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MIDDLEFIELD -- Concern about a dangerous crosswalk in the downtown was brought to village council's attention at their meeting last week.
Resident John Kochy said the crosswalk, in front of Cinda's Restaurant on State Avenue, is not being treated as such by vehicles. He also said motorists are not paying attention to the buggy path signs and he is especially concerned about state Route 528 north when cars are often traveling at 60 mph.
He said young Amish children in low riding buggies are difficult to see and he is concerned someone will get injured or killed. Kochy said he has noticed more patrolling by the Ohio State Highway Patrol, but thinks more can be done to improve safety.
In other business, Fiscal Officer Nick Giardina said income tax collections are up 1.6% compared to last year. He said income tax collection for 2022 was approximately $11.8 million and this year, it is $12.5 million.
Giardina said although employment is down slightly compared to last year, it is still going strong and is higher than it was immediately post-COVID.
In attendance at the meeting was attorney Joe Bishara, representing Doug Susany of S.E.T. Inc., who questioned if the company would be awarded the bid for the village well project because its bid was lower than Cold Harbor's and council did not officially deny the bid. He said he is prepared to file legal action if S.E.T. is not awarded the contract, but Mayor Ben Garlich said the bid packet was incomplete, so that is why the bid was awarded to Cold Harbor even though its bid was higher. Beshara requested that council put in writing why S.E.T.'s bid was not chosen.
The fire department reported it has made 888 runs to date, which is up 25 from last year at this time.
The zoning department approved 11 permits for November, including a new 80,000-square foot Hartville Hardware.
Kim Breyley, who manages the village's website, said online traffic was down 3% in November compared to October, but is still up 13% since last year. She said there were spikes in web traffic on Nov. 27 and 29 because photos of the Glen Valley Christmas lights were posted.
Garlich confirmed appointments for committees with Kaitlyn Arganti, Bill Blue, and Scott Klein on the finance and ordinance committee; Carl Hornung, Rick Seyer and Sam Morrow on the safety committee; Morrow, Seyer and Garlich on streets, sidewalks and utilities committee; Klein, Arganti and Garlich on the recreation committee; and Hornung on the fire committee.
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