Minister swears in its newest police officer
MINSTER — Minster swore in its newest member of the police department Tuesday night, welcoming Parker Maurer to the team.
Maurer was joined in the council chambers by family and friends as he was sworn in by Minster Police Chief
David Friend.
Maurer, a Botkins native, is a graduate of Celina High School and he received his two-year degree in criminal justice from Wright State Lake Campus.
He recently graduated from Wright State Lake Campus Police
Academy.
“I remember the day I was there and I told him, ‘If you have a day to remember, don’t forget this one,’” Friend told councilors following the swearing in ceremony. “’When you’re out there 15 years from now and you’re driving around or where ever you are, remember this
day and how excited you were about it.’”
Also Tuesday, councilors approved a motion to seek bids for the village’s East Seventh Street reconstruction project.
Village Administrator Don Harrod said that Choice One Engineering has completed the plans for the reconstruction. Seventh Street from Main Street out past Hamilton Street will get new
curbs, gutters and sidewalks as part of the project.
Harrod said that Choice One estimates the project will cost over $1.5 million.
The village will begin advertising bids on Aug. 10 and open up bids on Aug. 26.
Harrod said he’s hopeful that work can begin this fall and the project can be completed by May or June of next year.
He said that if work doesn’t begin until the winter then the project would go on until August of 2022.
In other business:
• Council approved an invoice of $31,556.72 to Buehler Asphalt Paving for work that they have completed on Hamilton Street.
• Council approved
an ordinance authorizing the issuance of a 10-year note from Minster Bank for the Second Street and Garfield Street Project. The note comes with a 1.99% interest rate.
• Councilors heard
from Harrod that the Oktoberfest Committee wants to use both the Minster Machine Centennial Park and Oktoberfest Park for this year’s upcoming Oktoberfest. Councilors approved the request and also approved the request for the event to sell alcohol.
• Harrod reported
that Minster Concrete Coatings had completed the installation of the poured-in-place rubber surface under the new playground equipment
at Four Seasons Park. There is a small area north of the playground equipment that remains fenced off so that the village can begin to get grass growing in the area.
• Harrod said the
village was looking at ordering some benches to place out by the pickleball and basketball courts as they’ve had several requests to do so.
Harrod said they would order four or five benches.
• Harrod said that
the electric department received its new John Deere backhoe which was a purchase that was approved by council earlier this year.
Harrod said that village crews have received the necessary safety
training on operating the vehicle and it’s been place into service. The old backhoe will be transferred to the wastewater treatment facility. The backhoe that is already there will be sold on GovDeals.com.
• Councilors heard
Harrod say that members of the fire department participated in a live-burn exercise last week at a house on North Cleveland Street. The house was being demolished by Nidec Minster and was provided to the FD for its live training.
• Council learned
that the Fire and Emergency Medical Services levy has been filed with the Auglaize County Board of Elections and will be placed for the Nov. 2 ballot.