NEWTON FALLS — Village council has decided to have Thomas Fok and Associates assist the community with engineering services for upcoming projects.

Interim Village Manager Kathy King said at Wednesday’s meeting TFA will update the village’s infrastructure inventory and look into what costs would be involved for various projects such as road paving.

The firm was hired at a cost not to exceed $20l,000 for general engineering services.

She said before the village applies for any Ohio Public Works Commission or Issue 2 funding for projects she will have TFA review the projects and see what local match costs will be.

King, who was named interim village manager last month as council searches for a full-time manager, said she wants to see what projects are needed and when they need to be done.

King said plans are also underway to update the village’s website, which will allow the council agenda to be downloaded by the public from there. She said a website designer will review what the village currently has available for the public and how to enhance the site.

King said she has received calls from the public about the website.

In other business:

• Council approved King proceeding with a project for the purchase and installation of a replacement pump at the wastewater treatment plant.

Officials said the plant is currently operating on two of three pumps needed for proper operation and the village does not have a replacement pump in inventory. Lead time for procurement of a new pump is at least 16 weeks.

Officials said failure of an additional pump prior to the replacement of the failed pump would mean the wastewater treatment plant would not meet Ohio Environmental Agency standards.

Council approved getting the pump from Buckeye Pumps at cost not exceeding $38,987.

Council also authorized the sale of village-owned property to AMP Transmission LLC along with authorization of asset purchase and sale agreement and ground lease for transfer of the property where the transmission lines are located.

Council members said transmission lines and other municipal assets are being sold since they are no longer needed for municipal purposes.

The sale of the property is for $2,692,763 and the lease of property in accordance with the Lease for a one time lump sum payment by AMPT of $40,472.

Total payment from AMPT is $2,733,245.

• Third Ward Councilman Bob Burke said the committee that plans the annual July 4 celebration also will plan America 250 celebration events in the village that same week.

Girard, Braceville, Fowler and Newton Falls are among the local communities planning America 250 events this summer.

• Councilwoman Julie Stimpert said the Newton Falls Joint Fire District has four firefighters staffed per shift including in the evenings to help with fire calls coverage.

Many fire departments have had difficulty getting all shifts covered and have relied on mutual aid from other departments.