Loudonville receives major donations from Grandpa's Cheese Barn, Bill Harris Ford
LOUDONVILLE − Mayor Jason VanSickle announced two major donations received in the village from private sources at Tuesday's (Jan. 17) council meeting.
VanSickle first read a resolution of appreciation for Grandpa’s Cheese Barn in Ashland for its donation of $10,000 to the Ohio Theatre.
“This is the second major donation made by Grandpa’s in the past six months,” VanSickle said. “We really appreciate it!”
He also announced that Bill Harris Ford, the auto dealership that took control of Cal Hans Ford in Loudonville last fall, has stepped forward to purchase the 39 to 40 hanging baskets planned to be displayed in downtown Loudonville this summer.
VanSickle had asked Valerie Spreng of the Chamber of Commerce to advise area businesses that baskets could be sponsored at a cost of $65 each. That price included the baskets and flowers, raised and planted by Richardson’s Greenhouse, and their watering, done by the local Boy Scouts.
“She surprised me today by calling to tell me Bill Harris agreed to buy plants for the entire downtown,” VanSickle told council members.
If the Bill Harris sponsorship donation involves 40 hanging baskets, its total is $2,400.
Other business from the Jan. 17 Loudonville Village Council meeting
In other business, council passed its 2023 appropriations ordinance, and an ordinance authorizing the sale of equipment that's no longer be used by the village through GovDeals online auctions.
Councilman Tom Young reported the Loudonville Fair Board received a bill for $500 for electricity used to light ballfields in Riverside Park, which was done for safety reasons at the suggestion of the fire department. The council voted to waive the fee, which Administrator Garret DeWitt said was much larger than expected due to someone forgetting to turn the lights off at the close of fair activities each evening.
Tom Young also asked that the village waive all fees for Youth Building use, “since we allow pickleball to be played there without charge.”
Biddinger responded that the fees are mostly for cleanup after parties, etc., and the pickleball organization has pledged to keep the building clean after it uses it, and is working to provide a $200,000 asset for the village. No changes in the policy were made.
Next council session is 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 6 in the council chambers, 156 N. Water St.
This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: More than $12K donated to Loudonville for Ohio Theatre, flower baskets
