(Posted April 22, 2016)
By Sandi Latimer, Staff Writer
For the last several years, direction of West Jefferson’s public service department and parks and recreation department has been one job. On April 18, council voted to separate it into two jobs.
The two positions were consolidated into one position after the death of Jack McDowell who served as parks and recreation director for many years.
Council President Steve Johnston was skeptical about splitting the position.
“I had reservations about it,” he said. “But let’s try it. If it works, we’ll put it in the budget.”
This year’s pay scale shows $70,040 for the public service director and $20,000 for a director of parks and recreation.
John Mitchell, who currently directs both departments, indicated that the parks and recreation job would be part time, with the greatest amount of work taking place during warm weather.
Dollar General
In other action, council approved site and landscaping plans for Dollar General, which plans to construct a store in West Jefferson at Taylor Blair and Route 40.
Mayor Ray Martin said the plans include relocation of bushes and installation of a large underground drainage tank.
Jeff Paulson, an engineer with Huley & Stewart, said Dollar General should close on the land purchase within a couple of weeks and hopefully have the store open by the end of the year.
The store will be a competitor to Family Dollar and will sell mostly household items, but also dairy products and lunchmeats, Paulson said.
“We know there is a market here, and we’re excited about being here,” he said.
Post Office Food Drive
Coburn Morgan, a local letter carrier with the U.S. Post Office, announced that the West Jefferson branch is participating in a nationwide food drive. Residents are encouraged to fill a bag with non-perishable food items and leave it by their mailboxes on May 14. Letter carriers will collect the food that day.
“Everything donated here stays here,” Morgan said.
Public Hearings
The village recently adopted a separate fee schedule for commercial building permits. As a result, the Jefferson Township Fire Department needs to create a new fee schedule for the fire safety inspections it conducts at commercial buildings. Council is required to hold a public hearing on the proposed inspection fee. The hearing will take place during council’s June 6 meeting, which will start at 7 p.m. in village council chambers.
Also on June 6, council will hold a public hearing for vacation of an alley.
Congratulations
Council recognized West Jefferson High School’s mock trial team for making it to state competition. They also congratulated wrestlers Josh Doherty for placing second at state in the 160-pound weight class and Jake Burns for placing fourth in the 195-pound weight class.
Miscellaneous
Johnston said the village’s website at www.wjohio.org was hacked and is currently not functional. He said the village is working to rebuild a new site.
He also thanked Duke Realty for planting flowers and bushes on the west side of the village administration building and flowers in the gazebo park.
Martin said the Ohio Department of Transportation is repairing the bridge on the east edge of the village and will be working on the highway and trimming the trees. One lane is currently blocked off for the work.
