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WELLSVILLE -- Matt Brophey of Scout Solar Tuesday presented the design plans for the solar power structures and capital improvement projects to Wellsville Village Council.
As they are doing with projects in East Liverpool, Scout Solar will work with Columbiana County Career and Technical Center (CCCTC) and New Castle School of Trades. Each will provide Scout Solar with 12 welders and New Castle will provide students who are training as electricians to work on the projects and get additional training.
The projects in Wellsville include a new salt dome for the village, a solar structure for the sewage disposal plant and a solar light for the Wall of Honor and possibly the boardwalk and the wall with the murals. They will also be tearing down the Jim Kenny Center.
Work is scheduled to begin in two weeks on the projects. The Salt Dome is expected to arrive in January.
In his report to council Fire Chief Barry Podwell said the mayor has approved the hiring of three part-time dispatchers at $10 an hour. This will help reduce overtime for two dispatchers currently working.
Podwell also noted that he is waiting for paperwork to be finalized on the sale of the ladder truck.
In his report Mayor Bob Boley asked residents to let village officials know if they have a street light out. He also said that once notified of a light out it can probably be repaired by the next day. All residents have to do is tell them the location of the pole and the number that is on the placard on the pole.
The mayor said he also wanted to address rumors floating around regarding the post office and Huntington Bank.
Boley said he contacted Congressman Bill Johnson's office who contacted Washington D.C. and confirmed that the Wellsville Post Office is not closing. He also said that the rumors regarding Consumer Bank purchasing Huntington Bank are not true.
Boley said he and Fiscal Officer Hoi Wah Yu met with Consumers Bank who told them they were going to put in a bid for the bank once it closes and that it would be up for bid to other banking establishments as well.
Also in his report, Boley said the village needs to make some money off the reservoir and one way to do that is to look into the select logging of it. Logging it could bring in a couple hundred thousand dollars that could go toward paving roads. He would like to proceed with getting bids and make sure it is done selectively. He would also like to see some of the pine trees that are overcrowding the park or are dead come out of the park.
Council member Karen Dash noted in her report for property/sewer that the land bank has taken down two homes in the village and have plans to take down four more.
Council voted all in favor to approve the 3.5% increase for the Veolia Contract for 2023. Veolia provides services to Wellsville for the wastewater treatment plant and collection.
Council also voted all in favor on three ordinances: one modifying late fees for burials at the cemetery, one to amend appropriations for current expenses and one to approve the 2023 budget.
Wellsville Village Council meets the first and third Wednesday of the month at 6 p.m. at the Wellsville Administration Building. The next meeting is scheduled for Dec. 20.
kgarabrandt@mojonews.com