It somehow doesn’t seem possible that eight years have gone by already, but it is true. I took office on January 1, 2004, after having served on Council beginning in July 2002.
The last eight years have seen many things done, some big and some small. Everything that has been accomplished in the last eight years has been the result of the efforts of many people. I am thankful for the support of Council and the work of individual council members on many projects.
The water system is the most important project that the Village has ever undertaken. The project began in July, 2002 with the process of selecting an engineer for the system. The project ended in July of this year when we officially closed with USDA. Water has turned on on July 1, 2010. Having the water system in place was the last major step towards growth in the village. The Village could not expect to see any real growth without a public water system.
Another major project is currently underway. The replacement of the sewer lift station is in progress right now. The original lift station lasted for over 31 years. The life expectancy of the lift station was 15 to 20 years, so we are past due in replacing it.
The purchase of the new village office building from TDS was a major milestone for the community. We needed additional space, both in garage and office areas. We were able to secure the building at a good price and received a nice grant to assist in the purchase.
After the ice storm of 2005, I sought and received permission from Council to pursue a grant to equip the main shelter house at the park with an emergency generator. I was able to secure a grant in 2006 and the main shelter house is now equipped for use as a disaster shelter by the American Red Cross.
There are a number of projects that still need to be done, however. I am urging the new Mayor and Council to keep focused on economic development. The only long term solution for our financial situation is to grow the tax base. This will, in turn, help the school.
The Safe Routes to School program needs to be a top priority in 2012. We have a number of sidewalks in the community that need to be repaired or replaced, and number of places where there are no sidewalks. Getting a grant for this may take more than one funding cycle, so we may need to submit our application more than once.
In closing, let me thank each of the many Council members that have served over the last eight years. Each of you has contributed to the success of all of our projects. I will be available to help in any way possible so please let me know how I can help.
Best regards,
Bob Wells
mayor@vanlueohio.com