LUCAS, Ohio—A second reading for rezoning lots east of Bond Street and north of East Main Street was one of two pieces of legislation Lucas Village Council addressed Tuesday evening. The council also discussed light poles at the school’s athletic fields and heard an update on the community gardens.
The council heard the second reading to rezone properties at 15 Bond St. and 89 E. Main St. from residential designations to business to facilitate the sale of the properties for a development by Dollar General to open a retail store.
There were no remarks from residents regarding the reading of the resolution.
Council also unanimously passed legislation authorizing the village to hire a street laborer and declaring an emergency. It therefore did not require three readings and passed 5-0.
When a street department position was recently vacated by the employee last week, Dan Mitchell, who had previously worked for the village, expressed interest in the position. He met with Village Administrator Tim Stallard. Mitchell had prior experience in the street division at Lucas. Hall also noted that more grounds and street work is needed this time of year.
In his report, Stallard said, “We’ve been assisting the township and the park board with some light situations. The tennis court lights were having some issues with the ones on the timer. We had Alpine come in and check our security lights and do some work for us and while they were here, he stopped down there and found some loose connections and did some repairs.”
Stallard also reported that the council received requests from the school and the youth league. Wooden light poles on the softball field and the football field were evaluated for their stability and safety. Two tests were performed on the poles.
“Most of them failed one test or the other,” Stallard said. “There were only two poles that actually failed both of the tests. Since that time, all of the softball field poles have been removed.”
Stallard said the football poles are also going to be removed. Representatives of the school and the youth league asked the village if there were any services that the village could help with like providing a bucket truck for replacing the poles.
“The poles that they removed from the softball field, they’re looking to still possibly try to play night games this year because in the interim they’ve done a lot of shifting of their schedules so they can still use the field without lights,” said Mayor Todd Hall.
Hall further explained that when the village last had electrical upgrades performed they ordered a bulk amount of poles and there are still a number of unused poles. The poles include 10 45-foot poles.
The poles that were removed from the softball field were 75-foot poles. However the football field will get all new poles and lights, and the youth league is hoping to use the football lights on new poles. With the better lighting it’s hoped the lower pole height would not be a problem. Only four poles would be set at the softball fields.
“The youth league does not have a lot of money,” said Hall, “And the replacement of the poles at the softball field technically is probably not the responsibility of the school because the school does not utilize those lights. In fact, most area girls softball fields do not have lights. With the youth league not having a lot money, how would council feel if we are approached about the situation again, would you be willing to donate some of our 45-footers to help them?”
After a brief discussion, council agreed they would provide poles and help set the new poles.
Chief Fiscal Officer Patricia Constance reminded council that planting day for the village community garden is Saturday, June 6 at 10 a.m. The community garden, located at 42 Lucas Perrysville Road, is used to raise produce through grants and fundraisers to donate to the Lucas food pantry and Catholic Charities.
“We have great volunteer sponsors,” Constance said as she explained that lunch is provided on planting day thanks to Jason Spon, Krogers, Jones Chips, Richland Public Health, and tilling by resident Bob Banks.
Constance also requested that council participate in adopting one week of the summer to week and tend the garden. She asked the council take the first week, the week of June 21, and “lead the way,” hoping to get 12 businesses or organzations to follow their lead.
