MINSTER – An ordinance limiting the use of firearms in the village had its first reading at Tuesday night’s Minster Village Council meeting.
Village Administrator Don Harrod said the amendment to the current village municipal code on firearms closed some loopholes. The new ordinance would prohibit the discharging of any firearms except by the police, national guard, during a military ceremony or in defense of property.
In other actions, council approved the third reading of an ordinance awarding a $139,700 contract with Helms and Sons for the Ohio Street Curb Replacement Project. Work is expected to begin in 2019.
Council also approved a final payment of $66,266.20 to Paulus Excavating for the Industrial Park paving project. Harrod said the total bill for the project was $467,946.93.
Under old business, council approved village employee health insurance rates. Harrod said the Anthem raised the rates 2.6 percent, with an annual cost of $37,557, up from $36,595.
In his administrator report to the council, Harrod said contractor bids for the new northwest substation project are due back on Oct. 11. He said council would receive a report from consulting firm Encompass Engineering around Nov. 1, once they had reviewed the bids.
In other news, Harrod said two public meetings had been set up by the tax levy committee to discuss the proposed fire and emergency services tax levy set to appear on the Nov. 6 ballot. On Sunday, Oct. 14, at 2 p.m. and Wednesday, Oct. 24, at 7 p.m. people will be on hand at the Fire Department building to discuss details.
Harrod also said that dirt work around the industrial park retention pond should be finished by the end of the week. In addition, crews from Parish Tennis Courts had completed re-coating the west tennis courts and was expected to install the fencing in the next two weeks.
Dannon representative Wes Farno received permission of council to use the Four Seasons parking lot for an Oct. 27 event from 1 to 10:30 p.m.
Council approved the receipts totaling $1,938,168.85 and invoices totaling $1,291,529.54.
