Shadyside Mayor Mike Meintel expresses his excitement for the America 250 celebration on July 11. (T-L Photo/GAGE VOTA)

SHADYSIDE – An anonymous donor donated $5,000 to the village of Shadyside for its America 250 celebration on July 11.

Village council member Melanie Haswell said that she was recently reached out to by someone who would like to be unnamed during council’s meeting on Wednesday evening.

“They don’t want any recognition and I admire that. But we all want to thank this anonymous person for their generous donation,” Haswell said.

She added that if there is any money left over the donor said that it may go to the village’s beatification committee.

“We are still looking for donations. I just started to try to get donations, and they called and asked if we received any money yet. And they said, ‘I want to give you $5,000’ so that was wonderful,” Haswell said.

Law director Kelly Kotur said to keep full transparency the council should pass a motion stating that the donation will be going towards the celebration with any leftover funds being given to the committee.

Haswell made the motion which was passed anonymously.

Mayor Mike Meintel added that the celebration will have pie-eating contests and other old fashioned Americana events and tradition.

Council member Robert “Bushwacker” Gorrell said that the Shadyside American Legion Post 521 will also be hosting its second annual Jamboree Bash. He added that although the two events will be on the same day, the Legion has expressed delight with him saying they’re under the mindset of “the more the merrier.”

In addition to the check, Haswell mentioned that she has been invited to join the Belmont County America 250 Committee.

She said that she met committee member John S. Marshall and when she mentioned that Shadyside would be hosting its own celebration that he suggested she join the committee.

Council also passed an ordinance ​establishing a 5% video service provider fee to be paid by any video service provider offering video service in the village.

Kotur said the new ordinance is for cable companies that provide cable service in a village and the village is allowed to charge a fee allowing them to use its infrastructure.

“It’s $1 a month per user, and then they’ll pay it to us quarterly. It’ll raise us a little bit of money for the village,” Kotur said. “And so it’s very typical for villages and cities to have this video service fee. Essentially, other states call it a ‘franchise fee.'”.

During the open public form of the meeting, former council member and ex-Mayoral candidate Nick Ferrelli announced that he will be running for Belmont County auditor.

“You all know me but I’m running for Belmont County auditor in the Republican primary, and I’d appreciate all of your support,” Ferrelli said.

The primary will take place on May 5.

Meintel added that May Engineering will be hosting a town hall meeting at the village’s community room where council regularly meets on March 26 at 6 p.m.

He said that the meeting will allow residents to speak with the Engineering company about any current or future water projects.

Council’s next meeting will be on Monday March 9 at 6 p.m. In January, council moved its meetings to Wednesdays to accommodate council member Brandon Parr’s schedule who is the Shadyside High School’s girls basketball coach.

Shadyside village council member Melanie Haswell announces the village has received a $5,000 donation. (T-L Photo/GAGE VOTA)