T-L Photo/LENNY WITTENBROOK Barnesville Councilwoman Robyn Misner expresses her appreciation for the “community effort” that resulted in a “marvelous” Memorial Day service. Seated at the table, from left, are council members Tim McKelvey, Misner and Les Tickhill, along with Village Administrator Roger Deal.

BARNESVILLE — As summer celebrations continue to unfold across the area, village officials last week expressed their gratitude to all whose efforts made for a successful Memorial Day service.

Councilwoman Robyn Misner, who is an active member and officer in the Barnesville American Legion Post 168 Ladies Auxiliary and Legion Riders, gave “shoutouts” of appreciation to those who helped with this year’s Memorial Day services, thanking Village Administrator Roger Deal for his cooperation, Derek Deal for running the sound system, the village street and cemetery department employees for getting the cemeteries and Veterans Plaza ready, Burkhart’s Nursery for providing flowers, the police department for traffic control, and the fire department for use of its chairs.

Misner also commented on the Legion Riders Veterans Banner Program, saying members were pleased that they were able to get the 66 banners hung so quickly and that they were “down to the wire” getting them hung in time for the service due to weather and other complications. She added thanks to Artworks for its work and coordination to get all the photographs and information onto the banners.

“We couldn’t do this without all of you, so we really appreciate it,” Misner said.

Village Administrator Roger Deal echoed Misner’s thanks to Burkhart’s Nursery as well as the cemetery crew.

Council President Tony Johnson praised frequent council meeting attendee and contributor Greg Batts for delivering the address during the service, saying the topic of his speech focused on what Memorial Day was versus what it wasn’t, and that he had found it informative and thought provoking.

Meanwhile, council passed a number of resolutions in order to move forward with various village projects.

Members held the third reading of and passed a resolution needed to contract CTI Engineering to prepare updated wastewater treatment plant upgrade designs after details of the contract had been finalized to everyone’s satisfaction.

During previous discussions, Roger Deal had expressed his opinion that a $388,000 construction administration fee that was part of the contract was unnecessary at this time since, as of right now, the village needs the updated plans in order to seek grant funding for what is expected to be a $10 million project that they will likely not break ground on for two or three years.

Deal had also questioned a bid service fee in the contract.

Mayor Jake Hershberger said he and Councilman Brad Hudson had spoken with representatives from CTI, and Hudson indicated that he was satisfied with approving the resolution with the construction administration fee removed while leaving the bid services fee in place.

Council also passed a resolution to seek funding through the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency Water Supply Revolving Loan Account after Deal explained that they were required to do engineering work as a result of the detection of at least one per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance, or what are commonly known as “forever chemicals,” in a village water sample last year.

Deal said the $70,000 loan would be used to begin the process of engineering a pre-treatment process to eliminate PFAS from the water.

Deal also informed council that the bid opening for their Street Improvement Project, which is being partially funded with an Ohio Public Works Commission grant, is set for June 26 and that the Ohio Department of Transportation contracted paving of South Chestnut Street would be happening sometime this month as well.

Council also passed a resolution required to apply for a $25,000 Ohio Department of Natural Resources “Nature Works” grant with a 25% village match. It would be used to finish putting up fences at the new practice ballfields.

Council also passed a resolution to restart the process of annexing the nearly 14-acre property on which those ballfields are located that was gifted to the village by CCU Coal and Construction in 2023. The land being annexed is located off of Pultney Avenue near the Warren Township garage.

Hershberger updated council, saying that more input was needed from the various entities involved before action could be taken on a reworked lease agreement between the village, the Barnesville Community Foundation and the B&O Depot Committee.

Hershberger also informed council that he and the Barnesville Area Chamber of Commerce had “brainstormed” possible uses for the village-owned Bohandy Building and that they planned to discuss the matter further before bringing any proposals before council.

Police Chief Rocky Sirianni and Myser made plans to get together to discuss the village’s golf cart and utility vehicle use ordinance after Myser said that the state had made some changes to its version of that statute that had just gone into effect on June 1.

Sirianni further informed council that Western Division Judge Eric Costine had dismissed a complaint brought against a village officer over an incident at a football game.

Hershberger announced mayor’s court numbers for the month of May, saying the village had received $1,328, the state $487.50 and the county $19.50 for a total of $1,835.

Fire Chief Tim Hall reported call numbers for May, saying the fire department had been dispatched seven times while the EMS answered 96 calls and performed two transports for WVU Barnesville Hospital.

Hall also reminded council that the annual Youth Fishing Tournament at Rotary Lake in Memorial Park will be held from 9-11 a.m. on Saturday, June 14, with council voting to contribute $500 to support the event.

Johnson said that he had been contacted by a person who was seeking to purchase 331 W. Pike Street. The individual was unable to get a loan because the house is partially built on village property that is technically a long-unused village roadway. Myser outlined a couple of possible solutions, but said they would need to see the results of an actual survey of the property first.

In other business, council approved paying bills in the amount of $53,908.58 and approved building permits for Darrell Phillips to install a new metal roof at 100 Stadium Drive, for Rhiana Long to construct a new composite porch at 110 Cedar Ave., and for David and Jennifer Wells to install an in-ground pool at 125 Westview Court.

Barnesville’s next council meeting is slated for 7 p.m. June 16 at the Municipal Building on Arch Street.