Okawville Village Board Approves Contract With Washington County Senior Services
By Jill Moon
The Okawville Village Board held its monthly meeting on October 24.
Finance and Contracts Committee Chairman Morris Ritzel introduced a motion to approve a contract for one year with Washington County Senior Services. The Village would mostly be providing utilities and would be paid $1000 per month for services. This motion passed.
Personnel and Property Chairwoman Ronda Pryor brought a motion before the board to keep Blue Cross Blue Shield as the health insurance provider for village employees. There will be a monthly increase of $101.18 but that is the total increase for the whole group, not per employee. The motion passed.
Pryor also introduced Ordinance 538 which would vacate a section of Alma Street east of Elkton Street and ending where the Catholic Church property began. Mayor David Jasper thought it was already vacant as there were no residents listed at the courthouse. This also passed.
Chairman Brian Nelson of the Streets and Sidewalks Committee said they had been discussing putting culverts on Spruce Street and that resident Doris Styninger had volunteered to pay for them if the Village did the installation.
The committee had also discussed covering Hanover Street with concrete from Sycamore Street to the Lutheran Church parking lot and from Fifth Street south. These projects will have to wait for summer.
Police Committee Chairwoman Sarah Deterding told the board that Charter has the new telephone system up and running smoothly. She said the Village took in $620.93 from circuit clerk fines and $4,194.37 in video gaming receipts, which the board agreed was a record.
Chairman Nelson also reported for the Water and Sewer Committee that the bid for the Hanover Street waterline project had been awarded to Haier Plumbing and Heating. He said the transmission has failed in the old Ford water truck and the committee was actively looking for a replacement.
Hesker introduced a motion to hire Curry and Associates to do the engineering for the Pinch Bridge Sewer Line Project and to take care of soliciting bids for the project. This motion passed. Jasper commented that they were in the process of requesting permits from the Environmental Protection Agency and other required agencies.
A semi-annual liquor license was approved for Christ Bros., Inc, American Legion Post #233 and Plum Creek Golf Course. An annual liquor license was approved for The Original Springs Hotel.
