(Posted Jan. 14, 2019)
By Kristy Zurbrick, Madison Editor
At West Jefferson village council’s Jan. 7 meeting, Steve Johnston and Jen Warner were reelected as council president and vice president, respectively, for 2019.
Council committees for 2019 are: public service–Jim King, chair, Howard Wade, Doug Eakins; police–Eakins, chair, Johnston, King; finance–Warner, chair, Johnston, Linda Hall; employee benefits–Hall, chair, Mike Conway, Eakins; parks and recreation–Conway, chair, Warner, Hall; development–Johnston, chair, Warner, Conway; and special events–Wade, chair, Hall, King.
Council reappointed Dean Bollinger to a three-year term on the village planning and zoning commission. Bollinger thanked council for the reappointment and asked that council move more quickly on items brought before them by the planning and zoning commission.
Marci Darlington, parks and recreation director, is starting a monthly open house program at the West Jefferson Community Center, 230 Cemetery Road. Puzzles, cards, games, make-and-take crafts for children and adults, food, and use of the indoor walking track are planned. Toddler gym time is a possibility, too.
The first open house is set for Jan. 14. Moving forward, the open house will be the first day of each month. Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Additionally, Darlington said the center is open for indoor walking on Mondays from 2 to 6:30 p.m. and on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The parks and recreation department recently received a $14,000 grant from Battelle to once again host its summer Lunch & Learn program for children.
A petition requesting annexation of 250 acres of land from Jefferson Township into the village of West Jefferson was filed with the Madison County commissioners on Dec. 20. While there are no firm plans for the site at this time, Duke Realty hopes to develop the site for up to seven distribution or manufacturing facilities.
Known as the Looby property, the acreage sits on the north side of U.S. Route 29, west of the Ohio Department of Transportation garage.
At the Jan. 7 meeting, council approved a list of services it will provide to the property if it is annexed. Those services include water and sewer, police services, road maintenance including snow and ice removal, storm water utility maintenance, and zoning. The property owner would be responsible for the cost of any water or sewer extensions and connections.
