BOTKINS — The Village of Botkins Council passed a motion during its Sept. 11 meeting authorizing Village Administrator Randy Purdy to apply for, accept, and enter into a water supply revolving loan account agreement on behalf of the village for planning, design, and/or construction of water facilities, and designating a dedicated repayment source for the loan.
As part of this agreement, loan forgiveness is a potential option for a small number of applicants, Randy said. This motion was passed as an emergency in the attempt to secure this option for the village.
Council also passed a motion allowing Purdy to enter into an agreement to receive a $20,000 loan, pending the possible $10,000 forgiveness mentioned previously, for an asset management plan. This would be a five-year, interest-free loan within the water fund.
Purdy explained that an asset management plan is required by the EPA. This motion would allow the village to pay either $2,000 or $4,000 — contingent on the approval of the loan forgiveness option — per year, over five years, interest free.
Purdy reported there are 15 or 16 unique road/water line projects throughout the village, and that a timeline for the projects is currently being completed.
Other business during the Sept. 11 meeting included:
• A resolution accepting the amounts and rates as determined by the budget commission and authorizing the necessary tax levies and certifying them to the county auditor; motion passed.
• Discussion of an updated village employee handbook.
• A brief discussion about establishing standard operating procedures for the utility department.
• Executive session to discuss the purchase of real property, followed by a motion passed to approve an ordinance authorizing the village administrator to enter into an agreement for the purchase of land, and declaring an emergency.
During the village council’s Sept. 25 meeting, Purdy announced that the village had been approved for a $10,000 grant, from the EPA, to offset the cost of the generator at the water treatment plant.
Council passed a motion to enter into an engineering agreement with Mote and Associates, Inc. for the UV system at the wastewater treatment plant.
Purdy noted that former auxiliary police officers Logan Laux and Mark Bell are no longer on the village’s payroll. He thanked them for their service to the community.
Council announced the village will host a movie night on Saturday, Oct. 13, at the Village Park. The family-friendly event is free and open to the community. The movie and exact time are to-be-determined.
In other business, the council discussed:
• An easement for electricity to go across the park lane for soccer lights and future building
• Circle K re-branding/replacing signage
• The future of routine firetruck replacement
• The transfer of land from possession of the school to the village
• The return of restricted-use land to previous owners
• Project proposals
• Funding for project at Veteran’s Park
• Income tax refunds
• LED signage at 25A and state Route 274
The next council meeting, which will double as the village’s budget meeting, is set for Tuesday, Oct. 9, at 7 p.m. Meetings are open to the public and are held in council chambers, at 210 S. Mill St.
