Madison Messenger - July 12th, 2020

www.madisonmessengernews.com July 12, 2020 - MADISON MESSENGER - Page 3
West Jeff senior center moving to new location
By Josephine Birdsell
Staff Writer
The Jeffersonian Senior Center is moving
to a new location on Aug. 1.
Since 1985, the center has occupied
space at West Jefferson’s village hall at 28
E. Main St. The village plans to move its
building and zoning offices into that space.
The center is moving into the building at
174 E. Main St., formerly occupied by West
Jefferson Plumbing & Heating. The village
purchased the property when the plumbing
and heating business moved to a new location.
“We are excited about getting here,” said
Sherry Hook, senior center president.
The village is leasing the property to the
senior center for $1 per year.
The space at the new location is comparable
to the amount of space the center had
at village hall, said Virginia Miller, who directs
the center’s food distribution program.
But it does have some benefits, she said.
For instance, a locked facility behind the
building will allow the center to operate the
food distribution program in a separate location
from the center’s other services,
meeting federal program guidelines. And
the location has larger doors that will allow
center workers to move pallets of food in
and out of the building easily, without unloading
and reloading items.
The senior center is planning to host a
grand opening celebration in August after
they are moved in and settled, Hook said.
They also plan to host a garage sale in
the coming month to get rid of items they
won’t move to the new location, such as
dishes and Christmas decorations.
Most of the center’s regular activities,
such as Bingo nights and euchre nights, are
on hold due to COVID-19. But the center is
holding distanced monthly meetings and operating
the food distribution program.
When the center last distributed food in
May, turnout was high for eligible seniors
in the area. Miller expects a similar turnout
at the next distribution, set for 10 a.m. to 1
p.m. July 24. Members of the Ohio National
Guard will assist with passing out food. The
program is open to anyone age 60 or older
who lives in Madison County and whose income
is 130 percent or more below the Federal
Income Poverty Line.
“We work really well as a community,”
Hook said.
West Jefferson opens
pool to non-residents
Messenger photo by Josephine Birdsell
Sherry Hook, president of the Jeffersonian Senior Center in West Jefferson, stands outside
what will be the center’s new home as of Aug. 1.
Village councilman
announces resignation
By Josephine Birdsell
Staff Writer
West Jefferson’s municipal pool is now
open to non-residents.
Village council members amended guidelines
for pool use at their regularly scheduled
meeting on July 6.
The pool was originally closed to non-residents
this summer to prioritize resident
use under restricted occupancy as dictated
by COVID-19 safety regulations. However,
pool use has been low. Although the capacity
limit was set at 50 guests at a time, the
pool has typically only had 16 to 20 guests
at any given time since opening.
“This way we can get more people in (to
the pool) and hopefully get more money,”
said Steven Johnston, council president,
about lifting the restriction on non-residents.
Prior to lifting the restriction, the pool
had turned away a few non-residents, but
not a considerable amount, said Mayor Ray
Martin.
The village also is raising the pool’s occupancy
limit from 50 guests to 75 guests.
“It’s been going well the way it has
(been). The gals have done a great job up
there—the lifeguards and the managers.
We’re just taking it to the next level,” Martin
said.
Council president resigning
Steven Johnston, council president, is resigning
from council due to health complications.
His last meeting as a council
member will be on July 20. Johnston is the
village’s Ward 1 representative. The seat’s
term expires on Dec. 31, 2021.
Anyone who lives in Ward 1 who is interested
in filling the seat should send a letter
of interest by July 20 to Debbie DiLeo, clerk
of council, at ddileo@westjeffersonohio.gov
or 28 E. Main St., West Jefferson OH 43162.
The remaining council members will interview
candidates and choose someone to
fill the vacancy. The person they choose will
serve the remainder of the unexpired term.
The seat must be filled within 30 days of
Johnston’s resignation date of July 20.
As vice president of council, Jen Warner
will conduct meetings in Johnston’s absence.
Once Johnston’s seat is filled, council
will need to elect a new president. If Warner
is named president, council also will need to
elect a new vice president.
CARES funding
The village plans to use federal Coronavirus
Aid, Relief, and Economic Security
Act (CARES) money to pay wages of safety
service employees, retroactive to January.
Safety service employees include police officers
and the public service director.
The next West Jefferson village council
meeting is set for 7 p.m. July 20.