BOTKINS — As in past years, people who attend the Botkins Carousel festival later this year will be able to purchase and consume alcohol in designated areas.

The Botkins Village Council gave third reading and unanimous approval to an ordinance allowing alcohol sales and consumption during the popular, annual event.

The council also gave first reading to an ordinance that would permit the sale and consumption of alcohol in designated areas during a Botkins Local Schools Athletic Boosters fundraising wiffleball tournament, tentatively planned for Aug. 11-12 in Botkins Community Park.

Council members discussed a sidewalk project, which is in the preliminary planning stages.

“Council’s intent is to get sidewalks on all streets that don’t have them,” said Village Administrator Randy Purdy. It could take a long time. It was noted that a similar project in the village of Jackson Center took 20 years.

“Council is dedicated to getting a good strategic plan (for the project) and doing it right the first time,” Purdy said. He added that there will be a public meeting to solicit resident feedback in the future.

In other business, the council:

• Authorized Purdy to renew the village’s contract for health insurance for employees.

• Approved attendance by the fiscal officer and the administrator at the Local Government Officers Conference, April 12-13 in Columbus.

• Learned from Purdy that funds not needed for a water project completed in 2010 had been returned to the Ohio Water Development Authority and that, as a result, the village’s loan repayments have been reduced by $3,640 annually for the length of the loan.