Council and library sign acquisition agreement By Sara Bailey
Staff Writer
OTTAWA - Ottawa Village Council members and Putnam County District Library employees signed an agreement of acquisition Monday night, details of which include:
• The Village of Ottawa is to sell four acres of land, from Putnam Parkway (south of the ESC), to library for $1.
• Library has agreed to assist the Village on infrastructure improvements (roadways and utilities) to serve the library, for a cost of $56,000.
"First of all, we'd like to thank Council for their assistance in securing land for the library," said Putnam County District Library Board of Trustees Vice President, Keith Kahle. "The flood of Aug. 2007 was devastating and it damaged our old building to the point where it was not economically feasible to go back into it, so hopefully we're going to get started for letting of bids in a couple of months."
In other business, Matt Whitehead of US Geological Survey (USGS), presented a proposal to Council regarding two additional river gauges, one at Riley Creek near Ottawa and one at Blanchard River in Gilboa.
The initial cost for the additional stream gauges and enhanced flood inundation mapping through the National Weather Service is said to be a total of $79,000.
After that, an annual cost of $14,000 will be required to maintain gauges.
"The [flood mitigation] steering committee feels very strongly this is a needed proposal," said Blanchard River Flood Mitigation Coalition Steering Committee Chairman Gene Hovest.
He added these devices will be a tremendous advantage for not only the Village of Ottawa, but also the residents of the Village.
"Flood mitigation should definitely be a priority after what we've been through," said Flood Mitigation Steering Committee member Deb Bauer.
As Council members discussed the financial situation of the river gauge proposal, Hovest mentioned, "it would be nice to get assistance from those that would benefit from this data."
Council members were encouraged by Whitehead, Hovest and Bauer to make a decision on the proposal Monday night, and so Council passed a resolution allowing the mayor and clerk-treasurer to sign an agreement with USGS.
"I think we owe it to the citizens to take care of these gauges," said Council member Tim Macke.
In other action, items from the mayor include:
• Alan Wrasman, Utilities Operator, to be removed from probation effective July 5 and adjust wages accordingly
• Jason Phillips appointed as Water Director effective July 6
• Dan Lehman and Ken Siefker appointed as Public Works Supervisors effective July 6, with a six month probationary period
• Council approved closing of Court and Hickory Streets and the front court house parking lot in anticipation of July 4 Tea Party, to be conducted nationwide, at the request of Pastor Larry Bibler.
The next Ottawa Council meeting is scheduled for June 29 at Ottawa Educational Service Center at 5 p.m., for a special Council meeting.
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