BARNESVILLE — An ordinance to approve the J.B. Green Recycling Services budget failed as a motion to do so died on the floor.

Barnesville Mayor Dale Bunting introduced the ordinance, saying that it was to approve the J.B. Green Team budget.

“I guess it comes down to our level and needs approved by 60% of the area,” he said.

Councilman Tony Johnson, who works for Waste Management Services said he didn’t agree with how J.B. Green operated.

“I looked into this and what they’re doing with the recycling a couple years ago and they’ve got way too much equipment, and they pay way too much. What you get is more government out of control, as far as I’m concerned.”

Councilman Les Tickhill asked, “So if you don’t respond at all, it’s a yes?”

After Bunting confirmed that was the case, Tickhill made the motion to suspend the rules and move forward with the ordinance.

With the motion still on the floor, Council President Brad Hudson asked, “Why do we have to approve that anyway? What does that have to do with us?”

Village Solicitor Marlin Harper said it was part of the Ohio Revised Code that as a joing venture between Belmont and Jefferson counties, each of the townships and municipalities in the counties had a say, as a small part of county taxes went to J.B. Green.

After some more discussion, Harper said and declared the motion dead, after a pause for a second to approve the ordinance was met with silence.

Village Administrator Roger Deal said that workers from Astro Pools had found a leak in the surge tank of the refurbished pool at Memorial Park, and that Deal felt that it was the cause of water loss which has been a problem since work on the pool was finished last summer.

Council President Hudson said he wasn’t sure how they would fix that while the pool was open and Deal said he would find out if it would be better to wait until the end of the season to perform the repair.

Deal said that, as promised, he had plans for the Slope Creek Waterline Project ready to submit to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, and that the fee to do so was $17,440.

Council voted to authorize him to submit the application.

Council also authorized Deal to submit applications for two Ohio Public Works Commission grants, one to fund a project to eliminate the sewer lift station near Walgreen’s Pharmacy on East Main Street, and one for a street paving project for the summer of 2020.

Deal explained that the idea was that the $211,000 lift station project would not score high enough on the OPWC scoring system during the first round, but having been denied it would allow them to go after a small governments grant later in the year for that project.

Deal said they hoped the street paving project would score high enough allowing them to pave 18 streets for a total of $659,400, with $365,956 being grant money, the village’s match of $171,444, and a $122,000 zero-percent loan to the village through the grant program that enhances the chances that the grant will be won.

Deal also reminded council that the village had almost $60,000 in license tax fee money to put towards the project.

After Deal updated council that the state’s paving of State Route 800 through the village should be completed this week, Johnson brought up the need to replace curbs and his desire to have the village perhaps take care of curbs or work something out with property owners to facilitate that happening to help with drainage along village roadways.

Deal said that curbs were included as an option in the village’s sidewalk loan program that provides no interest loans to residents who wish to have new sidewalks put in, but that few people take advantage of that because curbs are so expensive.

Police Chief Rocky Sirianni updated council concerning a grant that had paid for 75% for over $8,000 worth of body armor for village officers, saying that he had been able to get the remainder of that purchase covered through a federal program.

Mayor Bunting gave Mayor’s Court figures for the month of July, saying that the state had received $704, the county $27, and the village $1,195 for a total of $1,926.

In other business, council approved the paying of bills in the amount of $89,272.72 and approved building permits for Ronnie Briggs to change from wood to vinyl siding at 315 Mulberry Street, for Christopher Powell to construct a roof over the side porch at 332 1/2 East Main, and for Austin Sparkman to demolish a garage 431 East Church Street.

Finally, in honor of National Health Center Week being celebrated last week, Bunting issued a proclamation thanking Ohio Hills Health Services for their dedication and commitment to the community.

The proclamation recognized Ohio Hills and their staff for their commitment to “providing comprehensive and affordable health, dental, and behavioral health services for all area residents regardless of income.

Ohio Health Services opened its doors in 1973 as a Federally Qualified Health Care Center and served over 7,000 patients in 2018 with nearly 25,000 patient visits at their four locations in Barnesvile, Freeport, Quaker City, and Woodsfield, according to the proclamation.

Barnesville Council’s next regular council meeting will be held at the Municipal Building on August 19 at 7 p.m.