Minster saved by mutual aid after March storm

MINSTER - After ex-tremely high winds from a recent storm snapped 19 power poles on the east side of Minster, the village got by with a lot of help from their friends through long-standing mutual aid agreements that brought in reinforcements.

Minster village administrator Don Harrod advised village councilors Tuesday night that the March 26 storm leveled poles and downed electric lines along State Route 119 on the east side of the village, resulting in more than a dozen customers being without power from 8:30 p.m. March 26 to 6 p.m. the following day.

"We decided that night (March 26) that we needed help," Harrod said. The call for help resulted in electric department personnel from New Bremen, Versailles, Piqua, Wapakoneta and Vaughn Electric making the trip to Minster to lend their assistance in setting new poles and stringing new power lines.

Harrod said by 6 p.m. March 27, all of the repairs had been made and electric service was restored for all customers. "We couldn't have done it without help," he said.

Councilors approved resolutions thanking the communities and Vaughn Electric for their help in putting the power lines back in order.

Harrod explained that public power systems have a mutual aid agreement to assist other communities in the event of major outages or disasters. He said Minster electric department workers have responded to outages following a tornado in the Indian Lake area as well as other emergencies in other towns. He noted this was the first time in more than 30 years that the village has made the call for help.

Under the agreement the village will reimburse the other towns and Vaughn Electric for the wages of the workers who helped with the repairs. Harrod said the process of determining the dollar loss from the storm is underway.

In the wake of the storm, Harrod said the village has ordered a supply of power poles to have on hand in the event of another emergency.

In addition to the power outage, the village also sustained other storm damage, including shingles blown off roofs at the swimming pool and Four Seasons Park and damage to concession stands and a wind screen at a ball diamond.

Councilors also:

• were informed the village electric department has received recognition from the American Public Power Association for achieving exceptional electric reliability in 2025. The department was in the top 25% of utilities in the nation with an average interruption of customer service of 13.75 minutes.

• approved on rule suspension a resolution to hire St. Marys attorney Randy Lamarr Jr. as the village magistrate for mayor's court. He will receive a $750 annual retainer and he will be paid $250 per hour for the time he serves as magistrate. He replaces Versailles attorney Tom Guillozet, who has retired.

• approved first reading of an ordinance to comply with the state sales tax policy for reimbursing public employees who make purchases for the benefit of the village with their own credit cards.

• learned PAB Construction has completed the installation of utilities and road base on the reconstruction of North Hamilton Street. Curbs and gutters are expected to be installed this week, weather permitting. Harrod also noted DL Smith crews have begun removing for replacement sidewalks that have been identified as not meeting village standards.

• heard Harrod report the public works department, with the help of Dan Paulus, repaired a leak in the forced main from the Second Street lift station to the wastewater treatment plant.

• were informed the bid opening for the Paris Street Park parking lot improvements will be Thursday, while the bid openings for the Fourth Street brick replacement project and the minor street resurfacing project will be April 16 and April 30, respectively.

• approved the March income tax report reflecting collections of $320,805, bringing this year's total to $1,075,111.

• heard councilor Nicole Clune report the street committee has discussed possible legislation to mandate parking be allowed only on the west side of South Lincoln Drive. Councilor Curt Albers suggested the parking restriction also include North Lincoln Drive. Clune said the committee also discussed the need to warn drivers of the change from the 55 mph speed limit on Bensman Road to 45 mph on State Route 119 after crossing State Route 66.

The next council meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. April 21 at village hall.