LEWISBURG — The Village of Lewisburg’s Police Department received a “thank you” from Preble County Sheriff Mike Simpson regarding the help the village’s K9 unit recently provided the county.

Corporal Andrew Johnson and his K9 Apollo recently helped the county catch a perpetrator with a significant amount of narcotics. During a Lewisburg Village Council meeting on June 15, council discussed the help that Lewisburg’s K9 has been giving to the county and other area municipalities.

Since the letter, there has been another arrest for the county Apollo has helped with.

Mayor Patrick Putnam read a card that he received: “To the Village of Lewisburg, thank you to Clint, Leroy, and the other two young men who came out and cleaned up the tree mess in our yard. It was greatly appreciated. May God bless each one of you, deepest thanks. It was such a blessing, they did such an excellent job too.”

Council member Jackie Sewert said, “That puts a good face out in the village for us.”

Council member Belinda Harry discussed the tax ordinance for 2018. The budget is currently being prepared, but first council had to schedule a work session to discuss the issue. The budget work session will be held on July 5. Law Director Richard Faber added, the legal deadline for passage is July 15. It has to go to the auditor by July 20.

According to Municipal Manager Jeff Sewert, local football players have been helping out around the community by painting properties.

Sewert added, village staff has been working on property maintenance and cleaning up the town.

Council member Harry asked, “How’s the downtown revitalization applications and all that?”

Sewert resported he met with Susan Laux of Mote & Associates and there are eight applications. Next, “historic people” have to come in and review. He said, “It’s a long process.”

Fire Chief BJ Sewert reported applications for an open position were due on June 5. They already had seven applications back, but two had been eliminated. Next step is the interview process. Area fire chiefs will be helping with the process. Council member Chad Woodworth will also be helping. The final process will be to have another interview including Mayor Putnam, Fire Chief Sewert, and Municipal Manager Sewert.

The next Lewisburg Village Council meeting will be held on Thursday, July 6, at 7:30 p.m. in the fire house.