The West Liberty Council met in regular session on Monday evening.
The Labor Day Festival will take place on September 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th from dawn to dusk daily. The Classic Car Cruise-In is Friday from 4-8 p.m. (registration starts at 3:30 p.m.). The parade is on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. The Country Legends Concert is Saturday with gates opening at 2 pm (tickets are required). The Rise FM Christian Concert is Sunday which is a free concert. and Family Day is on Monday.
Mayor Jill McKelvey explains the events that will take place at the Labor Day Festival:
There are 68 Lions Club members helping with the highly attended Labor Day Festival. People come from out-of-state to join the festivities. Mayor McKelvey said that the car show, antique tractors, Country Legends Concert, Family Day, and numerous vendors attract people to the event.
The guest of the meeting was West Liberty Business Association (WLBA) President and owner of Theresa’s Gingerbread House, Heather Chamberlain. The West Liberty Business Association had 46 members in 2022. This year, the WLBA has 67 members, which is a 46% increase. The organization has increased its members by reaching out not only to brick-and-mortar businesses in the village but also to the businesses that are doing business with the village such as farms, roofing companies, etc. Chamberlain gave the council a list of the businesses that are members of the business association. She asked them to consider, when nominating for the West Liberty Business of the Month, to use the list because some of the businesses that are being nominated aren’t members of the WLBA.
September 21st is the Homecoming Parade. The WLBA will have a trolly with the survivors in the parade.
Chamberlain then gave updates on the West Liberty Pink Out. The Pink Out will be on September 28th in the village at 3 p.m. A number of health businesses will host a Health Fair in the Opera House from 3-7 p.m. and is free. The public can come and learn about the different businesses that will be offering free health screenings such as oxygen/blood tests, oxygen saturation, pulse checks, chair massages, and more.
At 6 p.m., the WLBA is sponsoring a free meal as the Little Tigers can eat with a football player or cheerleader at the firehouse. Hot dogs, chips, cookies, and water will be provided. The ceremony will be at 7:30 p.m. with all the breast cancer survivors at the gazebo. Then, the varsity cheerleaders will decorate the downtown businesses ahead of time so that the breast cancer survivors can see the village painted pink.
The Pink Out is October 6th during the West Liberty-Salem vs. Mechanicsburg football game. The WLBA is selling t-shirts for both West Liberty and Mechanicsburg fans.
After an executive session was held, Keith Amlin was hired as the Water and Wastewater Superintendent. There are two full-time positions that are currently available for people to apply to. They are an Assistant to the Superintendent (Amlin), and Operator. These applications will be on mywestliberty.com.
There will be seven building owners that will have American Flag holders/poles for downtown West Liberty. It is expected to get these installed before the September 28th Pink Out event.
It was approved that the concrete pad for the First Responders building at the Lions Park cost will be split between Liberty Township and the Village at $1,817.50 each. The plan is for the building foundation project to be completed this fall after Labor Day.
For the aggregation comparing rates, the Electric Aggregate Rate is $0.0651. The opt-in or opt-out phone number is 866.636.3749 Energy Harbor (if a resident received a letter in the mail they are automatically in. If you received no letter, call your current provider first, then call the phone number after September 15).
The Gas Aggregate Rate is $0.584. The opt-in or opt-out phone number is 877.353.0162 IGS Energy (if a resident received a letter in the mail they are automatically in. If you received no letter, call your current provider first, then call the phone number after September 15).
During the finance committee report, an increased cost for crosswalk striping was approved ($952 increase, approval of project for $14,048).
The United Way hosted the Community Care Day this past Friday, and council members signed a thank you card to Civista Bank as they helped clean up and help at Town Hall.
Resolution 2023-09 was passed to accept the amounts and rates for the budget with the Logan County Auditor.
During the street committee report, the council wanted to say thank you to Bill and Al Hyland as they worked with the Lions Club to prune trees at Lions Park along the walking path, driveway, and playground last Wednesday.
In parks and recreation, the Lions Club is awaiting a quote on a pickleball court.
The board nominated three businesses for October’s Business of the Month based on the list provided by the WLBA. They are Jennings Farley & Seeley Funeral Home and Crematory, Heaven’s Dew, and the Lions Club.
The Business of the Month for September is the Liberty Gathering Place. A ceremony will be held this Friday at 3:30 p.m.
The next West Liberty Council meeting will be Monday, September 11th at 7:00 p.m.
Important Dates include:
August 31st: Beautification Award online voting ends
September 1st: First Friday from 7:30-9 a.m. at the Madison Champaign ESC
September 7th: First Thursdays at Sweet Aromas at 8 a.m.
September 11th: Commercial and Residential Beautification Award winner’s presentation at the Council Meeting at 7 p.m.
October 26th: Spooktacular on East Columbus Street from 5-8 p.m.
