Madison Messenger - May 10th, 2020

PAGE 2 - MADISON MESSENGER - May 10, 2020
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West Jefferson increases water and sewer tap fees
By Josephine Birdsell
Staff Writer
On May 4, West Jefferson village council approved significant
increases to its tap fees for water and sewer services.
Tap fees are one-time charges for new construction projects tapping
into utilities the village provides. The cost depends on the size
of the line and the type of development using the line.
Previously, the tap fee for a 3/4-inch water line for single-family
residential use was $2,000. Now, it is $3,500. In the same scenario,
the tap fee for sewer went from $3,000 to $4,500.
The tap fee for a 3/4-inch water line for commercial or industrial
use went from $3,500 to $6,125. The tap fee for the same size sewer
line for the same use went from $4,500 to $6,750.
The village’s tap fees were last increased in 2013 and were low
compared to other municipalities in the area, according to John
Mitchell, West Jefferson’s director of public service. Now, the fees
are comparable to those charged by Hilliard, Westerville and other
nearby cities and villages, he said.
Council approved the new rates not only to bring them in line
with other municipalities, but also to cover the cost of recent upgrades
and repairs to the village’s water and wastewater plants and
collection and distribution systems.
The village has invested between $5 million and $6 million in
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each of the two plants, Mitchell said, and is Jefferson’s Planning and Zoning Commission, council approved a
looking to build a million-gallon water tank designation of Planned Unit Development for both parcels. C o n -
at a cost of $1.25 million to $1.5 million.
In other business, council assigned zoning
to two parcels of land at the Jefferson
Local Schools high school/middle school
complex. The school district plans to construct
a new multipurpose athletic facility
on the property.
Previously, there was no record of a zoning
classification for the parcels at 681 W.
Jefferson-Kiousville Rd, and 1 Roughrider
Dr. Based on the recommendation of West
struction of the athletic facility is projected to begin after the next
village council meeting on May 18 and will last through the summer.
The 19,200 square-foot building will feature turf flooring that
can be used by athletic teams and the marching band.
“A lot of sporting groups that typically would be outside in unfavorable
weather will benefit,” said Robert Hiss, the school district’s
director of operations.
Funding for the athletic facility will come entirely from private
donations.
The next West Jefferson council meeting is set for 7 p.m. May 18.
Extension Office remains closed
OSU Extension offices throughout Ohio
will continue with teleworking arrangements
for staff during Ohio’s extended Stay
Safe Ohio order.
Ohio’s Stay Safe Ohio Order has been extended
through May 29. While some businesses
and organizations in the state are
starting to reopen, the guidelines for reopening
offices via the governor’s office require
personnel to work from home when
possible. OSU Extension has invested in
technology that allows personnel to work
from their homes. The physical Extension
office will remain closed to the public until
further notice, but Extension staff can be
contacted during normal business hours by
phone or email.
Madison County Extension can still be
reached at (740) 852-0975. The office is
working to transition all programs intended
to be held face-to-face to a virtual format, and all personnel can still
be contacted by phone or email. Visit www.madison.osu.edu for
more information about upcoming programs or how to contact a
staff member.
PALS
Continued from page 1
Then, when Dhume retired, the original trio of a new group was
formed.
For more than a decade, they have met at the McDonald’s in
West Jefferson, welcoming new retirees, friends and the occasional
sibling. Their latest recruit, Steve Hager of Galloway, said he looks
forward to seeing them every morning.
“I drive down here every day from Galloway just to talk to them
for a while,” he said. “I enjoy their company and the male camaraderie,
and it is something I look forward to.”
With the onset of COVID-19 and a state mandate that restaurants
close their dining rooms to slow its spread, the group—which
can number as many as nine—worried their gatherings would be put
on a long hold.
Brown was determined that would not be the case.
“I was sitting in the parking lot after picking up my coffee
through the drive-through, looking around at all of this space and
called (Dhume) and told him to get down here,” he said.
With Dhume’s approval—not that Brown was looking for it—the
two texted and called their friends to tell them they would continue
to honor their tradition but at a social distance.
“We’re not going to let this virus affect our lives this way,” Brown
said.
They admit it has taken some adjustments to find the right vehicular
configuration in order to speak with each other, and Thomas
has found he is often the one who has to brave the elements in a
folding chair. But they said they are in this for the long haul.
“I think if this goes on through the winter, this group is in trouble,”
Thomas said. “I don’t want to sit in the cold, so we’re going to
have a find a portable heater or something.”
They also have a plan for socially distancing outside of their vehicles
in warmer temperatures.
“There’s a nice little patch of grass right there where I can put
my six-foot picnic table, and we can set up chairs at a distance
around it,” Brown said, pointing to a spot on the McDonald’s property.
He said that though he often gripes about seeing his friends’
faces each day, he couldn’t imagine life without this morning routine.
“We have been through a lot together,” he said. “We have had
people with serious illnesses, people who have went through hardships,
but the one thing we’ve had throughout is the support of
everyone here.
“We like to joke around and poke at each other, but we all want
to be here together. And as I said before, we’re not going to let this
virus take that away.”