Loudonville Village Council recognizes Boy Scout Camden Stanton for Eagle Scout project

LOUDONVILLE - Mayor Jason VanSickle presented not one but two certificates to Eagle Scout candidate Camden Stanton at the Loudonville Village Council meeting Monday, Dec. 6.

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Stanton, a Loudonville High School senior, spearheaded significant renovations of the 1950s-vintage Loudonville Youth Building this summer and fall as his Eagle Scout project. He is in the final stages of his Eagle Scout application process, with the actual award presentation pending in early 2022.

Those renovations included complete refinishing of the wooden floors, installation of drop ceilings in the lower level and repainting the lower-level area, Stanton and

Fellow Scouts and their adult supporters also made landscaping improvements and other upgrades to the building.

VanSickle called Stanton up twice during the council session, first to present a certificate of recognition for his Eagle Scout attainment, and second for a certificate of appreciation for his efforts in leading the building improvement project.

“We hear complaints of young people not doing things for their communities,” VanSickle said. “Camden’s achievements at the youth building shows that our youth are doing great things for us.”

Longtime village official Carl Smith remembered

In a somber moment at Monday’s meeting, VanSickle read a resolution in memory of longtime village official Carl Smith. Smith, who died Wednesday, Dec. 1, was an 18-year veteran of village service, serving on village council from 2003 to 2011; the village planning commission from 2010 to 2017; and the village cemetery board from 2012 to the present.

“Busy people tell us they don’t have time to help,” VanSickle said. “Carl always found time.”

VanSickle also presented a certificate of appreciation to Dick and Ronda Poorbaugh of Grandpa’s Cheesebarn in Ashland.

An ordinance to contract Core and Main of Ashland to replace the water metering system in the village at a price of $371,605 was approved. Four businesses bid on the project, with the Ashland business, the ordinance indicated, providing the best, lowest and most responsive bid.

Council also approved a change order on the Ohio Theatre fire escape project, replacing specifications calling for welded finish with nuts-and-bolts finish. Increased materials costs are increasing the total costs for the fire escape project by about $17,000.

American Rescue Plan funds received

Fiscal officer Elaine Van Horn reported the village emergency medical services have received a payment of $12,839 in American Rescue Plan funds for services to rural Medicare and Medicaid clients. This is the third such payment received from the ARP.

VanSickle praised Van Horn for keeping on top of such funding programs. “Elaine works very hard in keeping the village in positions to receive funding like this,” he said.

Council approved its 2022 salary ordinance, as well as an agreement for a private business, Ohio Billing, Inc., to perform fire and EMS billing services for the village.

Council Utility Committee Chair Hollie McCauley put forth a motion asking Law Director Thom Gilman to prepare legislation to increase to 3% the amount council could increase water and sewer rates in making adjustments for inflationary cost increases. This legislation will be acted upon by the council early in 2022, Gilman said.

Councilman Tom Young, reacting to statements made by Councilman Matt Young at the Nov. 15 meeting about council members not living on the money they make as council members, asked that the news media report that this was Matt Young’s opinion only, and not the opinion of the rest of the council.

Loudon Post 257 of the American Legion praised for recent donation

Tom Young also praised Loudon Post 257 of the American Legion for its recent donations of nearly $16,000 each to the Loudonville Fireworks Fund and the Loudonville Fire Department.

“They need to be recognized not just for what they give the village, but also other things they do for the community,” he said.

In a quirky procedural requirement, both VanSickle and McCauley were administered oaths of office. The second oaths were required since they could have been displaced from their appointments last summer if the election were to have turned out differently, Gilman said. Both will be sworn in again at the Jan. 3 meeting.

This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Boy Scout Camden Stanton recognized by Loudonville Village Council