BOTKINS — Property sale and maintenance was of foremost importance during the July 11 Botkins Village Council meeting.
A representative from BIG Llc., an investment group interested in buying property in the industrial park, formally announced interest in the two acres on the south side of Commerce Drive. He also asked the council if a form of delayed payment would be possible.
“Maybe we could have some sort of small payment up front and then need to have the rest paid off after the land is occupied,” he suggested.
There was no decision made by council, and the matter will be further discussed at the Botkins Community Improvement Corp. meeting at 6:30 p.m., Monday.
In conjunction with that, the council discussed the road stubbing. For this pending sale, the road will be extended 100 feet, but total plans for the area require the road to be extended 300 feet. Engineering for that project will cost $5,570.
Village Administrator Randy Purdy also brought up a few long-standing issues that the council has been working through. First, he brought up the 50-year plan that includes the Woodland Subdivision and the Hageman farm that borders the Botkins’s corporation limit to the north.
He informed council that the projected engineering cost of the Hageman property will be $4,450, but council member Craig Brown asked for elevations to be included and so the number is subject to change.
In the Woodland Subdivision, basements are being dug out, and will be continued through August.
Purdy also informed council that some water and sewer bills are showing the same amount in arrears that is currently due on their bill, and is incorrect. The issue is being addressed.
Purdy updated a few other maintenance matters as well, including the Miami Valley lighting replacement schedule and maintenance. Purdy spoke with a representative, and she informed him that the village is scheduled for 2018, but they may come out to replace the currently broken lights before then. They will also come out and fix the exposed wires on Mary Street.
He also noted that he followed up on the tennis court maintenance, which he was informed will only need to be squeegeed off after rain. The council discussed buying an industrial squeegee and making it available for anyone who wishes to use the courts.
No committees had met since the last council meeting, but council member Lance Symonds spoke to Fire Chief Tom Glass about the Lexipol software subscription. The software will cost about $450 the first year, but increase rapidly in the years following. There was some discussion about trying it for a year, but after lengthy discussion, the council decided they were not interested in purchasing the software.
The council passed an ordinance that prohibits retail dispensaries, cultivators or processors of medical marijuana from operating within Botkins, and read an ordinance permitting alcohol in certain areas in Cole Field for the second time.
The next council meeting is July 25 at 7 p.m. in the council chambers.
