CENTERBURG — Centerburg Village Council accepted BK Layer LLC’s bid for the Jerry Street storm sewer project at Monday night’s meeting.

BK Layer submitted a bid of $189,287. The engineer’s estimate was $205,000.

Four other companies bid on the project:

•Mid Ohio Land Worx, $191,885

•Enviro Construction Co., $192,335

•Law General Contracting, $194,046.46

•Ironsite Inc., $243,900

The project includes installing a 36-inch culvert, connecting a storm pipe to the catch basin, and constructing a concrete headwall.

The bid also covers clearing, backfilling, seeding, and mulching.

Council members waived the three readings and authorized spending up to $190,0000 on the project.

Utility worker Alex Gowans said the project start date is uncertain.

“AEP has been working to relocate poles for that project. I know that they moved one; I don’t know about a second,” he said.

The anticipated completion date is Oct. 15.

An Ohio Public Works Commission grant will cover most of the project’s cost.

Reports

Village administrator

Gowans reported that workers installed the backup generators at the pump stations and completed the wire connections. The units are fueled and ready for electrical inspection and startup.

Del-Co completed the water tie-in on West Main Street.

“The leaks were corrected, including the valve in the manhole at the intersection of Preston Street and Union Street and a sizable leak that surfaced recently near the intersection of Factory Street and Main Street,” Gowans said.

“They are hopeful this will help reduce a small amount of I&I in our sewer system.”

Delco is currently working across from Hometown Market.

“They have found a lot of old lines that they’ve been working around and the mess that it has created to install the new line,” Gowans said.

“We don’t have an exact date on when they will be done, but should be soon. This is the last step of that project.”

Wesley Hawk, a utility worker at the water treatment plant, will retire effective April 1. He will train Gowans and Brandon Price on wastewater plant operations.

Gowans will be reassigned to the plant full time the week of March 10.

Officials filed the deed for Memorial Park and are working to transfer the playground equipment money from Hilliar Township to the village.

All of the baseball and softball teams signed contracts for the 2025 season. USA Days and Old Time Farming festivals secured their dates.

“We are in the process of re-keying everything at the park so we can issue keys to the users for this season,” Gowans said.

Village Administrator Teri Wise will meet with the Area Development Foundation and Knox County Foundation to create a timeline for installing the new playground equipment.

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Legal

Solicitor Kyle Strough anticipates having an annexation agreement for Memorial Park and AMVETS by the April council meeting.

COJFD

Chief Mark McCann reported the Central Ohio Joint Fire District sold an old engine for $3,000 and a prevention vehicle on govedeals.com.

The department received a $10,500 grant from Knox County Ohio Means Jobs to train Capt. Burns as an executive fire officer.

Jill Hunter is the new COJFD board clerk.

McCann asked for prayer for a COJFD firefighter who suffered a catastrophic event and other staff members as they cope with the situation.

Hartford Volunteer Fire Department is staffing two per shift. McCann said the Johnstown Fire Department has removed Hartford from its response cards due to safety issues.

“Typically a fire engine is staffed at three,” he said. “So when you call for mutual aid, and you don’t have that kind of staffing, that creates a big problem.”

Legislative action

Council members waived the three readings and adopted legislation allowing Wise to exceed her spending authority and spend up to $100,000 on two front-end loaders and a brush sweeper.

Gowans said the village can use the equipment in various ways, including in the park, grading and fixing gravel driveways, and sludge work at the wastewater plant.

The current equipment consists of a small Kubota tractor and a John Deere 4043, which are not powerful enough to meet the demand.

“The only way we’re able to physically mix sludge is when the haulers show up with their equipment, and they allow us to use their things, which I feel is a liability,” Gowans explained.

Council members budgeted $110,000 for new equipment. Gowans found two machines for under that price.

Both loaders are used, but Gowans said both are within reasonable hours as far as run time.

“They are unfortunately out of their warranty work as far as the hours go, but after looking at them and test driving them myself, I don’t see any issues as far as they were neglected in any means in their lifetime,” he said.

Council members took the following additional actions:

•Tabled until April legislation lowering the village administrator’s spending limit, currently set at $50,000

•Gave a first read to legislation relating to village insurance

•Adjourned into executive session

by Cheryl Splain March 4, 2025