Special Weather Statement issued December 4 at 5:17AM EST by NWS Wilmington OH (details ...)
Wind gusts of 40 MPH are possible from this afternoon through Thursday afternoon. Some locally higher gusts of 45 to 50 mph will be possible this evening. These winds may blow around loose or light weight objects such as decorations, in particular inflatable decorations.
A cold front moves through this evening bringing the potential for snow showers. While accumulations will generally be less than an inch, quick bursts of snow will lead to reductions in visibility. In addition, quickly falling temperatures will lead to the potential for slick spots on surfaces. Cold conditions are expected Thursday morning with wind chill values between -5 and 5 degrees.
Today 39° Today 39° chance 15° 15° Tomorrow 27° Tomorrow 27° chance 17° 17° chance
Tuesday, August 9th, 2016

St. Marys council OKs $1M for substation

Mill funds approved

By Jared Mauch
ST. MARYS - The Spokeworks Substation near the intersection of Cleveland Avenue and Axe Street will receive more than $1 million in upgrades.
City council members on Monday approved under suspension of the rules an emergency ordinance authorizing a contract for the expansion of the substation with Power Construction Group of Uniondale, Ind., for $1.1 million. Power Construction Group offered the lowest of four bids, safety service director Greg Foxhoven said.
The expansion will allow the substation to receive new switch gears, a new transformer and a building in which workers can safely operate.
The improvements will allow the substation to distribute more electricity to users and fit inside the 2.3 acres of fenced-in area at the location, Foxhoven said after the meeting.
The expansion will be split into two parts with concrete pads for the new pieces poured first, followed by the installation of the units. Work should be completed by the end of February, he said. The new transformer should arrive in January with the others arriving earlier in November.
The decision to upgrade follows the recommendation in a 2012 study by Spectrum Engineering.
"As the system study continued, they determined that we would be able to double the capacity of an existing substation already, which is the Spokeworks Substation," Foxhoven said.
The expansion would negate the need for a fifth city substation. The contractor will pour the concrete and tie all the new equipment into the electrical system, he said.
The funding is covered by yearly appropriations and from the $2.1 million note for electrical projects that council members approved in April, Foxhoven said.
In other action, council members unanimously approved the use of $650,000 in state revolving loan funds to help preserve the Reservoir Mill on High Street.
City officials have said the funds will be used to strip down the mill to its original footprint and renovate exterior walls. Funds for work on the interior of the building could later be secured through other grants or loans.
Officials have said once the interior is restored, it could serve as a banquet hall for receptions and other events.
The mill was constructed in 1847 and is one of the last mills located along the Miami-Erie Canal. Mayor Patrick McGowan said he had received 395 responses from residents favoring mill improvements and 19 opposed.
Council members also,
• approved a resolution congratulating the St. Marys Seahawks Swim Team for the 2016 season.
• heard second reading of a resolution donating the property at 542 N. Front St. to Lots for Soldiers. The home on the property had been destroyed by a fire in April 2015 and the property owner gave the property to the city, Foxhoven previously said. Lots for Soldiers had shown interest in the property.
Additional online story on this date
New Bremen
NEW BREMEN - The village will participate in a study that will look into merging its emergency medical services with those in Minster and Fort Loramie. [More]
Subscriber and paid stories on this date
Coldwater
COLDWATER - Village council members at Monday's meeting accepted the $1.157 million bid from Shinn Brothers Inc. of Celina for the sewer overflow elimination project.
CELINA - The family members of a 1993 Celina murder victim are fighting the killer's request for parole.
The victim's daughter, Leigh Ann Post-Tayl
It's literally lights, camera, action every day for a Burkettsville native who works as a freelance camera assistant for TV shows and movies.
Kyle Petitjean, a 2007 St. Henry High School graduate, spends his days on the sets of TV shows and movies, working on what he calls a true passion.
School board members discuss goals for school year
MARIA STEIN - Incorporating more STEM opportunities is one of the goals school board members are eyeing for the upcoming school year, which starts Aug. 24.
ST. HENRY - Parking will no longer be allowed at 501 N. Eastern Ave. near the intersection of state routes 118 and 119.
Village council members on
Staff Reports
ST. MARYS - The 33rd annual St. Marys Summerfest kicks off Thursday and runs through Sunday at Memorial Park in downtown St. Marys.
Opening ceremonies are at 6:45 p.m. Thursday. Summerfest will feature a variety of entertainment and food.
Razz-Eye View
Whenever I covered Coldwater sporting events, especially baseball, I always made a point to say hello to two people. One was Roger Tangeman, who passed away two years ago.