BELLVILLE, Ohio — The Bellville Village Council began 2016 with two new members, Rich Osborn and Clint Knight. Among their first duties was selecting a council president and fielding a concern for public safety.
Osborn and Knight were sworn in during the Dec. 15 meeting. Osborn was elected in the 2015 general election and officially began his term Jan. 5. Knight was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Larry Rose.
During the first meeting of the year, council members elect a president pro tempore, or president of the council. The council president assigns committee duties for members, including the appointment of committee chairpersons. Each Bellville council member will serve on three committees and be the chairperson of one. David Griffon was selected to serve as council president for the second year in a row.
The council president assumes mayoral duties in the event the mayor is unavailable. This could come in to play next year if Mayor Darrell Banks were to be elected to County Commissioner.
Members discussed concerns over a crosswalk on Main Street. Osborn said he observed an elderly couple narrowly avoid being struck by a car while attempting to cross the street at that location. Drivers may not be able to see pedestrians when large vehicles are parked next to the crosswalk. Banks said the Village has discussed confining that parking spot to compact cars only. Council members also discussed flashing crosswalk signage.
In addition to the regular council meeting, council members discussed utility aggregation. Aspen Energy consultant Marc Hollinger held four scheduled public informational meetings last year concerning utility aggregation. Aggregation allows communities to select electric and natural gas utilities, which increases their “buying power.”
Residents of both Bellville and Lexington will be entering into aggregation agreements for both electric and natural gas utilities last fall. Aggregation was approved by voters in both villages with more than 60 percent favoring the move.
Mayor Banks said he believes the aggregation will result in lower gas and electric payment for residents. Local officials say they hope it will also cut down on door-to-door solicitation by utility providers. Banks noted that many of these solicitors do not obtain a permit for the activity.
Hollinger suggested that residents could save up to $200 per household. He explained to council members that residents can opt out, at no cost, at any time if the wish to pursue their own utility rates. Aggregation is only for residents of the Villages.
