NEW KNOXVILLE – Work will begin Monday or Tuesday of next week on a project to repaint the village’s water tower following a vote by New Knoxville Village Council during its Aug. 15 meeting.

Council approved purchase orders of $35,700 to H2O Towers to paint the tower and $14,000 to Artesian of Pioneer Inc. for use of a temporary tank system to maintain water pressure during the project. It’s estimated the work will take around a week, weather permitting.

In his report to the council, Village Administrator Rex Katterheinrich said Monday, Aug. 20, at 9 a.m., around 10 homes in the Westphalia subdivision would lose water service for approximately 5 hours while the contractor temporarily closes off valves to allow the tie-in of new water lines for the Estates at Northfeild Place subdivision. No water boil will be issued once the work is completed.

Council rejected a third reading of an ordinance regulating the installation of small cell technology on public land. Village Solicitor Jason This recommended the ordinance be rejected to allow them to create their own design standards for this new technology that would allow the village to decide on how these installations would appear. This original ordinance was in response to House Bill 478.

Council approved the third reading agreeing to the annexation of 36 acres adjacent to the Crown Equipment facility. They also approved resolutions to accept the amounts and rates as determined by the Auglaize County Budget commission for tax levies and to accept the Auglaize County proposed alternative plan for distribution for local government funds. Fiscal Officer Abby Homan said both were the same as last year.

In other business, Katterheinrich and This explained how to clear up ownership of a small sliver of land between the Barbara (Wicker) Starr property and the village park. This said that when the park’s land was annexed by the village, a .033 acre strip of land approximately 1 foot wide and 116 feet long was left without clear ownership. The solicitor said that a quit claim deed accepted by the property owner would clear up the matter.

Council set its next meeting for Wednesday, Sept. 12, at 7:30 pm.