JACKSON CENTER — Jackson Center Village Council approved a resolution to create a capital project fund during their regular meeting, March 12.
Council, declaring an emergency, moved to create a bond anticipation note to kick-start funding efforts for the construction of a new manufacturing facility by Airstream Inc. The $1.3 million capital improvement fund will be used by the village for the acquisition of land for the Airstream expansion. The village will annex the land and then sell it to Airstream, so that the expansion is within village limits.
In other new business council passed an ordinance authorizing certain adjustments in the 2018 annual appropriations of public funds for the fiscal year 2018. Changes included provisions for the acquisition of land for village expansion and the construction of the new Airstream manufacturing facility; a change in operative funding for planning, designing and supervising the construction of the new electrical substation; and authorizing reimbursement of funds to cover the costs associated with installing a SCADA system for the new utility/laboratory building at the wastewater treatment plant. SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) is a control system that uses computers, networked data communications and graphical user interfaces for controlling and monitoring the processes and equipment used for wastewater treatment. It should improve the efficiency of the wastewater treatment operation and help the operators to supervise and document procedures and equipment at the plant.
In the administrator’s report, village Administrator Bruce Metz said he had recently met with the GDP Group and Sawvel and Associates on the final design and construction of the new electrical substation. Metz also reported that the office renovation for the village economic director and zoning officer, Ed Maxwell, was going well.
“We have the drywall up and ready to paint and have the carpet picked out, so it won’t be long until Ed will be in his new home away from home. We are excited to get things squared away,” Metz said.
Metz also reported that village Electrical Superintendent Dave Overman was called to assist in an emergency mutual aid recovery on the east coast due to the recent winter storm that downed power lines and terminated electrical service to thousands of residents, public utilities and businesses. Overman was invited to participate by the city of Piqua, who had an empty seat available in their electrical truck that was transporting technicians to the devastated area. Mayor Scott Klopfenstein noted he was pleased that David was selected and that Jackson Center was represented in such a worthy effort.
“We are extremely proud of the fact Dave was chosen to go and participation in this program assures reciprocal assistance in the event our town is ever in need of like services due to natural disasters. It has been a great learning experience for Dave who is working 16 hours a day and getting first-hand experience on how a situation like this handled” Klopfenstein said, “Dave also noted he is learning how to work with ‘ticked-off people without electricity’ and that there have been a lot of challenges along the way, I’m sure he will have a lot of stories to share when he gets back home” Klopfenstein said.
Before going into executive session, Metz updated council on a few projects underway and the progress being made.
“We are about finished with installing the new storm drain tile and grate behind the movie theater. It should be finished up tomorrow if all goes well,” Metz said. Metz also noted that Maxwell reported two new housing permits were issued for the Parkview subdivision and that there will be a meeting next Monday concerning the annual audit for the village. Maxwell reported he had contacted several of the largest users of village electrical power to discuss changes in their utility rates but had heard back from just a couple thus far.
