Port Washington Village Council reorganizes for 2025
In its first meeting of the new year on Jan. 7, Port Washington Council voted to appoint Joe Bourne as council president and to approve a slate of committee and other appointments for 2025 including the following:
—Finance: John Little, Nate Penrod and Brandie Bourne.
—Streets: Joe Bourne, Steve Adams and Little.
—Public safety: Adams, Ed Steffek and Penrod.
—Park board: Joe Bourne, Steffek and Brandie Bourne.
—Income tax administrator: Donna Meek.
—Planning commission: Mayor Tom Gardner, Little, DJ Meek and Teresa Jones.
—Zoning appeals board: Little, Jones, Adrian Endlich and Jennifer Robinson.
—County health advisory board: Fiscal Officer Darissa Lute, Gardner and Joe Bourne.
—Village solicitor attorney: Mark Perlaky.
—Mayor’s administrative assistant: DJ Meek.
—Park caretaker: Malinda Adams.
—Records retention board: Lute, Gardner and Rocky Dusenberry.
Council discussed a number of proposed projects for the coming year including the following:
—Replacing eight 25-year-old pole lights on the village square that have not been replaced in 25 years.
—A new paving project to upgrade Bates Drive and widen Marion Frank Lane.
—Increasing police patrolling hours and issuing cleanup and junk vehicle notices as needed.
—Updating wiring in the historical society building.
Gardner also led a lookback at some of the accomplishments during 2024 including the following:
—Outfitting the fire station with CPR and other first aid equipment.
—Installing a security system at the historical society building.
—Extending North High Street to the village corporation limit.
—Purchasing a computer and camera for the police cruiser and a body camera.
—Resetting headstones in the cemetery.
—Purchasing a furnace for the street department building using funds donated by Harold Webber in honor of his father, the late Paul Webber.
—Passing an ordinance prohibiting recreational marijuana use dispensaries within the village.
—Renaming unnamed alleys Lamneck Drive in honor of the late Judge John Howard Lamneck and Patsy Lane in honor of the late Patricia Lafferty.
In other business
Council passed an emergency ordinance establishing permanent appropriations for 2025 as follows:
—General Fund: $365,545.
—Street Construction Fund: $42,000.
—State High Fund: $4,200.
—Cemetery: $9,005.37.
Council approved renewing Perlaky’s membership in the Ohio Municipal Attorney’s Association for 2025 at a cost of $350. Approval also was given for a resolution establishing monthly credit limits and approved users.
At the recommendation of Gardner, council agreed to join other Tuscarawas County municipalities in applying for a Ready Grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission. The application is being made through the Tuscarawas Economic Development Corporation and requires the village to commit to a match expenditure of $2,500, should funding be granted, which council also approved.
Reports to council
Patrolman Tom Casimir provided a 2024 year-end report for the police department. Highlights included the following:
—84 calls handled by village police with an additional 56 handled by the county sheriff’s department.
—72 traffic stops resulting in 37 traffic citations.
—10 criminal arrests.
—Successful installation of a crash module to the state reporting software system.
Joe Bourne presented the December report for the fire department, noting all six calls received that month were calls for mutual aid to other municipalities. Newcomerstown placed two of the calls, and West Lafayette, Liberty, Arrowhead and Tri-County each placed one call.
Bourne also brought up the need to replace the old garage doors on the street department building with insulated doors and possibly purchasing a 50-foot strip of land next to the building.
Brandie Bourne said the Jan. 11 breakfast at the fire station was canceled due to expected inclement weather. The next breakfast will be Feb. 8 from 8-11 a.m.
Port Washington Council meets the first and third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at Village Hall. All meetings are open to the public.