NEW BREMEN – On Monday night, March 23, New Bremen Council announced the new village parks manager and set Saturday for an Easter Egg distribution.
The new park manager, Adrian Speelman, is expected to begin with the village on April 5. He currently works in Columbus, at the OSU Chadwick Arboretum as a horticultural assistant. After graduating from New Bremen High School, he obtained a horticultural degree from OSU.
Members from the New Bremen Historical Society and Miami Erie Canal Association came to the meeting to request approval for signage at the Lockkeepers House downtown. After some discussion as to how the sign should appear and where it would be located, it was decided to seek public comment before voting on the matter by posting on the village website a representation of what the two historical organizations want.
Mayor Robert Parker said the Rotary of New Bremen, Minster, and New Knoxville is hosting an Easter Egg Distribution Saturday, March 27, at 1 p.m. in the parking lot behind the library. This replaces the traditional Easter Egg hunt which was canceled due to COVID concerns.
The mayor also said the Annual State of the Villages meeting would be held Thursday, March 25, at 7:30 a.m. at the New Bremen American Legion, with mayors of each town detailing the accomplishments of their respective municipalities.
Village Administrator Brent Richter shared a long list of activities going on in the village.
He said the Village’s annual Garage Sale has been set for April 16 and 17 and the Village Cleanup day is May 1. Also, brush pickup began this week and will continue until mid-November.
He said the Walnut Street sanitary sewer installation was complete and now residents can begin to connect to the new lines. Until this sewer line installation, there had only been access to septic tanks.
The village has hired an attorney with an environmental focus to negotiate an equitable solution with the EPA on what the agency is currently requiring in regards to new guidelines for water quality. Richter said that until that is settled, work on the water plant is on hold.
Shinn Brothers Construction has submitted a permit application to the Ohio Department of Health for the drainage pipe replacement project at the municipal pool. Once that is approved, Richter said Shinn hopes to begin construction by April 1.
After approving a second reading of an ordinance called Behind The Meter, it was agreed to table the ordinance while the village administrator worked out the final wording of the measure. Called Behind The Meter, the ordinance would define how much excess electricity generated from privately owned units such as solar, wind or geothermal, could be sent back to the village.
Council also approved a second reading of an ordinance renewing the Anthem Medical Insurance policy for village employees and a third and final reading designating the bank used for their financial dealings.
Council then adjourned to executive session but no action was taken when they returned.
