BARNESVILLE — Village officials are looking to avoid the expense of putting in a long-planned parking lot by selling the intended location to a private developer.

During a council meeting held March 25, Mayor Jake Hershberger said that during a recent Planning Commision meeting, local real estate developer T.J. Jefferis, who is planning a major building on the corner of West Main and North Chestnut streets, had requested that council designate the portion of the property still owned by the village for parking.

Jefferis purchased the corner where Patrick’s Restaurant once stood separately before purchasing 40×100 feet of frontage along Chestnut from the village for $20,000 late last year. The village retained the west side of that property to put in extra parking for the downtown area.

The village had nearly $400,000 invested in the purchase and demolition of the properties along North Chestnut Street and faced public backlash last year as the demolition of the historic buildings was imminent.

Hershberger said there are code restrictions that will affect some design choices that could be made depending on whether the parking designation was in place.

Hershberger said that granting a 10-foot easement would work as well, but since the intent had always been to put in parking that had been the main option discussed.

When Councilman Brian Yarnall suggested the village sell the remainder of the property to Jefferis, Hershberger said the Planning Commission had suggested the same and asked Jefferis to come up with a price, “because at this stage the village would be on the hook for the drainage and developing the parking lot and everything and we may not necessarily do that right away.”

After some discussion, Councilman Les Tickhill made a motion to pass a resolution to designate the parking area as requested, which passed with Councilmen Hill, Tickhill and Terry McCort, Council President Tony Johnson and Councilwoman Robyn Misner voting “yes,” while Yarnall voted “no.”

Meanwhile, Village Administrator Roger Deal said he had been quoted a price of $9,345 for the equipment needed to make the bulk water machine located near the corner of Arch and Church streets accept credit cards as well as bills and quarters, noting that he had not yet done the research to make sure it would fit the facility and that installation would be a separate cost.

Deal went over some of the card fees the village would incur, saying the rates are quite low compared to other municipalities with bulk water machines. Hershberger and Deal agreed that they could increase the rates to compensate for the fees and to recoup the cost of the equipment.

Council approved Deal moving forward with the conversion, with Johnson and Hill again voicing their desire to make bulk water more accessible to regular vehicles at the Ohio 800 location, which currently only accommodates larger tankers.

Deal also announced that a Street Department employee had recently resigned after being hired to work for Belmont County. When Johnson asked if they could offer him a raise to get him to stay, Deal said it was a $6 per hour difference and that there would be other crew members who would have to get raises if they did.

“This is where we screw up,” Johnson said in frustration, “We’re never going to keep anyone good. Pay him the extra money.”

Hershberger said that he and Deal had discussed the matter.

Meanwhile, council again discussed an ordinance restricting the subdivision of village lots that was set for its third and final reading, with Hill and Village Solicitor Richard Myser explaining that an ordinance had since been found on the books that was similar enough to what they were working on that they had decided the best course of action would be to amend the old ordinance rather than pass the new one.

Council held a vote on the new ordinance in order to vote it down so there would be a record of its process being finished before voting unanimously to amend the old ordinance with the new language that they wanted to include.

Fire Chief Tim Hall announced that the department had served around 100 spaghetti dinners during its recent fundraising event and thanked everyone for coming out, making special mention of the Barnesville Junior Women’s Club for providing desserts and helping serve.

Council also approved building permits for Michael Stevens to install solar panels at 319 W. Church Street, for Tim Bower to construct a deck at 388 Morgantown Ave., for Sunny Ebright to install new vinyl siding at 348 W. Main St., for Jesse Hostetler to construct an addition at 322 W. South St., for Richard Wells to construct a new home at 429 W. Main St., and for Misty Cruise to construct a garage at 514 Park Street.

The Barnesville Shamrock Wrestling Team was recognized by Hershberger and those in attendance for its Division III OHSAA state runner-up finish and Reese Stephen and Skyler King for winning state championships in the 150- and 157-pound weight classes, respectively.

Council’s next meeting, which is scheduled for 7 p.m. today in the Municipal Building on Arch Street, will be preceded by an open Development Committee meeting at 6 p.m.