The Village View BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE PAID MAILED FROM ZIP CODE 45338 Permit No. 84 April 2015 P O Box 697 112 S Commerce Street Lewisburg, OH 45338 News from the Village Office Phone: 937-962-4377 Fax: 937-962-2900 When you stop by or call the Village offices, you will see two new faces and hear two new voices. Ric Prater, Village Income Tax Administrator and Utility Clerk for the past 22 years, retired on January 30. Gail Phillabaum, Administrative Assistant for the past 11 years, retired February 27. “Both Ric and Gail served the Village with true professionalism and dedication in doing their jobs each and every day, and they treated our citizens and businesses with respect when dealing with their questions or concerns,” stated Jeff Sewert, Municipal Manager. Replacing these two valuable employees was not an easy task, but Mayor Putnam and the Village Council feel very fortunate to have hired two very capable persons to continue in the positions that Ric and Gail served for a combined 33 years. Margee McClain is the Village’s new Utility Clerk and Income Tax Administrator. Margee comes to us from the Village of Gratis, where she served as Fiscal Officer and Clerk of Council for 2 years. Prior to that, she worked at Artistic Homes for 20 years. She and her husband, Barney, have lived in the Lewisburg area for over 20 years. Kim Cahill is the new Administrative Assistant and Clerk of Council for the Village. Kim is a graduate of Twin Valley North and lives in the Lewisburg area with her husband, Jim. Prior to joining the Village, she worked for over 25 years as a paralegal and legal secretary. SEWER RATE INCREASE COMING Flushing Hydrants Mayor—Pat Putnam [email protected] Council Members Donald Wright [email protected] Belinda Harry [email protected] Dennis Roberts [email protected] Marsha Jones [email protected] Jackie Sewert [email protected] Mark Madigan [email protected] Municipal Manager Jeffrey Sewert [email protected] The Village of Lewisburg Service Department will be flushing hydrants during the week of April 27. Residents are advised to check the water for discoloration before washing clothes during this time period. The water will remain safe for consumption. Flushing is done bi-annually each year to maintain and ensure water quality within the water distribution system. The process also allows the Service Department to check the operation of each fire hydrant and make any needed repairs. Any questions concerning the flushing should be directed to the village offices at 9624377. Get the kids ready!!! The Spray Park is targeted to open Memorial Day weekend! Lifeline Screening will be at the Community Center on June 2. The Village Offices will be closed on Monday, May 25, for Memorial Day. The Village of Lewisburg recently went through a major upgrade to its Water Reclamation facility located on Tillman Lane, adjacent to the Village Park. The facility was first constructed in 1964 and upgraded in 1985 to meet the Federal Clean Water Act Standards. Because it has been thirty years since the last repairs were made to the facility, the current upgrade was needed to keep the Village in compliance with the National Pollution Discharge Elimination Permit issued by the Ohio EPA due to waters being discharged into Twin Creek from the Water Reclamation facility. The $1.7 million dollar project was made possible through a $1.3 million dollar, 0% interest-free loan from the Ohio Public Works Commission and a $400,000 grant from Ohio’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program. To repay the interest-free loan and, after careful evaluation, along with holding off as long as possible, Village officials have recommended an increase in monthly sewer rates from $21.00 to $26.00 for consumers within the Village limits for the first 3,000 gallons and from $42.00 to $52.00 for consumers outside the Village limits for the first 3,000 gallons. The rate increase will take effect June 1, 2015. Shown below is an example of the rates of nearby communities that participated in a recent sewer rate study conducted by the City of Oakwood. The study depicts the Village of Lewisburg is very competitive with other communities when it comes to sewer rates. Of the 63 communities responding to the survey, Lewisburg ranks the 13th lowest. These rates are based on 22,500 gallons of water in a three-month period. Dayton - 72.92 Tipp City - 82.55 New Carlisle - 95.64 New Lebanon - 115.44 Kettering - 136.21 Germantown - 143.35 West Alexandria - 165.79 Tipp City - 194.94 Huber Heights - 74.74 Vandalia - 83.91 Lewisburg - 98.70 Oakwood - 131.11 Xenia -136.80 Waynesville - 152.85 Beavercreek - 172.07 Harrison - 214.02 Englewood - 77.21 Union - 86.10 Troy - 109.81 Centerville - 136.21 Trotwood - 141.50 Farmersville - 156.67 Bellbrook - 172.07 Troy - 225.90 Brookville - 81.55 Greenville - 91.20 Eaton - 111.03 Clayton - 136.21 Fairborn - 143.55 Miamisburg - 157.10 West Milton - 178.46 Loveland - 240.81 Page 2 The Village View April 2015 Notes on Property Maintenance With spring in the air and winter behind us comes the mowing of grass and spring cleaning of properties. The Village of Lewisburg Zoning Department has an aggressive property maintenance code that addresses tall grass, weeds, trash and junk on properties. If you have a property maintenance complaint, please contact the Village offices where the complaint will be turned over to the proper personnel for investigation. To assist in the enforcement of the property maintenance code, the Village offers curbside pickup of large items, brush and other items that the refuse truck doesn’t normally pick up on a weekly basis. Contact the Village offices at 962-4377 to be put on the schedule so we can remove your items in a timely manner once you’ve placed them curbside. Also, the Village recommends that property owners place their trash curbside the night before pickup. Setting your trash out two or three days before your regular pickup day only allows for an unsightly presence in the Village. Residents are asked not to blow or discharge grass clippings into the street, especially the curb. Over period of time, grass clippings accumulate in the curb causing the flow of rain water to be altered. It can also cause catch basins to become clogged resulting in flooding of the streets during heavy rains. quire that cities and villages remind the public about their responsibility to the environment. Residents are reminded that dumping substances such as gasoline, paint, motor oil or other chemicals into storm sewers is not allowed for environmental reasons. Disposing of illicit materials could not only pollute public waterways but also cause ground water contamination. The goal of the Mayor, Council and Village is to promote for a more vibrant community - one in which citizens can state they are proud to live, work and play, and one which visitors applaud. Enjoy the spring flowers! If you have ideas, suggestions or comments, don’t hesitate to contact the Village offices. By working together, we can make for a better Lewisburg! Though spring has just arrived, the library is already thinking about Summer Reading! This year, the theme will be “Every Hero Tells a Story” and we’ll have many activities and programs planned. Heroes come in many forms, from Superman & Batman to our local police, fire, & emergency departments. The reading program will begin on Saturday, June 6, with activities beginning Monday, June 8. Children must have finished kindergarten to participate in the weekly craft sessions, but even children too young to read may do the reading program. Check out our website for details as we get closer to the starting date. Some of our community members may be aware of an exciting project that Brown Memorial began in January. We have, for years, owned microfilm reels (46 reels to be exact) of this piece of Fire and EMS News With the onset of spring and the desire to do spring cleaning, the departments would like to offer some simple steps to protect your family and home. State and federal regulations re- Brown Memorial Library News local Lewisburg history. Back in the day, folks could view the film on our reader, but did not have a way to narrow searches or make copies of any information. We’re excited that we are in the process of digitizing all the film, therefore preserving these documents. To date, 11 reels have been completed and are available for viewing through our website at http://brownmemorial.lib.oh.us. Click on the Find Information tab and select Lewisburg Leader Digital Archives. Take a step back in time and enjoy! How can you help? You can donate to the “Save Lewisburg’s History” by sponsoring a reel for conversion at a cost of $75. You may also honor or memorialize a loved one with a donation of any amount. You may remain anonymous or have your gift recognized publicly. Each donor will receive a receipt and your gift is tax-deductible. Pick up a donation form at the library, or simply mail your gift to PO Box 640, Lewisburg, OH 45338. We are grateful to those who have donated to date and look forward to finally completing the process! Thank you for your support! Your library is busier than ever these days with preschool field trips, outreach reading at Head Start and Kid Connection, book discussion groups, and much more. We are always planning new programs to continue to be a vital part of our community. Won’t you join us? Give us a call at 9622377 to see how YOU fit in to the fun! Page 3 Clear leaves, debris and other yard waste from around the home, garage and storage sheds. Residents should be aware of the prohibition of open burning in the village. In the rural areas, a burn permit acquired from the proper authorities is required to open burn. Anyone needing further information related to open burning should call the Fire station at 962-4640. Check for frayed or damaged electrical cords and wires. Replace them or have them repaired by a qualified professional. Remove any combustibles from around hot water tanks, clothes dryers, and vents. Remove lint build-up from clothes dryers. Get rid of oily rags and recycle stacks of newspapers. Have a working flashlight and battery-powered radio in the event of a power outage. While thinking of fire safety, these tips should be followed: Remember to test smoke detectors. If batteries have not been changed within the past year, now is the time. Replace your detector if the unit is 10 years or older. A fire escape plan should be in place and fire drills should be con- ducted annually. Remember, your family should know two ways out of your home and be aware of the outside locations to meet. The kitchen is the leading area of origin for home fires. Listed blow are some tips for preventing kitchen fires: Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, or broiling food. If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol, avoid using the stove. Have a “kid-free” zone of at least 3 feet around the stove and areas where hot foods or drinks are prepared. ***** Safe Sleeping Tips for Infants. It is normal to want your baby close to you at all times, even when you and your baby sleep. Unfortunately, more than three Ohio infant deaths each week are caused by unsafe sleeping habits. Dayton Children’s Hospital would like to make sure your baby is sleeping in the safest conditions possible by asking you to follow these simple A -B-C’s. ***** It takes a special person to fill the boots of a volunteer fire fighter. Someone with a desire to do something important for the community. Someone with courage and dedication. Someone who isn’t afraid of hard work. Someone who is willing to accept the challenge of a difficult job. It takes a person who considers respect and appreciation reward enough, and who is just glad to help. If you are this kind of person, you are needed as a volunteer firefighter. Come on down to the firehouse and talk to us. We might be able to fit you with a pair of boots! As always, we ask that anyone having questions or concerns regarding our departments, please contact the station at 962-4640. A = Alone. A baby should sleep alone. Never let your baby sleep with you, another child, adult or pet. B = Back. A baby should sleep on his or her back - the safest position for a baby to sleep. C = Crib. Do not let your baby sleep in any other place besides a crib with a firm mattress. The Lewisburg Police Department would like to remind everyone to look out for motorcycle and bicycle riders now that spring is here. Let’s all share the roads safely!
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