By LANCE MIHM
lmihm@dailystandard.com
NEW BREMEN — New Bremen councilors put together a list
of “highly likely” and “probable” projects
for 2004 during a three-hour special meeting Saturday.
Village administrator Larry Durkee explained the things brought
up for discussion were basically “want lists” submitted
by various departments for the council to prioritize.
“You never can get everything you ask for because of budget
restraints,” said Jeff Pape, serving in his first official
capacity as mayor.
The village eventually put together a short list of projects
that seem likely for 2004. Two projects topped the list. They
were a stop light at the Amsterdam Road-Ohio 66 intersection
and needed maintenance to the two village water towers.
“Those are the two most pressing items,” Pape said.
The village tried for more than two years to get a stop light
at the Amsterdam intersection, but found itself roadblocked
by budget constraints or arguments with the Ohio Department
of Transportation about the need for a light at that intersection.
Several business owners approached the council about putting
in a traffic light. Wayne Ziegenbusch, representing the Businessmen
at Amsterdam Center partnerships did so at the Dec. 9 meeting.
The intersection, on Ohio 66 from Pizza Hut on the west and
Rump’s Service Station on the east. It has been the site
of several accidents, he told the council members.
Water tower maintenance was declared a priority in December
after video inspections of the towers uncovered lime deposits
and chipping paint inside the tower.
Other items declared highly likely for 2004 were purchase of
a backhoe, street sign maintenance, purchase of a new police
car, joint purchase of a grass truck with German Township and
revamping of the tennis courts and basketball facilities at
Bremenfest park.
The council also discussed replacing newly elected councilor
Austin Ewingon the council.
Ewing, who was elected to one of the two vacant seats in the
November election, submitted a letter of resignation Dec. 9.
Ewing is moving out of state. His term was to have begun Jan.
1.
Interested candidates included Bob Nagel, Ron Willet, and November
mayoral candidate Craig Hoffman, along with Ed Rump and Jim
Ashman, who had unsuccessful council seat bids in November.
“We will most likely make an appointment at the next council
meeting,” Pape said.
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