Strasburg Village Council discusses former bus garage

The Times-Reporter
·2 min read

Strasburg Village Council

Tuesday meeting

KEY ACTION: Several residents asked how the village acquired the former bus garage on Railroad Avenue.

Mayor Steve Smith detailed how the school did not have land to construct a bus garage and, through a grant, was able to share construction with the village. Each group paid $5,600 in addition to what the grant paid. The garage was constructed on village property and the village and school district shared the garage. There was a 20-year lease that expired in 2017. There was no contract, merely an oral agreement.

DISCUSSION: “Nothing was put in writing,” Smith said, “A former school superintendent and a committee made the decision to give the garage to the village after a new business that came into the village said the revenue from the drilling and fracking business would allow the school district to construct a new bus garage. That never happened.”

“The buses are now stored outside just north of the village. This matter was brought to our attention about a year ago. The buses were never pushed out of the garage by village officials. Jeff Smith, Marty Zehnder, and myself were on council when we were given the garage,” Smith said.

Several residents attending the meeting asked about a compromise to allow the buses back into the garage where village equipment and village trucks are currently parked. Several asked about parking the buses in the garage in the winter and village equipment parked in the garage in the summer.

Law Director Terry Seeberger said attorneys from both entities have discussed the matter for two months, calling the meetings unproductive.

OTHER ACTION:

  • Heard electricity has been installed at the greenspace on Wooster Avenue. American Electric Power and Otto Electric of Dundee installed outlets along the fence line for future events and for a platform for band entertainment and for the LoveTusc sculpture to be placed at the site.

FOR YOUR INFO:

  • Spring Cleanup will be April 11. Items should be placed with the trash and recycling.

  • The board of zoning appeals will hold a public hearing at 6 p.m. April 6 and council will hold a public hearing at 6 p.m., April 18 for proposed zoning changes to 224 North Bodmer Avenue and the west side of Wooster Avenue from Third Street to Seventh Street SW. Both hearings will be held at Village Hall.

  • Streets will be swept from March 29 through 31. Residents are asked to move vehicles off the street.

  • A meet and greet will be held at village hall at 6 p.m. April 24 to learn about the need for an additional 3.7- mill five-year police levy that will appear on the May ballot.

UP NEXT: Meets at 6 p.m. April 4 at 224 North Bodmer Avenue.

Barb Limbacher

This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Strasburg Village Council discusses former bus garage, sidewalks