May 2020 Administrator’s Report

ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

MAY, 2020

 

UTILITY BILLING OFFICE AND ADMINISTRATOR’S OFFICES RE-OPENED:

The Billing office and administrator’s office doors are now unlocked.  The offices are open from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, with the water billing clerk in the office on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  Water bills can still be paid at the Antwerp Bank Drive-thru.  Employees are still having their temperatures taken before the start of work and no one has shown any symptoms.

 

Until the State has opened parks and the stay at home order is lifted the park will not be open and trash cans will not be replaced downtown. It is still a concern how we will keep the playground equipment sanitized on an on-going basis.

 

STORM LINE BLOCKAGE/BREAK DOWN:

The Village utility department has continued to search for the cause of water being held in the canal area between Canal and Buffalo.  Unfortunately, the sewer jet suffered a breakdown and had to be repaired by Advance Chassis which is slowing the process of determining the stormwater back up in the W. Canal area.

 

HIGH SERVICE PUMP ROOM RE-PIPING:

Re-piping of the high service pump room has been completed by Artesian of Pioneer.  The original cast iron pipes were replaced with plastic and a digital meter was also installed so we will be able to know exactly how much water is being pumped to the water tower.  The original estimate for this improvement was $20,000 and the work was completed for $18,840.00.  Some additional work may be required to replace a small section of cast iron pipe on the outside of the pump room as our water testing has revealed higher than allowed by EPA iron levels due to the piping. (Pictures of Improvement and old piping attached)

 

WATER PLANT DRIVE RE-PAVING:

The Antwerp School contacted the undersigned and stated they were going to have Loop Asphalt pave a portion of Water Plant Drive from the new Concession Stand, past the curve to the football field area.  This writer has requested a quote from Loop to finish both ends so the entire street will be completely re-paved.

 

TRASH PLACED IN COMPOST PILE:

Someone has placed a wooden/metal lamp post in the branch pile at the compost site.  Whoever brought this out to the site covered it with existing branches to conceal it.  We are currently reviewing video to try to determine who did this, but as it was hidden until we pushed the pile up, we don’t know when it happened.  If it can be determined we will turn it over to the police department.  Residents are reminded not to drop anything other than vegetation type material at the compost site.  If it continues to be abused we will have no choice but to look at closing the site. (Picture of Light Post attached)

 

GRANT REQUESTED FROM COUNTY FOR DOWNTOWN BUILDING DEMOLITION:

This writer submitted an application to the Paulding County Commissioners from the community development block grant program to assist in the demolition of a building located at 103 Railroad Street. This building is located directly behind the Home Town Pantry Building and next to the VFW Building.  (I have included a couple of pictures).  Due to the unsafe condition of this building, it is felt that the structure could fall on the VFW or into the street.  The estimated cost of this demolition and removal is $66,530.00.  This writer requested $30,000.00 from the County and also spoke with the County Land Bank Committee in an attempt to secure the balance of the cost of this project.

 

At the present time, there is a potential buyer of the Home Town Pantry and this dilapidated building.  As a part of the potential improvement project, the new owner has requested assistance in getting this building removed.  As the owner is currently developing cost estimates for the Home Town Pantry Building and having property surveys completed, the undersigned does not want to disclose too much information on what he intends to do with the building.

 

Due to the dangerous condition of this building, it is imperative that a funding source is secured to bring this building safely down.  As more information is made available, council will be informed on the progress to secure funding for the demolition and the potential investment that is currently being contemplated by a potential buyer.

 

TALL GRASS AND JUNK NOTICES ARE BEING SENT:

Tall grass notices are beginning to be sent from the Administrator’s Office.  From April through October, grass and/or weeds that reach a height of 12” of more will get a notice giving property owners 5 days to mow or the Village Utility Department will mow and charge the property owners $100.00 for any lot, except if the lot is larger than ½ acre the charge shall be $200.00.  If invoices sent for mowing are not paid by the property owner, the cost of the mowing can be placed on the real property taxes along with a $25.00 processing fee.

 

Litter or junk discovered on lots privately owned in the Village will have 15 days after the service of a notice from the Village to remove the litter.  Whoever violates this notification and does not clean up said litter and/or junk, a fine not exceeding $500.00, a term of imprisonment not exceeding six (6) months, or both can be levied.

 

Both these regulations are outlined in Village Ordinance 2013-30, passed on July 15, 2013.  The cost of mowing was increased by Ordinance 2018-11, passed on July 17, 2018.