Chace Smith, and Dan Ossman are not seeking reelection. Out of four openings for Deersville village council, only Jody Mitchell is running. Freeport village has three candidates looking to fill four openings: Orval Gosnell, John Koch, and Shelly Patterson. More uncontested races
include Hopedale village: John Cortez, Donald Jochims, William Luther IV, and write-in Robert Toker. As for Scio, it’s Betty Gortschall, Kari Salsberry, and Erin Thompson. The trustees running in Athens Township are David Butler and Michael Saffell; Cadiz Township: Clint Barr and Scott Porter; Freeport: Randy Cunningham and Jimmy Hershman; Franklin: Troy Burdette (unexpired term ending 12-31-23), Richard Huff, and Todd Smith; Monroe Township: Andrew Slentz, Brian Vitagliano; Moorefield: Kevin Johnson (unexpired term ending 1231-23), Jody Hyde, and Rick Moore; North Township: Travis Albaugh and Danny Henry; Nottingham Township: Shirley Fair and Anthony Knight; Rumley Township: Kevin Arbaugh and Andrew Lee; Stock Township: Douglas Henderson and Mike Henderson; Washington Township: Lucas Pulley and Scott Reynolds. Additionally, two county school boards each need three positions filled. But Conotton Valley only has two running: Jason Galigher and Kevin Willoughby. On the other hand, Harrison Hills will fill all three of their positions with Deborah Kenny, D.J. Watson (seeking reelection), and Kristen Willis. There are also 19 property tax levies on the ballot. Seventeen are renewals, and two are additionals: Harrison County (0.75 mills for 4-H); Adena with two (6 and 3 mills); Bowerston (1 mill) and Freeport with five (1, 2.67, 3.5, and two at 0.89 mills for current expenses and fire). New Athens has two, both being for current expenses (1 and 4.2 mills). Cadiz and German Townships have one apiece for 0.5 and 0.2 mills, respectively. Monroe has three, all for fire protection (1, 0.05, and 0.5 mills). Rumley Township has one for 2.25 mills for emergency services. Jewett also has a local option on the ballot for the sale of liquor and Sunday sale of liquor from 11 a.m. to midnight in the name of Paul Prevot. Jewett also has both additionals on the ballot, one for 2 mills (police) and the other for 2.25 mills (emergency services). Reminder: A mill levy is a property tax. The tax is created based on the assessed valuation of a piece of real estate. A mill represents one-tenth of a percentage point. For example, 1 mill would be a 0.1% rate for a property’s value.
Harrison Central, Buckeye Local meet for annual VALES award luncheon
BY ESTHER MCCOY Correspondent ADENA—Competition among friends and athletes of neighboring schools is a healthy tradition, and when two schools are playing each other every year, it steps up the enthusiasm. A luncheon was hosted by the Adena Post 525 at its post home on Oct. 18, with eight senior athletes present from Harrison Central High School. Principal Ken Parker, athletic director Ray Hibbs, head coach Anthony Hayes, and assistant coaches Ian White Ty Kenny, Mark Smith, David Nameth, Drew Case, A.J. Barsch, and Cain Noble from the Cadiz school all attended, as well. Those from Buckeye Local High School included head coach Jim Hoover, his son who plays on the Panther team, former Buckeye player and assistant coach Jack Otto, and athletic directors Trevor Zanes and Roger Roberts. Mike Cottage of Yorkville Post 4811 was the event’s emcee, with the assistance of Gary Noble. He gave a short history of the VALES award and said that each athlete and coaching member would be receiving a VALES coin in an enclosed plastic packet. It has the Cadiz school pressed into one side and the Connorsville school pressed on the other. ‘’This will always start a conversation. When a group of Legioners gets together, if one brings out the coin to show it off, others
can produce theirs, and stories will come about. This is a badge of honor,” Cottage said. Many people from other Legion groups throughout the Ohio Valley were present at the luncheon and awards event: Edward Long, former commander for District 10 post; Jay Kolanc; Andy Atkin; Ernie Bradley and Mike Barrett of post 482; Mike Barrett of 484; Tom Shields from 525; Rodney Roe of 50; Don Richards, VFW; Dillonvale adjutant Michelle Hedgecoke of 529; and Lamont McCoy of 735. Cottage spoke on the tall trophy that has been known to change hands at times. The trophy’s top shelf has a military person. Another shelf bears a miner in full attire to go deep into the coal mines to earn a living, and the base has an area for a golden tag for the winning team. The Harrison school has the winning tag this year, but it will carry on for some time. Three years ago, a $5,700 scholarship was added, and this comes with great respect for athletes and all Legion members. They had to work hard for this honor. There are three scholarships awarded each year. This was the 11th game to be played between the athletes. Last year was its 10th anniversary, and a plaque from 2020 is just now being passed around from the event. Last year was a time of watchfulness because of COVID. Lamont McCoy accepted it for the Piney Fork American Legion Post 735, and it will be presented at the next meeting.
APB from Hopedale The village of Hopedale Water Department will be flushing hydrants Oct. 25-29. During this time, you might experience discolored water. If you need more information, please call the Hopedale City Building at 740-937-2355. Clarification from Oct. 16’s “Board of Elections passes emergency resolutions after ballot documentation snafu” should read that Green Township did file their paperwork on time. The Board of Elections’ issue with Green Township was unrelated to Hopedale’s tax levy resolution.
