Let’s take a quick look at what your Village Council accomplished in 2022. First of all you elected 4 brand new individuals to Village Council. They all expressed a desire for transparency and growth. And they hit the ground running with their colleagues. One of the very first actions they took was to establish a Live Streaming Policy that promotes greater access and awareness of the issues before the village and how they approach decision making. Now anyone may watch a Council, Commission, or Committee meeting on their computer in real time or at their leisure. And, by the way, a new microphone has been installed so meetings can be more clearly heard. It will be in operation at the next Council meeting. The next action council took was to establish an Economic Development Commission. That happened last September. An introduction and orientation of the new Economic Development Commissioners will take place on February 8th. The new commissioners will be announced at the next Council meeting on February13th. The purpose of this commission will be to work to develop a plan for economic growth. Someone once said that the best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The person who plants the tree likely will never sit under the shade it offers nor enjoy the fruit that it bears. Similarly, the establishment of an Economic Development Commission is that seed that is being planted. It is a beginning, …

2022 Recap & What’s to come in 2023! Read More »

On July 13, 2022 Mayor Neil Toeppe, Public Service Superintendent Neil Tedrow and Village Administrator Shannon Shulters completed the Project 8&9 Sewer Separation walk through with Jones & Henry Engineers and Underground Utilities to address the concerns of residents regarding the greater than an inch drop off from driveway to road and the current grass growing being mainly weeds. It was assured that concerns and issues would be taken care of this fall. The orginally scheduled July 5, 2022 Planning Commission took place on July 13, 2022 at 6:30 PM. Special Public Hearing was called to order to conduct a Site Plan Review for 10 Turtle Creek. The applicant desires to construct a commercial building at 10 Turtle Creek named Birchwood Meadow Event Venue. The intent of the building is to house various events such as weddings and conferences. Mayor Toeppe stated that the only concerns from CT, in which he had already addressed prior to the meeting, were what types of flowers/trees would be planted along with the type of wood that would be used for the sign. Mayor Toeppe assured CT that the Village of Swanton would handle making sure the business complied with the ordinances when it came time to plant flowers/trees and put up a sign. Mr. DeGood’s only recommendation to Mr. & Mrs. Mills is to make sure they contact the Ohio Department of Forestry to get approval of species being planted.  Mr. Erdman’s concern …

Project 8&9 Update & Planning Commision Meeting Read More »

At the June 27th Swanton Village Council meeting, Shannon Shulters was hired to become the next Village Administrator, replacing Rosanna Hoelzle who had submitted her resignation with an effective date of July 5, 2022. Shannon started on July, 11 2022. “It’s only been a few days, but I am hitting the ground running, I am excited to be a part of the Village of Swanton and look forward to working with the community as a whole.”

The Swanton Fire and Rescue Division is looking to fill full time and part time positions. The ideal applicant should possess great character including but not limited to: must be able to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees and must be able to work as part of a team in completion of emergent and non-emergent tasks. Valid State of Ohio Firefighter I and EMT certifications required; Paramedic certification preferred. If you do not possess one or both of these certifications, please contact SFRD to discuss other options.

Here is an update related to Project 8 & 9. Everything is weather contingent and barring any unforeseen issues May 12: Mill Browning and Sanderson May 13: Asphalt scratch course on Browning and Sanderson On May 12 and 13 work on Browning will not start until after 8:00am to allow the bus traffic to clear. It is anticipated that the work will be completed each day ahead of the bus traffic at 3:00. May 16 and 17: Place asphalt base on Mettabrook May 18, 19 and 20: Prepare driveway approaches on Mettabrook for concrete. The following week, Smith Paving to complete concrete placement. May 19 and 20: Remove temporary concrete in Main Street road crossing and plate until asphalt is placed.

The contractor for Project 8 &9 plans to start removing pavement and start roadway excavation on Mettabrook beginning Friday May 6, dependent on the incoming weather; this means Mettabrook will be closed to thru traffic. The excavation will not be as severe as the W. Garfield work and residents will be able to access their driveways as long as construction allows. W. Garfield will be getting the intermediate course today, May 4, and will be open to thru traffic at the end of the day tomorrow, May 5- barring any unforeseen issues.

On Wednesday May 11, 2022 the Village of Swanton will be smoke testing the sewers on Forrester; South Main Street between Airport Highway and Swanton Cemetery; and Airport Highway between Paigelynn Street and Main Street. Smoke testing is used to find broken pipes and connections to the sewer. The Village of Swanton hired Jones & Henry Engineers, Ltd., for this testing. All personnel involved with the testing can be properly identified either by badges or clothing. Please contact the above mentioned Village personnel if you have any concerns about the testing crew. This testing is scheduled to take one day. The study will involve opening manholes in the streets and public utility easements and blowing smoke through the sewers with a portable blower. An important task of the testing will be to locate defects in the sewer system. The smoke testing will also reveal sources where storm water and other surface waters enter the sanitary sewer or combined sewer system.

Happy Administrative Professionals Day! The Village of Swanton wouldn’t run as smoothly without our great Administrative Assistants! Thank you to Amy and Olivia in the Administration Office and to Mary in our Village of Swanton Police Department for all they do!The Administration Office will be closed from 12-12:30p on April 27. Staff will return calls and emails after lunch.

Concrete drives and sidewalk are finished on W. Garfield. Asphalt paving on W. Garfield, Allen, West is tentatively scheduled for the week of May 3. Contractor will be grading, top soiling, and preparing for pavement installation on W. Garfield this week.

Council updated regulations related to sanitary sewer charge exmeptions for filling pools. Please contact the Administration Office for more information. 419.826.9515. § 51.168  EXEMPTION OF SEWER CHARGE ON INITIAL FILLING OF SWIMMING POOLS.    (A)   Users shall not be charged for sewer charge the first time a new pool is filled upon initial construction.    (B)   Users, who have a zoning permit on file with the village for an existing swimming pool, constructed within the last 15 years, are eligible for an annual flat fee adjustment for the  sewer charge on the initial annual filling of said swimming pool. This adjustment request must be submitted, to the village, within 60 days of the initial annual fill.       (1)   The Village Administrator, or his/her designee, will confirm if a zoning permit is on file, within the property records maintained by the village, and confirm that said pool on permit still exists, before adjustment will be reviewed.       (2)   Once zoning permit and pool are confirmed, users shall read the water meter before and after the pool is filled, and report the meter readings, with subsequent dates of said readings, to the village on approved form.       (3)   The village reserves the right to verify readings, and dates, within the fixed network system used for utility meter readings.       (4)   The flat fee will be approved by Council annually.    (C)   Inflatable pools, of any size, and any temporary pools are not included in this exemption. Temporary pools are those which are used for the season …

Changes to sanitary sewer charge exemption for filling pools Read More »