MDDLEPORT — Middleport Village Council took action at its Monday night meeting to begin drawing down funding from an Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC) grant of $193,399 to be used in the development of an additional water well in the village.

The total cost of the new well, according to Susan Baker, clerk/treasurer, is $219,809,25. Of that total amount it will cost the village only $34,129.

That amount, Baker said, is provided at zero interest to be paid back $558.82 twice a year. Baker said the village’s portion of the well project will be paid from the village’s capital improvements fund. The well was reported as having a potential life span of 80 years.

It was noted that the engineering fee on the project was $23,550 while the contractor’s cost is $196,259. The resolution to begin drawing down the grant money was passed unanimously by Council.

It was noted that two well-equipped cruisers for the police department were purchased as authorized at the last meeting. Officer Mony Wood, jail administer, was present at the meeting to give a report on the jail operation and the finances. The report shows that the operation is profitable. or as commented by the clerk- treasurer “doing really well financially.” Figures for the jail operation show that since the March 29 opening, a total of $63,792.98 has been collected from sources using the facility to house prisoners.

Wood said the main expense of the operation is food and he presented a plan to decrease that cost. A suggestion he made was to use money currently in the “phone commission account,” a total of $515.07, (a percentage of the cost of telephone service provided to prisoners by an outside company) for the purchase of an animal at the Meigs County Fair and the processing charge.

This, he said, would cut the cost of meat served to the prisoners, thereby reducing the cost of food. Wood said he felt this would not only reduce the cost of meat needed to feed the prisoners, but do it without money from regular village funds. In other words by using the phone commissions to pay for the meat, no tax dollars will be involved and, in fact, the village will be saving some money usually spent for meat. Council approved the plan with the stipulation that the whole process not cost more than the amount currently in the phone commission account.

Also approved was Wood’s request for expenses to attend a conference on jail operations to be held in Bedford, Ohio.

Mike Hendrickson, building inspector, gave a report on the vehicle impound lot and the cost of fencing which he is still exploring. The ordinance to move forward on that project has been passed. A revision on removing vehicles from private property was discussed. Expenses for Hendrickson to attend a FEMA conference in Columbus was approved by Council.

A third and final reading was given to the work order ordinance and passed by a five to one vote, (Roger Manley voting no) with some discussion on the violation penalty charge.

Meeting with Council was Policeman Frank Stewart, who distributed material on the Neighborhood Watch, and announced a public information meeting to be held on Aug. 23 at 6:30 p.m. in the Village Hall gymnasium. At that time residents will be given on overview of the plan and how they can participate in it or otherwise facilitate its operation.

The plan calls for dividing the village into zones and developing an “alert system” in each zone with residents in that zone to become the “eyes and ears of the community.”

Other discussions revolved around distressed property demolition, the need for some new guard railing, the appearance of the back of the old stadium, and the sale of some excess construction materials.

The Council moved into executive session to discuss employeedisciplinary for an employee.