Wellman council given update about Grigsby

Posted 2/4/99

After being questioned by KCRG-TV 9 reporter James Clark prior to their regular meeting, the Wel…

By Mark Adkins

After being questioned by KCRG-TV 9 reporter James Clark prior to their …

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Wellman council given update about Grigsby

Posted

After being questioned by KCRG-TV 9 reporter James Clark prior to their regular meeting, the Wel…

By Mark Adkins

After being questioned by KCRG-TV 9 reporter James Clark prior to their regular meeting, the Wellman city council was updated on the situation regarding Robert Grigsby by Washington County Sheriff Yale Jarvis at the beginning of their meeting Monday.

Jarvis told the council and crowd on hand that Grigsby, a known sex offender, had been taken into custody after a phone call was placed to the Washington County Safety Center January 14.

“I had heard several comments before we made the arrest,” he said. “It came from families in town that were scared of the situation and that wanted to be assured the situation was under control.”

Grigsby was transported to California Monday afternoon to face criminal charges.

Deer Meadows tabled

After some concerns were voiced by the council, approval of the final plat for Deer Meadow Phase II was tabled until council members Max Lewis and Jelene McCain could meet with developer Jerry Powell, Wellman’s attorney and a consultant from Hart-Frederick.

Concerns voiced dealt with the narrowness of the street and sidewalks in Phase II.

“I think we need to make sure there is no parking on the street when it narrows down to 25 feet wide,” McCain said. “It’s the city’s call if they want to put signs up to inform residents of no parking.”

“I think it’s the responsibility of the owner, builder or sub-divider to put in sidewalks in the development,” council member J. Carl Yoder said.

Mayor Wilbur Swartzendruber informed the council that sidewalks weren’t a requirement of Phase I.

“It would be a tight squeeze with installing water, gas, electric, sewer and so on with sidewalks included,” Mike Singer of Hart-Frederick said.

“I would like to see sidewalks set up right away,” McCain said. “Once people start building on their lots, they should put the sidewalks in. We have had some calls and concerns about no walks in the first phase.”

Council member Murval Weidlein questioned the sidewalk issue.

“I am questioning why we have so many existing lots without sidewalks and why we are putting an onus on Jerry to put walks in his development,” she said.

Action items

In other action items, the council:

• approved the formation of a Citizens Zoning Committee to begin the process of putting together a zoning ordinance for Wellman. The first meeting will be held March 3.

• approved a utilities survey for the ground the Wellman Activities Complex will be built on. The city will pay for the survey.

• approved certifying an unpaid utilities account, dealing with natural gas services, for the Wilbur and Norma Young property.

• approved a four percent raise for full-time city employees.

• approved a policy on placing antennas and repeaters on the city water tower. The policy states that all private businesses will have a $300 charge and will not be able to handle any maintenance unless authorized by city maintenance director Bob Kuhns. The policy will take effect July 1.

• approved the preliminary design for the lift station and sewer set-up for Phase II of Deer Meadow based on approval on final plat.

• approved pre-application for a community block development grant for sewer and wastewater treatment.