JACKSON CENTER — The village of Jackson Center is beginning preparations for the total solar eclipse in 2024.
On Monday, April 8, 2024, the village, along with the state of Ohio, will experience a total eclipse at 3:13 p.m. It is expected to last three minutes, 55 seconds. Shelby County officials are expecting the population to triple during it. They are asking surrounding areas to prepare for gridlock-style traffic, among many other issues. Few council members are discussing the possibly of scheduling activities to make the day more eventful for attending people.
A meeting and a committee were mentioned to help organize the event, or events, better.
The first reading of the draft for the rules and regulations of Jackson View Cemetery, formerly known as The Seventh Day Baptist Cemetery, was held. It was discussed that the Public Property Committee will handle the project. Ed Maxwell said the current list is a work-in-progress. He mentioned he was looking at securing some maintenance grants, and would need to file the rules by March 15 to qualify for them.
Wayne York brought up setting a date for the Christmas Decorations Committee to meet to go over ideas and material that Village AdministratorBruce Metz collected for the project. One will be decided soon.
Metz was pleased to say that the Hudson St Project is 75% complete. All they have to do is to set the manhole cover and 300 feet of piping. He is hoping to be done by the spring for ODOT to pave the roads.
Leisha Elchert said the fire department went on five runs the first six weeks of 2023. They are also looking at possibly signing up a few new members, some of which are already trained at other stations. The police department will put on a safety presentation at the high school on distracted driving while reviewing the applications of two part-time law enforcement officers.
The Ohio Municipal League (OML) asked if the village would like to join their organization for $250. They said they would like to reform the existing tax structure to provide the citizens of the village a better deal on their taxes. The offer to join was accepted.
Anna Rescue Squad Chief David Klopfenstein was in attendance. He let the council know that two people are almost done with their Mediclass and one for EMS training. He was mostly there to inform the village that he and other members were getting plans together for a new building to work out of. The plan is to become a fully staffed 24-hour facility within the next five years. Currently, they have two employees working 6 a.m.- 6 p.m. with volunteers handling the night and weekend shifts. The reason he wants to start the project soon is volunteering is on the decline, making it harder and harder to find people to cover such shifts.
In other business, council:
• Approved a resolution to create an Enterprise Improvement Fund for the Public Works Commission to start the Water Pipe Project. So far, the village secured a State Capital Improvement Fund of $249,000 and a no interest loan for the same amount.
• Approved a resolution to secure the second 2023 Chevrolet Silverado Truck. This one will be used by the Parks Department. It’ll cost the same as the first one purchased last month. That one is almost ready as they are currently installing the lights package needed for it to perform its duties.
