DeGraff Mayor Phil Fawcett

Piersall lives in the Dayton area and was unsure if the distance would keep him from adequately fulfilling the role. He withheld his decision until Tuesday to make sure he could carry out his duties as acting chief. (Video interview included.)

Piersall took over as Acting Chief after former Chief of Police Todd Campbell resigned in May due to a "personality conflict" with Mayor Phil Fawcett.

Fawcett said Piersall has done "commendable work" as acting chief.

Since taking office, Piersall has hired three other officers: Lieutenant John Collier and auxiliary officers Wayne Grove and Chance Knox. Village Council approved the new hirings Tuesday night.

DeGraff now has five active police officers, which is the most in the last 10 years, village officials said.

Chief Piersall and Lieutenant Collier told council members they planned to implement a community policing philosophy in their strategy to protect and serve the citizens.

Piersall says that means getting community members involved in fighting crime.

Watch comments from Piersall.

Chief Piersall added that the police department is looking into starting a neighborhood watch program.

In other business, Fiscal Officer Linda Harford updated village council on a glitch in the proceedings of awarding bids for the water tower project.

The village recently applied for a $300,000 United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development overrun loan to seek additional funds for water tower construction, she said.

Harford said she could not certify a general construction bid from Gateway Tank, Inc. for $923,995 because it was higher than the $890,000 village leaders approved for funding.

Mayor Fawcett told council the village would lose more than $16,000 in assessment fees if the Health District is unable able to pass a replacement levy in November's election.

State mandate requires each county to maintain an operating Health District and allows the District to seek funding from municipalities and townships if voters are unwilling to support a levy.

Councilman Gary Comer said people need to understand that one way or another, their money is going to the Health District. If a proposed levy doesn't pass, it would mean the village would have to cut services to fund the Health District, he added.

Finally, council established September 13 as fall yard sale day to coincide with the DeGraff Country Fair.

DeGraff Village Council meets again July 22 at 7 p.m.