Mayor Jessie Tubbs delivers first state of the village

Contributed | January 24, 2024

In 2023 the Village of West Lafayette had some significant changes. We watched and cheered as the Brickstone breathed life back into one of our most spectacular buildings and cheered for the new and expanding business in our village. We were saddened by the closing of one of our favorites, The General Store and for the loss of the shade on Russell. The housing market remains solid with very few homes being listed and selling quickly. The improvements at waterworks including the playground and paved parking lots lead way to bigger and more exciting hopes and dreams of what Waterworks can become. The paved lot on Main Street provides needed parking for our businesses that will continue to grow and flourish. And I was elected mayor.

Infrastructure concerns from 2022 continue to be addressed and a proactive plan to help bring our village forward and hopefully become less reactive in the process.

The carry-over at the beginning of 2023 was $2,039,909.05 and ended at $2,023,161.59. There was a big push to spend down the 203 Income Tax Street Repair fund by installing new sidewalks on Russell Avenue. The general fund carry-over at the beginning of 2023 was $662,639.60 and ended with an increase at $669,123.43. The budget for 2024 is $2,168,230.86.

The awesome and amazing Fiscal Officer Amy Bourne attended OAPT (Ohio Association of Public Treasurers), OML (Ohio Municipal League), Auditor of State Fiscal Officer training and a CPIM Certification. She will continue to attend those trainings in 2024 as well as look into further investment training. The 2021-2022 Village Financial audit was completed and went well. The implementation of a new village website was begun in 2023 and will be completed in early 2024.

Village Administrator Tammy Hicks reports that Columbia Gas completed the service and main line replacement on the east side of the village.

Russell Avenue sidewalks have been replaced from Johnson Road to Oak Street. The project will resume in the spring. Fair Street to Plainfield Road will be completed by the end of May.

The Oak Street storm sewer replacement and extension project was completed. MJ Construction won the bid. They removed and replaced all the storm sewer line on Oak Street from Russell to Fifth and extended it to Seventh Street.

The Neighborhood Revitalization Grant Project is complete. Melway Construction won the bid. Projects involved were new ADA accessible ramp at the administration building, paving the village public parking lot, paving the parking lot at Waterworks Park, adding a new parking lot, picnic pavilion, and playground there as well.

Sewer Projects

Replaced pumps at Morning Glory Lift Station
Purchased a new blower for sludge basin at the wastewater treatment plant.
Cleaned aeration basin at the wastewater treatment plant.
Repaired and replaced diffusers on aeration basin at plant.
Belt pressed tons of sludge and cleaned two collection basins.
Cleaned main wastewater line at Jones Metal.
Cleared invasive weeds and trees from the property to minimize the tree roots in the line.
Catch basin installed in front of the fire station, and storm sewer pipe removed from the sanitary sewer pipe to empty into the new catch basin.
Sanitary sewer line collapsed between main and railroad, emergency repair by Wm Albert at a cost of $15K.
Another line needs to be replaced in the same area. Estimate received from a company to line the pipe with poly resin material at a cost of $35K.
Ended generator service agreement with Buckeye Power Sales. New company is less than half the cost for the same service.
Issued 41 preliminary citations for code violations – 26 were corrected, seven sent to solicitor, eight are pending

Street Department

Collected 44 boxes of leaves.
We had six summer employees this year through JFS WEP program.
Finished the repairs to the street garage
Painted the exterior of the fire station and the police station. New roofs were installed on the police and fire stations, as well as two storage buildings through an insurance claim on the roofs because of wind damage.
All village employees worked hard this year and joined the effort to save money by finding new ways to complete tasks, make repairs, and prevent damage to equipment.

2024 Plan

Infrastructure

The storm water/sewer outfall project must be completed by the end of the year.
New crosswalk striping with thermoplastic paint will be added throughout the village.
Alley paving location to be determined.
Sidewalk replacement will continue this year, location is yet to be determined.
Wall Street – need to add Wall Street storm sewers, walking path behind Wall Street and sidewalks installed on one side of Wall.
Pipelining at sewer line behind administration building and on East Railroad Street.
Five-to-10-year plan for street repair/resurfacing to include – storm sewers, curbs, sidewalks, catch basins, alleys
Grants must be found for wastewater improvements. Ripple lane, Wall Street, and for pipelining the sanitary sewer lines.

Parks

Need new fixtures at Waterworks – trash cans, benches, shade, signage, lights, cameras
Splash pad at Burt Park – grants
Trees plan with forestry expert for planting new trees and maintaining existing trees.
Playground – partner with the school district to install new equipment at the elementary building
Fitness park – working on a way to install at the sight of the old pool.
A major focus will be on code compliance this year and getting properties cleaned up through communicating with residents and trying to find a sustainable solution for those that continue to violate the property codes.

Grants and Projects Summary

Oak Street storm sewer replacement and extension $660,000, funded by CDBG and CIG. Completed in August.
Remaining sidewalks on Russell Avenue, $350,000 – paid for with the 203 Income Tax Levy Fund
Two blocks were completed at the end of 2022 and beginning of 2023, at approximately $35,000 each.
Neighborhood Revitalization Grant completed in November – Main Street parking lot, two parking lots at Waterworks Park, picnic shelter and playground at Waterworks Park.
New village website with ability to send text and email alerts to residents.
Storm and sanitary sewer outfall project – Grant awarded in 2021 with funding $2.87 million from House Bill 168. Due to go to bid and begin construction this winter.
Awarded $1.5 million for the 2024 Safe Routes to Schools, (SRTS), and Transportation Alternative Program, (TAP), grants from ODOT. This project will add sidewalks near the schools, the scope and plan of which are still developing. It will not begin construction until late 2025.
Partnering with Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District in the Appalachian Community Grant Application to participate in the Heart of Appalachian Ohio Project. The project connects 10 Appalachian counties through conservation efforts, recreation locations, tourism, and history. West Lafayette will see the development of White Eyes Park & Trails on Plain Hill. It is a dedication to the memory and accomplishments of Lenape Chief, White Eyes. Award will be in early 2024.

West Lafayette Police Department

Starting out in 2023 the police department was short one officer due to Captain Tom Couts retiring. February 2023, Morgan Eckelberry was hired with the rank of captain to fill the vacant position. Captain Eckelberry had previously served in the village for 18 years.

Officer Brandon Bishop completed two firearms training schools in London, Ohio, where he became a certified instructor by OPOTA for shotgun and patrol rifle qualifications. Officer Bishop was already a certified instructor for handgun, with the two additional certifications WLPD can now perform all firearms qualifications at the departments range without the cost of hiring a certified instructor. Officer Bishop is also the evidence tech for WLPD. In fall 2023 Officer Bishop was promoted to the rank of corporal.

WLPD lost Officer Rossiter as she accepted a job with Noble County Sheriff’s Office as an SRO. Part-time Patrolman Aaron Carbajal accepted the full-time position to replace Rossiter. This brought the police department back up to full staff with five full time police officers.

In 2023 the police department added Patrolman Jeff Corder, detective Tim Bethel, patrolman Wade Garrett and patrolman Austin Wheeler to the part-time and auxiliary roster. With these additional officers, WLPD has 10 part-time/auxiliary officers to fill in when needed. WLPD received a plaque from Lexipol Connect for Excellence in Law Enforcement Policy Management.

In March 2023 WLPD hosted the annual Easter Egg Hunt. The hunt was held again this year at the Ridgewood Football Field with another record number of children that participated with 4,000 candy and prize filled eggs.

In June 2023 the second annual West Lafayette PD First Responders Block Party was moved to the Living Faith Nazarene Church. Pastor Jim Lillo and the congregation approved this move to the church grounds to allow more room, as the event grew bigger. There were grilled hotdogs, Conn’s chips, bottled water, popcorn, slushies, Amici’s pizza, and the church’s homemade ice cream that was all served for free to the community. All of Coshocton County fire departments, Coshocton County Sheriff’s Office, Coshocton County EMS, Coshocton County EMA, Genesis Police, Newcomerstown Police, Ohio State Patrol, Army National Guard, and Air Evac Lifeteam were invited. Several area businesses and churches donated to the community event.

Corporal Hernandez patrolled the village on a Fuji Police bicycle over the summer months and started the WLPD bicycle club with the youth in the village. At times there were 20 plus participants and they met on Wednesday evenings at Burt Park. After bicycling throughout the village, the club would stop and get a treat from Dairy Hut, Amici’s Pizza, and Circle K. The bicycle club also attended the West Lafayette Homecoming Parade.

August 2023 WLPD teamed up with Coshocton County Fatherhood Initiative for a Movie in the Park. Fathers and father figures with children were invited to movie night at Burt Park, where hotdogs, burgers, Conn’s chips, bottled water, and popcorn were served.

October 2023 WLPD joined forces with the West Lafayette Chamber of Commerce for the annual Halloween party at Ridgewood Middle School Gymnasium. WLPD provided food and pumpkins for the party and organized judges for the Halloween costume contest. The local judges were Judge Robert Batchelor and Magistrate Amanda Miller.

December 2023 the village had a visitor, the grinch made his way around the village visiting businesses. The grinch took Captain Eckelberry’s name plate from his office and tried to convince some local elves to join him in his shenanigans. Just before Christmas the grinch was apprehended by Chief Walters and Captain Eckelberry, the elves were reunited with their families.

Moving forward in 2024, the Police Department is looking forward to community events such as the annual Easter Egg Hunt, WLPD First Responders Block Party, and more collaboration with the West Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, West Lafayette Fire Department, and Coshocton County Fatherhood Initiative. All of WLPD loves the community events and the connection with the residents of the village. WLPD will continue to serve and protect our great community with pride.

The police department’s annual report is available for review and are as follows: Calls for service – 2,865; reports taken – 289; traffic crashes – 40; traffic stops – 479; civil papers served – 16; warrants served – seven; OVI arrests – 11; misdemeanor arrests – 101; and felony arrests – four.

West Lafayette Fire Department

The West Lafayette Fire Department currently has 19 members. The Department responded to 188 calls for service in 2023. Other significate activities completed in 2023, The Firefighter’s Association completed several fund-raising activities. The association currently has $15,549.81 in their account. The department received a grant from the Coshocton Foundation of $5,000 to purchase Wildland Gear and boots. The total project cost was $13,160.34. They also received an anonymous donation of a grain bin rescue kit. The association purchased a drill driven grain auger as well at a cost of $935. They also received multiple other small donations too numerous to list.

Deputy Chief Hill and the Janusian Club were thanked for their continued fire prevention outreach in the Ridgewood Schools. Instructional pamphlets, donated smoke detectors, and batteries can be the difference between residents escaping a burning structure or not.

A few projects in the three-to-five-year plan are a new station or additional building to house larger apparatus; a new rescue boat and trailer; an Urban Interface Apparatus; and replacing SCBA Breathing Air Bottles.

Tags: featured, full-image, west lafayette