BARNESVILLE — Barnesville Village Council on Monday approved the purchase of 406 acres in Wayne and Goshen townships and also extended Village Administrator Roger Deal’s contract to keep him on board through 2028.

Barnesville Mayor Jake Hershberger said that council members approved both actions with 6-0 votes after an executive session held during a scheduled meeting Monday evening.

He said council voted to enter a purchase agreement with Capstone Holdings to purchase 406 acres once owned by R&F Coal Co. that lies northwest of the intersection of Ohio 26 and Ohio 148 for $1,725,680. The village will pay $25,000 now, Hershberger said, and have 12 months to finish paying.

Hershberger said the village would pursue grants during that time to help with the purchase.

He said the reason for the purchase was a large reservoir located on the property, which the village hopes to connect to its water supply system sometime in the future.

For now, he said, the village will sell raw water to gas and oil companies as it currently does from its Slope Creek Reservoir.

Hershberger also said that the reservoir has a higher “flow through” and much larger water table than Slope Creek.

Meanwhile, Hershberger reported that council approved raising Village Administrator Roger Deal’s salary to $100,000 annually in a negotiation that extended his contract through the end of 2028.

Village officials had interviewed a number of applicants in June and July as they planned for Deal’s retirement at the end of the year.

Hershberger said that while he felt there were a number of highly qualified candidates for the position, it was council’s choice to offer Deal the raise and the extension.

Hershberger also noted that the contract stipulates a four-day work week for Deal and that he will continue to receive pay increases at the same time as other village employees.