Twirlers make donation

By Rob Treynor

Assistant Editor

Every seat was taken, with many seats shared by two during Monday evening’s Plain City Village Council meeting.

Members of the Starlight Twirlers organization, their parents and siblings filled the village office in order to present Mayor Sandra Adkins and council with a donation of $250 for the annual Christmas under the Clock celebration.

“These girls gave us a donation last year as well. Thank you very much. We appreciate it,” Adkins said following the presentation.

As the Twirlers made their way to the door, more ceremony followed. Adkins presented a proclamation to retired fire Chief Greg Pinney.

“Be it resolved that we want to express our deepest gratitude,” Adkins read.

“It’s been an honor and a privilege to be here for the past 29 years,” Pinney said.

“Special thanks to my brothers in the police department. We’ve seen a lot together and done a lot together.”

“Thanks to The Madison Press and The Plain City Advocate for sharing my career with the people of Plain City,” Pinney added.

The third bit of pomp for the evening was provided by Mike Brining from the Ohio Department of Public Safety, who presented a certificate of appreciation from the United States Department of Transportation to Plain City Police Sergeant Dale McKee.

“McKee has gone above and beyond with his work on the ‘Click-it or Ticket’ and impaired driving campaigns,” Brining said.

Brining presented McKee with a laser (speed) gun, valued at $1,300. “The United States appreciates the work McKee has done.”

McKee said jokingly, “Is the laser mine or the department’s?”

In other business, Jim Lipnos, representing the Copperfield Development, was on hand to hear council approve plans for Phase II of the development. The plans had previously been approved by Plain City Planning and Zoning board. With the approval from council, Phase II is now able to begin.

“We will probably start underground improvements this fall,” Lipnos said. “We can’t do any paving until April.”

Lipnos was asked if there has been any interest in the new phase of the housing subdivision.

“We’ve had a lot of interest, enough that we’ll probably be starting Phase III in the spring.”

Council member Kevin Vaughn, who also sits on the Fire Board, announced that a new fire chief has been hired by the city.

Mark Kidd will begin as the Pleasant Township Fire Chief beginning around the first of the year. Kidd came from the Franklin Township Fire Department.

Kidd lives in Nashport with his wife Tricia and children Karlie and Kyle. The family is looking to move to Plain City.

In other business,

• The motion to amend the zoning code to include a B3 zoning district in downtown Plain City had its third and final reading. The motion passed.

• The motion to amend the sign code passed its second reading.

• The motion to ask ODOT to reduce the speed to a portion of U.S. Route 42 from 50 m.p.h. to 45 m.p.h. had its second reading. The motion remains controversial, with Moore, Saxour, and Kaeser voting against it and the other three members voting for it. Adkins again broke the tie and the motion passed.

• The motion to accept the annexation of a property near Schrock Automotive on U.S. Route 42 had its first reading, with all but council member Mark Hostetler voting for it. Hostetler abstained, citing a conflict of interest.

• Council member Shawn Kaeser suggested moving future council meetings to a building more ADA compliant. Mayor Adkins said she would investigate the matter.

• Council agreed to waive the second council meeting of December. The meeting was originally scheduled on Christmas Eve.

Plain City’s next meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 26.