West Lafayette hit many goals in 2022
WEST LAFAYETTE − Mayor Stephen Bordenkircher said while the Village of West Lafayette was hit by supply chain issues and inflation, just like everyone else, there were several successes in 2022. Bordenkircher recently delivered his State of the Village address at the most recent village council meeting.
"As we end 2022 and step into 2023, the challenges remain but so does the tenacity to see it though," Bordenkircher said. "A thank you to the fine citizens of the Village of West Lafayette for making this a great place to live."
Financial shape
He said the village was solid financially to start the new year with a carryover balance of $2.17 million, up 6.2% from the carryover balance into 2022. The 2023 budget is set at $2.16 million. American Rescue Plan Act funding received to the village in 2022 was $242,625.45.
Bordenkircher gave credit to Fiscal Officer Amy Bourne for her attention to detail and sound financial management. During 2022, she implemented direct deposit for all payroll and established Positive Pay to help prevent check fraud. Bourne also attended many trainings while leading a charge to implement new technology updates and IT providers.
Police department
The West Lafayette Police Department under Chief Chris Walters hired three new part-time officers in Nate Berry, Kevin Cichon and Wesley Wallace. Officer Amanda Rossiter was promoted from part time to full time. Corporal Jose Hernandez was also assigned to Ridgewood Local Schools as a resource officer. When school is out, Hernandez will patrol the village on a Fuji Police Bicycle.
The department also participated in several community programs such as an Easter egg hunt that had more than 4,000 eggs spread across the Ridgewood football field and the inaugural first responders block party. The free event was held at Burt Park and included food, music, a bounce house and more. The police department joined the West Lafayette Chamber of Commerce to hold a Halloween party in the gymnasium of Ridgewood Middle School with food, pumpkins, gift bags and costume contest. All events are slated to return in 2023.
The police department received 4,217 calls for service in 2022 with 295 reports taken, four felony arrests and 131 misdemeanor arrests. There were also 58 traffic crashes and 334 traffic stops.
Fire department
The West Lafayette Volunteer Fire Department handled 202 calls in 2022 with 44 related to fires. Of all calls, 57 were in the village, 47 were in Lafayette Township, 20 were in Linton Township, 33 were in Oxford Township, 16 were in White Eyes Township and 29 were mutual aid calls. The department has 21 members with 3,010 volunteers hours completed in the last year.
A 2022 Pierce Enforcer went into service on Oct. 29. Several fundraising activities were conducted, which helped with the purchase of Hurst Strong-Arm rescue tools for the new engine, a powdered hose rolling tool for large diameter hose and a small John boat for water rescues. A grant of $5,939.21 was received from the Coshocton Foundation for purchase of cordless tools for the firetruck.
The department also worked with the Janusian Club for fire prevention outreach at Ridgewood Schools, which included distributing instructional pamphlets and smoke detectors.
Capital projects
Tammy Hicks completed her first year as village administrator and assisted with the completion of several projects.
This included a sewer project at Indian Circle and Seventh Street Rear with $35,000 in ARPA funding, removing a residential sanitary sewer lateral from the high school lift station at 401 W. Fifth St. for $23,500, the painting of 16 crosswalks with thermoplastic paint at $5,020, replacement of sidewalks on Russell Avenue for $30,933, two sections of alleys were resurfaced behind Main Street and Russell Avenue for $34,000 and other projects.
Work planned for 2023 includes replacement of the storm sewer system on Oak Street to be awarded in February and the Sewer Outfall project to be bid at the end of June. Bordenkircher said breaches in the sewer infrastructure discovered in 2022 will be repaired or replaced in the coming year. Options for pipe lining is being considered. A sanitary line on the east end of the village will be moved. Columbia Gas is also completing its main line and service line replacement on the east end as well.
Sidewalk replacement, alley paving and crosswalk painting will continue along with curb repairs. Paving through Ohio Public Works Commission funding will include portions of Kirk and Center streets. New street name and traffic signs will be installed. The street garage repair and remodel will be completed too.
Wastewater department
Nathan Gress obtained is Class 2 license and is now the village's backup operator of record. The wastewater treatment plant treated 58 million gallons of raw sewage and sludge with 263 wet tons of sludges applied to land. The plant had $5,074.50 in revenue in 2022 from septic haulers.
At the plant sludge digester valves were replaced. A new control panel was installed at the rotary screen. Heat trace lines around the clarifiers were fixed. An infrared thermal scan was done on all electrical equipment; very few deficiencies were found and corrected. New VEGA radar meters were installed to track flows into and out of the plant.
The forced main system that runs from Pearl Valley Cheese to Fresno was jetted to maintain flow and the lift station had improvements made to the backup system. Smoke testing was performed with very few deficiencies found.
This article originally appeared on Coshocton Tribune: Many goal hit in 2022 for West Lafayette
