Council discusses possible changes on signs at Solida Road intersection

SOUTH POINT —  Mayor Jeff Gaskin told the South Point village council on Tuesday that changes need to be made to the village’s twice-a-year cleanup event.

Each May and October, South Point allows residents to place large items out on their regular garbage pick-up day for the cleanup week.

Russ McDonald, the village’s administrator, said 40 tons of items have been collected from the May event so far.

Gaskin said, however, that some people have been abusing the service, putting out items after their pick-up day that crews have to go back and collect later.

He said restricted items, such as paint cans and tires, have also turned up in the items set out.

“We may have to set limits,” Gaskin said of the October cleanup and said the council would discuss the matter in September.

The council also heard from guest Bernard Kincaid, of Holland Signs, who proposed that the village remove a cluster of signs at the intersection of Solida and Sand roads.

Kincaid said the intersection would be better served if a sign company installed a directional sign at the site, allowing businesses to put up panel signs.

Gaskin and other members of council said the idea sounded good, in theory, but after further discussion and raising questions about who would maintain the sign, which would be in the village’s right-of-way, became skeptical.

“I think it’s a great idea, but it becomes less great, the more we talk about it,” Gaskin said.

Council member Mary Cogan proposed the idea of putting up a chain link fence and allowing panels to be installed.

Gaskin said he and council members would have to think about ideas for the intersection, but said he was not entirely opposed to the sign proposal.

“We’re going to chew on this for a while,” he said. “I like the idea, but the worms keep coming out.”

In other business, the council:

• Discussed the abandoned idea for a village spray park, which they had passed on after costs were deemed too high. Gaskin said the plan is to make the village park more handicap-accessible by installing things such as a wheelchair-friendly swing. The village needs to move on the matter and finish construction by year’s end in order to receive the grant funds for the park. Council member Chris Smith said he has spoken to the Lawrence County Commission about the possibility of obtaining additional funds.

• Voted to approve the retirement of a village maintenance worker.

• Voted to approve financial reports for the month.

• Voted to allow police chief Chris Mahjer to change a “No Parking” sign at the boat dock to handicapped-only parking.

• Heard from McDonald, who said work on the village’s water tanks is nearly complete, with painting finished and work on safety cables remaining.

• Gaskin also advised the council and attendees that the village police are planning to crack down on violations for speeding and stop signs.

“They’re going to hit this hard,” he said. “If you have friends, tell them it’s coming.”