(Posted April 18, 2018)
By Sandi Latimer, Staff Writer
West Jefferson could be growing acre by acre.
Council members voted on April 16 to begin the process of annexing two parcels of land into the corporation limits on the village’s west side. Both are zoned agricultural and will remain agricultural until owners decide otherwise, said Council President Steve Johnston.
Council approved legislation that spells out the services the village can provide to the acreage: sanitary sewer and potable water, police services, road and street maintenance, ice and snow removal, storm water utility maintenance, zoning, and any other services afforded to the village residents.
One parcel is 28.912 acres near I-70 in Jefferson Township. The other is 498.7 acres bordering I-70, U.S Route 42 and U.S. Route 40 in Deer Creek Township. Petitions for the annexations were filed with the Madison County commissioners on April 12.
Two other pieces of legislation adopted during the 20-minute council meeting involved the police department. The first authorized Chief Richard Hardy to order a 2018 Ford Interceptor SUV from Lebanon Ford along with the peripheral equipment. The cost of the vehicle is $27,372 while the peripherals will run another $9,335 from Parr Public Safety Equipment in Plain City.
The other item concerned the dispensation of unclaimed property. Hardy said adoption of this ordinance would put the village’s regulations in line with state guidelines. The section updated in the ordinance stipulates that any item unclaimed after 90 days can be given to a nonprofit organization or a veterans’ organization.
Council’s next meeting is at 7 p.m. May 7 in council chambers on the second floor of the village’s administration building, 28 E. Main St.
All meetings are open to the public.
