BARNESVILLE — Barnesville Village Council on Monday learned of a wide array of community events being planned for the spring and summer months.

Belmont County Tourism Executive Director Jackee Pugh was at Monday’s council meeting to announce that the annual self-guided Rubberneck Tour, usually held in the fall, would instead be held April 29 and feature a number of stops in Barnesville.

Pugh said that they had changed the name of the event to The Heritage Trail Rubberneck Tour and that the Historic Downtown Barnesville stop would feature activities in the elementary school parking lot, which they were going to be using as their “home base” for the day.

Councilman Tim McKelvey commended Pugh and Belmont County Tourism for the many grants they award throughout the county.

Jill Hissom, representing the Barnesville Area Chamber of Commerce, announced dates and themes for the chamber-sponsored “Fun in the ‘Ville” events this spring and summer.

“May 4 will be ‘May the Fourth be With You,’ June 1 is ‘Beach In the Ville,’ July 6 is ‘Chalk it Up for Freedom,’ and August 3 will be ‘Back to School,'” said Hissom.

Hissom said they were working with a company in Columbus to have bumper cars for the June event, saying that the company was fully insured and would provide waivers for parents to sign.

Hissom assured council that the required paperwork for the food trucks and other vendors would be in place prior to each event.

The annual Airport Day at Barnesville Bradfield Airport had previously been announced and will be held on Saturday, June 3 from 10-3.

Fire Chief Tim Hall announced that the annual Youth Fishing Tournament sponsored by the Barnesville Fire Department and EMS would return this year on Saturday, June 10, at the Chamber of Commerce Lake in Memorial Park with registration beginning at 8 a.m.

Meanwhile, Mayor Dale Bunting announced that 12 acres near the Warren Township Garage had been donated to the village by CCU Coal and Construction.

Bunting expressed his appreciation for the donation, saying that they planned to construct two much-needed practice ballfields at the site before asking council to pass a resolution accepting the land.

Village Administrator Roger Deal said it would be beneficial if they would file paperwork to annex that property into the village corporation limits while they were doing the other legal requirements related to acquiring the property.

After a brief discussion, council voted to move forward with the purchase of a new Freightliner street sweeper, opting to make the $291,000 purchase outright rather than financing it at 5% interest. Council also voted in favor of Councilman Brian Yarnall’s proposal that they hire M.S.A. Designs to work on the design of the new parking lots being constructed along North Chestnut Street prior to the demolition of the buildings.

Deal announced that the bid opening for the demolition of those buildings would be held in council chambers at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday April 19.

Fire Chief Hall announced run totals for the month of March, saying the fire department answered 18 emergency calls while the EMS responded to 110 calls while performing eight transports for Barnesville Hospital.

Bunting announced Mayor’s Court figures for the month of March, saying the state received $554, the county $21, and the village $940, for a total of $1,515.

After a brief executive session, council voted in favor of turning over a village-owned lot on North Chestnut, commonly referred to as the Elk’s property, to the Belmont County Port Authority to be marketed and sold.

In other business, council authorized paying bills in the amount of $45,061.19 and approved a building permit for Robin Mayhugh to install a new metal roof at 224 Hunts Avenue.

Barnesville’s next council meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 24 at 7 p.m. at the Municipal Building on Arch Street.