MIDDLEPORT — A picture of the engineering design for the proposed walking path along the river in Middleport was displayed at Monday night’s Middleport Village Council meeting.

The design of the first phase of the path shows a section to run from the upper corporation line near the Dairy Queen to Custer Street. A second phase for which the engineering has not been done, would extend from there down to the marina. Funding for the initial project came from a federal grant under which the surveying, title and design work were completed. That information will now be submitted to the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) for final approval and probable funding.

The overall bike and walking path has a projected cost of $2 million dollars. The path design shows an eight-feet-wide path with a dividing line right along the river bordered on the river side by a grassy section with lighting on the other side. Seating and other amenities will be included along the path.

Meeting with Council was Tom Wallace of Rumpke who was there about a three-year extension on garbage collection in the village. Council approved the contract which calls for the price to remain the same for 2013 and increase by three percent in 2014. He said the current contract expires on Dec. 31.

As for the impound lot, Mike Hendrickson reported that everything is ready to go once the fencing arrives and is erected. The lot is located behind Middleport Village Hall. Council recently passed an ordinance relating to the use of the lot, the general operation of removing vehicles from private property and charges relating to vehicle storage pending disposition.

The mayor’s report listed collections of $7,663 with $6,277 being retained by the village. Mayor’s Court action for October showed 24 traffic citations, 20 criminal citations, and 17 warrants, making a total of 61 cases. There were three crash reports filed, 28 dispatch reports noted, and 19 incident reports handled, according to a report from Chief of Police Bruce Swift. The report on the jail operation from Officer Mony Wood showed a total of 521 inmates held from late March when it opened to the end of October. He reported a busy month in October billing out $26,520 in jail fees for the care of prisoners from other agencies.

Chief Swift also reported on officer training programs currently being carried out. He said that Scott Kimes, Alicia Dougherty, Courtney Nitz, Michael Hupp, Beth Lynch and Mike Hendricksoin are currently attending corrections training classes at the Gallia County work release center. Upon completion of the class, Swift said each individual will be able to take the state test to become certified corrections officers.

Swift also noted that Lt. Joel Lynch and Ptl. Shannon Smith have successfully completed the 40-hour meth class at Quantico, Va. and are now certified to respond to and dismantle meth labs. He also reported on the new prescription drug drop box installation located at village hall for public use.