Tuesday, February 27th, 2018
St. Henry to annex 27 acres for new Landmark facility
By Tom Stankard
Photo by Tom Stankard/The Daily Standard
Metalworker Tom Weidemeyer of Astro Pool Co., Mans-field, on Monday installs a screen over gutters at St. Henry's new village swimming pool at North Park.
ST. HENRY - Village council members on Monday approved Mercer Landmark's request for land annexation from Granville Township into the village.
Members passed under suspension of rules an ordinance approving the request. Village administrator Ron Gelhaus told council members the 27.495-acre property near State Route 118 and Carthagena Road was purchased by Mercer Landmark for a new facility.
This is the first step in annexation, Gelhaus added. Mercer County commissioners will consider the request next, and if they approve, council will vote on a second ordinance for final approval.
Also during Monday's meeting, council members approved a $63,690 change order for the pool construction. Gelhaus said the order will allow for a water feature in which people will be able to hold onto an overhead rope and walk on stepping platforms that resemble lily pads.
Also included are a basketball hoop and a rock climbing wall that will be added sometime in the future.
Gelhaus said the project remains on schedule and within its $1.2 million budget despite the additional cost.
Crew members are welding the gutters and installing piping inside the pump house, which is about 40 percent complete, he said. Crews next will begin installing pipes for the spray pad.
"Things are moving along, and they're on schedule to be open by Memorial Day," Gelhaus said.
Elsewhere, workers from Shinn Brothers Inc., Celina, have installed half of the water line from two wells west of town to the village treatment plant.
Gelhaus said the only work left to be done at the wellfield is to install electrical service, which Dayton Power & Light is scheduled to begin today.
Park board members are discussing possibly raising the rates at the pool, Gelhaus informed council members. No final rates have been set yet.
Mayor Steve Koesters presented former council member Bill Bohman with a plaque commemorating him for his more than 17 years of dedication and service to the village.
"Thank you from me and the council members," Koesters said.
"It was a pleasure working you guys," Bohman said. "I actually had a good time here 99 percent of the time. Good luck to you in your future endeavors.
In other news, council members,
• changed future council meeting start times to 6 p.m. beginning in March.
• learned the St. Henry Fire Department will host a pancake and sausage fundraiser from 7 a.m.-1 p.m. March 4.
• learned the St. Patrick's Day Parade, 5K run/walk and other events will take place on March 18.
