POMEROY — Last night Pomeroy Village Council authorized the mayor to apply for a loan which will be applied toward replacing village water meters.

The loan is through the Ohio Water Supply Revolving Loan Account, is zero interest and Clerk-Treasurer Kathy Hysell guessed it would be around $28,000. The $28,000 is a required 10 percent match for the federal stimulus grant which will pay for the bulk of the project.

Citing concern about where the money to pay back several loans will come from, Councilwoman Mary McAngus voted against the motion.

Council also gave Pomeroy Fire Chief Rick Blaettnar permission to pursue several federal grants, including one for a new boat and one for a new fire house for Pomeroy or Bedford Township. Blaettnar said the grant for a new fire house would be tough to get but felt the application was worth a shot. The federal funds can only be used for construction and $210 million has been set aside for these grants nationwide. Blaettnar will also be applying for three grants for equipment for dive teams.

Council also agreed to allow expenditures under $2,000 to repair the concrete bays at the Pomeroy Fire Department which are sinking. Council also approved the purchase of a new radio for the department’s newest truck for $4,148. The department had installed a radio from an older truck but it wasn’t working.

Council also approved Joe Barnhart as a firefighter and Ryan VanMeter and Travis Dunham as junior firefighters.

Hysell said the village received purchase orders for asphalt this week. Hysell also told Councilwoman Ruth Spaun Beech Grove Cemetery has been mowed four times this year.

Spaun also asked the procedure for calling a towing company when a traffic accident happens in the village. She said a person complained to her that their vehicle needed towed and they were not given the choice of which towing company to use. Spaun said this was probably a question for Chief Mark E. Proffitt who was not at last night’s meeting.

Spaun also brought up the missing railing on the parking lot wall has not been fixed. Council has voiced concern that a child can slip through the openings and fall off the wall.

McAngus reported the grass remains high at a residence on Pleasant Ridge. She then asked about what the village code enforcement officer is doing in the village in terms of taking care of these problems.

Mayor John Musser was absent with Council President George Stewart presiding over the meeting.