Holland Village Council spent the majority of their October 19 meeting discussing priorities for upcoming road improvement projects.
At a previous meeting, they had focused on Spectrum Drive, Holland Park Boulevard and plat one of Whisperwood.
Tim Bock, engineer with Poggemeyer Design Group, inspected those roads and planned for traffic counts to be conducted as well.
He presented council with several options, and noted that Whisperwood subdivision “is 20 some years old now, and it’s getting time to do something there.”
He suggested dividing the four plats of Whisperwood into two years of work.
Council President Ryan Spangler noted that, “plat one is the worst, right there at the intersection.”
The road work will include pavement replacement and curbs lowered by three inches, Mr. Bock explained, but he did not inspect sidewalks.
Council has been concerned for several years because many Whisperwood sidewalks are cracked and tipped by tree roots growing underneath.
“There definitely are portions of sidewalks that need to be replaced,” Mr. Spangler said.
Councilman Mike Bettinger questioned whether the trees should be removed at the same time as the road projects or earlier.
“If you don’t take the trees out, are the roots going to do the same thing?” he asked.
Mr. Bock believes a tree contractor would be hired prior to the street improvements.
Councilman Scott Brown also pointed out that “all the streetlights are completely submerged by the trees on Yunker Lane,” and residents are complaining.
Council President Spangler questioned whether Holland Park should be among the 2023 road projects.
Mr. Bock said the first 30 feet off Angola Road is in the poorest condition, and this could be a minor project compared to the others.
He also was planning to meet soon with the Lucas County engineer’s office to discuss projects that intersect with the village, and Holland Park would be among them.
Council agreed to finalize the list at their November 16 meeting. They have until early November to submit grant applications for Ohio Public Works Commission funds.
Other Business
In other business, council:
•Approved $5,827 in repairs by Findlay Fleet and Repair on a dump truck.
“It needs to be done so it’s in good working order for this winter,” Councilman Bettinger said.
•Heard from Mayor Lee Irons that more vandalism had occurred in the rest rooms at the park near the pickleball courts.
Officers discovered a fire had been started in the bathroom, but burned out before causing much damage.
They believe it was done by teenagers, encouraged by a social media TikTok challenge to vandalize public places.
Police patrols of the park will be increased, the mayor added.
He recommended that “everybody keep their eyes open.”
“We can’t keep having the expense of replacing these things,” Mayor Irons said.
•Learned from Councilman Brown that the village has been awarded a 2012 Cadillac SUV by the court, after it was forfeited following a DUI arrest in May by the police department.
The bluebook value of the vehicle is $12,000 to $15,000, and it can be sold on the gov deals website, he explained.
However, the Cadillac has been sitting in the tow yard since May, and a $4,540 storage fee is due to Jeff’s Towing on Eber Road.
Council voted to pay the fee, but noted that a police department procedure needs to be established so tow yard fees are not incurred next time.
Village solicitor Paul Skaff recommended that the vehicle should be moved to the police department immediately.
Councilman Brown said the village should expect a net gain of $7,500 to $9,000 on the forfeiture.
•Approved the $2,169 purchase of two, eight-foot picnic tables, at the recommendation of Councilman Roger Burditt.
•Authorized the payment of $593,413 in bills.
Council’s next meeting will be at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, November 16, at the village hall, 1245 Clarion Avenue. The meeting is open to the public.
–Beth Church
