BARNESVILLE — Village officials recently heard Mayor Dale Bunting’s “Year in Review” for 2020 while welcoming back Tim McKelvey, who reclaimed a seat on village council after nearly three years.

McKelvey was sworn in by Village Solicitor Adam Meyser, having been selected by council from among four applicants to fill the seat vacated when Steve Hill resigned his position in November.

McKelvey, who has served the village in numerous capacities over the years, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to do so again, saying, “I appreciate you guys taking me back, I really do. Thank you.”

Bunting, in his annual “Year in Review,” acknowledged the difficulties resulting from the coronovirus outbreak and thanked Police Chief Rocky Sirianni, Fire Chief Tim Hall and all the village employees while speaking of the support within the community that kept Barnesville open and moving forward despite the challenges.

“I would like to thank our community and our employees for all the hard work and staying strong throughout this year. Thank you again, all of you, for doing what you do.”

Village Administrator Roger Deal informed council that the village had not been selected to receive federal Emergency Management Agency funding to help pay for slip repairs needed on the dam at the lake in Barnesville Memorial Park. The agency said while it was unfortunate the village would not get the funding, it indicated that there were dams in worse shape that FEMA felt needed to be prioritized.

Deal also asked council if it would be OK if he had some survey work done around the park as a preliminary step toward eventual annexation of park land that is owned by the village but currently lies outside the corporation limit. No objection was raised.

Deal also informed council that the Cole Street force main had experienced two additional breaks in recent weeks and that the waterline had experienced a number of problems in the last two years. He said that in order to get a “budget number,” he planned to have an engineer who was coming to look at issues on North Lincoln Avenue take a look at that line as well.

Deal also announced that the recently completed paving project funded in part by an Ohio Public Works Commission grant had come in significantly under budget.

Council approved Hall’s request to apply for the 2021 Ohio State Fire Marshal Grant in the amount of $15,000, which Hall said requires no matching funds from the village.

Sirianni acknowledged the cooperation between village officials and the various village departments that was on display during the past year, saying, “Thank all of you: Mayor, Council, everyone in here. Thank all the departments for working well together, and I thank the community for their continued support.”

Council President Scott Gallagher recognized Strauss Films for making Barnesville sporting events accessible to the community during the pandemic, saying, “Whether it be football, wrestling, or other activities, having a little business like that allowing those of us who are stuck in our homes to enjoy the youth and what they do is appreciated.”