MINSTER – A summer celebration, a renewal of tennis courts and discussion to renew a levy were all part of the discussions at the Minster Council meeting Tuesday night.
Council approved a request by the Minster Historical Society to close a portion of 4th Street by the museum for their third annual Food Truck Rally to be held on June 6 from 3 to 10 p.m.
Council agreed to a request for bids to redo the east tennis courts by the school. Village Administrator Don Harrod said the estimated cost of $100,00 will be shared equally by the school district. He added they had done the same work on the courts west of the school two years ago.
An intention to renew the 3 mill Fire and EMS department levy was discussed. The Council’s Safety Committee said they had met with that department to discuss their future needs and it was agreed renewal of the 3 year levy would be advisable. In 2018, two separate three-mill 3-year levies were passed to fund the Minster/Jackson Township Fire and EMS department.
Also, Council heard that the economy was more robust in February. Income tax collection totaled $423,381.37, up over $100,000 from the year before. The year-to-date total collected was $761,741.34.
In his report to Council about work being done in the Village, Harrod said his crews had closed down Hamilton Street between Fifth and Seventh streets to begin cutting down a hill that was creating a sight clearance hazard. He added that once the asphalt plants open up in early April they will resurface road.
In other action, Harrod said Homan and Stucke Construction have completed the installation of sidewalks along the east side of Main Street between Eagle Drive and Seventh Street. The sidewalks were removed to allow installation of part of the storm sewer for Seventh Street.
Harrod said a request had been made to vacate several existing streets and alleys that lay in the proposed Steeple View subdivision. This includes a portion of East Sixth Street and a portion of North Webster Street. Vacating this area will allow the realignment of the land into wider building lots.
To meet Ohio Revised Code regulations, he said the village will advertise the proposed vacation in a newspaper for six weeks before council can take any action.
The Four Seasons basketball courts are being prepped for resurfacing. He said Shinn Brothers and Woehrmyer Concrete were smoothing down high spots in preparation.
Finally, Harrod said the city of St. Marys’ Income Tax Department is offering free pick-up of tax returns. Residents can drop off their tax forms and related paperwork at the village offices and the City of St. Marys will pick them up and process them. Income Tax paperwork needs to be submitted prior to the 15 of April in order to take advantage of this service.
In other action, council approved several ordinances and resolutions.
Approved was a third and final reading of an ordinance levying a special assessment for the improvement of Second Street from Garfield Street to the Miami-Erie Canal and a portion of Garfield Street from Third Street to Second Street in the Village that included curbing and gutters, sidewalks, drive approaches, asphalt and other facilities.
Approved was an ordinance awarding small business grants through the village of Minster’s Covid-19 Business Relief Grant Program using Cares Act Funding. This action reaffirms the awarding of grants late last year. The council had realized they lacked a quorum when the matter was voted on in December.
Council also approved resolutions to allow transfer of money to various funds and to accept the amounts and rates as determined by the Budget Commission, authorizing the necessary tax levies and certifying them to the county auditor.
