(Posted July 12, 2017)
By Amanda Ensinger, Staff Writer
According to John Martin, Mount Sterling village administrator, the village’s new water treatment plant is now closed-in and all windows and doors are in place.
“The interior walls are hung and finished with (the) first coat of paint,” Martin said at the July 10 village council meeting. “The first coat of asphalt also is in place and the final coat (will be complete) just before we take delivery.”
Originally, the plant was supposed to be complete this summer; the expected finish date is now sometime this fall.
“The expected delivery is still in question since there is a fair amount of work in the process area to be completed,” Martin said. “It may be a couple weeks before I have a revised delivery time frame. Likely toward the end of September.”
In other reports, Martin noted that road work on Clevenger Road is under way and will last through July. Also, the village is reviewing a proposal for signs at two main intersections.
“We (also) are waiting on the county engineer to schedule the Cliffview water mitigation project (and) we hope to start that soon,” Martin added.
The Mason Park maintenance work is moving along as planned, including the opening of the walking track.
“(It) is in and can be used,” Martin said. “The batting cages are installed and waiting for power to be run. The pitching machines are at the school and will need to be moved to the park.”
Backstops and nets are on the basketball courts now, and the handicap walk to the playground area is installed. Officials are just waiting for the ramp to be delivered. Two new benches will be installed near the playground.
Martin updated council on the seized inventory of former village administrator Joe Johnson, who was sentenced earlier this year to 10 years in prison for corruption, theft in office, money laundering, and tampering with records.
Recently, council approved accepting a bid of $150,500 for Johnson’s seized house, as well as hiring an auctioneer to sell off other assets seized from Johnson. However, since early summer, no new action has been taken on this.
“We are still waiting on the title search to clear for the Credit Union handling the loan for the buyer,” Martin said. “The auction details are still being worked out.”
