Sugar Loaf Park on West Broadway will be closed Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, April 26 - 28 will be closed to remove downed trees from the park.  Please do not use the park as it could be a safety issue.  Thank you for your cooperation.

The Charter Review Commission has begun the process of reviewing the Village Charter in order to make a report to Village Council to provide recommendations of revisions or amendments, if any, to the Village Charter.  The Commission will meet the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month through May in the Village Hall at 7:00pm.  All residents are welcome to attend each meeting and provide comments. 

If any Village residents would be interested in serving on the Charter Review Commission, positions are still available.  Please contact Clerk Mollie Prasher at 587-0707 if you are interested in serving.

CRC Agenda February 8                                             CRC Agenda April 12

CRC Agenda February 22                                           CRC Agenda April 26                                          

CRC Agenda March 8                                                  CRC Agenda May 10    

CRC Agenda March 22                                                CRC Agenda May 24       

CRC Minutes February 8

CRC Minutes February 22

CRC Minutes March 8

CRC Minutes March 22

The Village Council of Granville would like to invite all residents to two informal meet and greet sessions this week with the final candidates for the Village Manager's position - Sara Ott, Assistant Manager/Project Manager of the City of Dublin and Joe Hickman, Project Manager of the City of Newark and President of Joe Hickman & Associates, Inc. 

Both meet and greet sessions will be in Council Chambers at the Village Office, 141 East Broadway from 6:16 to 7:15pm.

Sara Ott will greet residents on Wednesday, January 19th from 6:15 to 7:15pm in the Village Office Council Chambers (141 East Broadway).  (Residents are welcome to remain in Council Chambers for the Village Council meeting following the meet and greet at 7:30pm.)

Joe Hickman will greet residents on Thursday, January 20th from 6:15 to 7:15pm in the Village Office Council Chambers (141 East Broadway).

Please contact the Village Office if you have any questions or need any additional information at 587-0707.

Due to an issue with the sewer lines, the two hundred block of North Pearl Street will be reduced to single lane traffic at times for the remainder of this week. Flagman and signage will be present during all work times. 

Below is a tentative schedule for lane disruption:

January 11^th             Sawcut Street                                  11:00am – 1:00pm

January 12^th             Removal & Plating of Street            11:00am – 2:00pm

                                   Excavation & Repair                           8:00pm – midnight

January 13^th             Excavation & Repair                         12:00am – 6:00am

January 14^th             Asphalt patching                               10:00am – 1:00pm

Work will be completed at quickly as possible.  The Village appreciates everyone’s cooperation.

The Granville Village Council is seeking resident applications for service on the Village’s Charter Review Commission.   The Granville Village Charter provides for a review by a citizen commission every ten years.  This Charter Review Commission consists of seven electors appointed by the Village Council, who live within the Village and hold no other public office, appointment, or employment with the Village. 

The Charter Review Commission has the responsibility to study the Village Charter and make a report to Village Council of recommended revisions or amendments, if any, to the Village Charter within six calendar months following the appointment. 

Any resident interested in being considered for the Charter Review Commission is asked to submit a Charter Review Commission application, letter of interest and a resume to Village Clerk Mollie Prasher at 141 East Broadway, PO Box 514, Granville, OH.

The Charter Review Commission application is available at the Village Office, 141 East Broadway, or by clicking on the link below.  For more information, please contact Mollie Prasher, Clerk of Council at 587-0707 or mprasher@granville.oh.us.

The deadline for submitting an application, letter of interest and resume is November 15, 2010.  Appointment to the Charter Review Commission will be made by Village Council in January.

Charter Review Commission Application

Rules of the Charter Review Commission

Now that snow and winter have officially arrived, the Village of Granville would like to remind our residents of their responsibility to remove snow and ice from all public sidewalks.  Even a light snow can pose a safety hazard for people trying to walk on the sidewalks.  

The Village of Granville’s Codified Ordinances require that all owner/occupants having property that borders on any street with a sidewalk must remove all snow or ice within the first four hours after daylight following or during a snow fall.  All sidewalks must be made safe by removing ice or sprinkling sand or other suitable substance.  Non-compliance with this ordinance may result in a violation.

Just as the residents are clearing the sidewalks, the Village Service Department works to make our streets as safe and clear as possible.  In order to clear a street, plows must push snow to the side of the roadway.  This creates a necessary, but unfortunate consequents, snow pushed into driveway approaches or onto sidewalks.  The Service Department asks for your understanding and offers the following suggestions:

1. Avoid shoveling snow into the street.  Shoveling snow from your driveway into a street that has already been cleared may create safety hazards.  Shoveling snow you’re your driveway into a street that has not been cleared will result in the snow being pushed back into your driveway by the plow.
2. When conditions exist that require snow plowing or salting, please move vehicles off the street.  This act greatly assists service crews in their efforts to keep streets safe and clear.
3. When shoveling near the end of your driveway, shovel snow to the side of the driveway on the far side of traffic flow.  When snow is piled in this manner, plows will push it towards the curb and sidewalk and not back into the driveway approach.  Remember, it is extremely important to remove the snow and ice to make our sidewalks safe, especially for children, seniors and individuals with disabilities in our community to allow them continued access throughout the Village.

If you have any questions regarding this regulation, please contact Village Clerk Mollie Prasher at 587-0707 or the Granville Police Department at 587-1234.

The Granville Township Trustees have received notice from the Ohio Department of Transportation that the Raccoon Valley Park Pedestrian Bridge has been selected for funding. The proposed bridge will connect the TJ Evans Recreational Trail to the Raccoon Valley Park. The letter received by the Township Trustees may be viewed by following this link. 

After dark on Tuesday, August 24, the Licking County Health Department will be spraying for mosquitoes throughout the Village. 

Note: The Village Council will continue this public hearing at its meeting on Wednesday, September 1. That meeting will begin at 7:30 pm in the Village Council Chambers, 141 East Broadway.

The Granville Village Council has scheduled a public hearing at 7:30 pm on Wednesday, August 18 for two ordinances that would adjust the current water and wastewater rates. The purpose of this article is to provide information about the proposed adjustments – the impact on the average customer, why the revenue is needed, how the revenue will be used, and even a comparison with the rates for other communities.

Proposed Increase and Impact on Average Village Customer

Currently, a Village residence or business is billed for water and wastewater services at the rate of $7.30 per 1000 gallons. (Customers within the Village who are only on water are billed at $3.40 per thousand gallons.)

The proposed legislation would increase the combined water and wastewater rates to $9.85 per 1000 gallons. (Customers within the Village who are only on water would be billed at $3.85 per thousand gallons.)

If the proposed legislation is adopted, the new rates would be effective for water usage during the month of October, 2010. That usage would be reflected in the meter readings beginning November 1 and the monthly bills that will be sent out on December 1.

The draft legislation would authorize another $0.95 increase per 1000 gallons to be effective for water and wastewater usage during the month of November 2011, which would be reflected in the bills to be sent out on January 1, 2012. (A water only customer in the Village would pay an additional $0.40 per 1000 gallons.)

Customers Outside the Village

Customers outside the Village typically pay a surcharge for water and wastewater usage. That surcharge (or multiplier) would be applied to the proposed rates listed above.

Need for Additional Revenue

The water and wastewater funds are enterprise funds, which means that they are self supporting and must produce sufficient revenue to cover their expenses. The Village has not had a utility rate increase since 2005. Over that time, the costs of operating the utility plants have increased because of changes in the prices of fuel, chemicals, electricity, supplies, personnel, and insurance.

Capital improvements to the water and wastewater plants, the water distribution system, or the wastewater collection system are typically funded from capacity fees, which are assessed to new customers when they connect to the water or wastewater systems. However, because new construction has virtually stopped as a result of the downturn in the economy, there has been very little new revenue available for capital improvements. A portion of the new revenue generated from the proposed water and wastewater increases will be used to fund capital improvements such as a new ultraviolet disinfection treatment system at the wastewater plant, pump replacements, and waterline replacements.

The proposed utility rate increases are needed to ensure that the water and wastewater funds remain self supporting. The increases are necessary to replenish cash balances and to help fund future capital projects.

Comparison of Rates

Even with the proposed increases, the Village’s water and wastewater rates will remain significantly lower than most rates charged by other Licking County communities. The following chart, which is based on a survey of rates published on the internet, provides a quick comparison of rates based on 1000 to 5000 gallons of consumption:

The Licking County Health Department reported the first evidence of West Nile Virus (WNV) in Licking County for 2010. One pool of mosquitoes collected from traps monitored by the health department tested positive for WNV.

The mosquitoes were collected in a trap located on Buckeye Avenue in Newark. The Health Department conducted mosquito spaying in this area on June 30 and has scheduled a second spraying for July 1.

Licking County Health Commissioner, Joe Ebel, reports, "Our department performs surveillance activities throughout the summer and fall in order to identify other potential areas affected by WNV."  Ebel added,"Licking County is the second county in Ohio to find West Nile Virus in mosquitoes this year, and while there have been no WNV positive bird, horse or human cases in Licking County so far this year, this finding affirms the need for residents to take steps to protect themselves against mosquito bites and eliminate standing water to reduce their chances being infected by WNV."

All residents are encouraged to take the following personal protection measures to protect themselves and their loved ones against possible WNV infection:

• To avoid possible infection from mosquito bites:
  • Avoid outdoor activities between dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active; if you must be outdoors, be sure to wear long pants, long-sleeved shirts, shoes and socks. 
  • Wear light colored clothing as mosquitoes are generally attracted to dark colors.
  • If you are outside when mosquitoes are active, use a mosquito repellent and always follow the label directions.

• To eliminate mosquito breeding sites near your home:
  • Eliminate all areas of standing water from your property such as discarded tires and other water-holding containers like tin cans and unused flower pots.
  • Make sure all roof gutters are clean and properly draining.
  • Clean and chlorinate pools, outdoor saunas and hot tubs. Keep them empty when not in use and drain water from pool covers.
  • Change water in bird baths or other containers weekly.

For more information, contact the Licking County Health Department at (740) 349-6535 or visit www.lickingcohealth.org.