In one of the longer meetings on record, Holland village council approved a number of projects on tap for this summer.
At the June 18 meeting, council awarded Allied Paving of Holland a crack filling contract for $12,000.
The company will perform the work on McCord Road from the southernmost portion of the village to the roundabout and on various other roads in the village, explained Mayor Ryan Spangler.
In a separate project, council contracted with OHM Advisors of Perrysburg to perform engineering services for the Kipling and Springfield drives and Whisperwood resurfacing projects. The cost will not exceed $16,800 for Kipling/Springfield and $51,000 for Whisperwood.
Councilman Mike Bettinger believes that some of the costs were unnecessary. “It’s strictly a mill and fill project,” he said of Kipling/Springfield, adding, “I’ve got a lot of questions on a lot of this.”
Because of the risk of losing funding for the project, Mayor Spangler suggested, and council agreed, to approve the costs at a not-to-exceed amount and authorized the councilman to look into the items he believes to be extraneous with the engineering firm.
Council also approved the expenditure of $44,970 to Toledo Fence and Supply Company. The company will remove the current split rail fencing and replace it with a black wrought iron fence on the McCord Road side of Strawberry Acres Park.
The mayor said the park is in need of a “facelift,” and this is the first step. Eventually, other sections of the fence will be replaced as funds are available.
“This will make the Mc-Cord side look much nicer,” he added.
Council closed out the list of project approvals with an authorization to contract with Vandenk Painting of Holland to restain the park gazebo for $3,900 and repaint the red caboose at a cost of $4,900.
“Both are due to be done,” said Bob Bethel, village administrator. Other Business In other business, council:
•Approved the purchase of new police uniforms and a new design department patch from Traffic Stop for $7,593.
The current uniforms use a gray shirt which police departments no longer use and as a result, are more costly to purchase, the mayor explained.
Police Chief Jim Piotrowski noted the uniforms have not changed in design in two decades and the last time the patch was updated was 2007.
He said officers worked together on the project. “The officers researched and sampled products and contacted many vendors,” he said, adding, “The guys did a good job, and are looking forward to having the uniforms. Morale wise, it’s a game changer.”
•Renewed the police department’s annual subscription with Lexipol for $6,885. Lexipol provides the department with annual law enforcement procedures, changes in policy and daily training bulletins.
•Approved the trade-in of a 2017 Ford Explorer police vehicle for a 2024 Dodge Durango from Charlie’s Dodge of Maumee. The cost for the vehicle after trade in is $39,948.
In a related matter, they approved the purchase of equipment to outfit the Durango from P&R Communications for $16,667.
•Accepted a change order for the Spectrum Drive project. The mayor pointed out the change order represents a decrease in the cost of $28,665.
•Heard from the village administrator that the transition from PerryproTech to Triotech is working out well. “They were very responsive when we had an issue.”
•Authorized the mayor or clerk/treasurer to sign an opt-in for the opioid settlement if they deem it to be in the best interest of the village.
•Discussed ways to improve barriers for the Strawberry Festival parade after reports of some people cutting into the parade route.
Chief Piotrowski attributed part of the problem to a number of gaps in the parade, allowing vehicles to enter the parade route.
•Heard from the police chief that the village school resource officer and the sheriff’s department SRO worked together with Springfield Schools on the bus vandalism case.
They ultimately found two suspects, one of whom is an SLS student. Estimated damage to the buses is $30,000, he said, noting the youths broke numerous glass panes.
•Paid bills totaling $287,293. Due to the summer schedule, the next village council meeting will be at 6 p.m., Tuesday, July 16, in council chambers, 1245 Clarion Avenue, and is open to the public.
