NEW PARIS — There have been reports of counterfeit money in the New Paris area, according to Police Chief Jeremy Schroeder.

During the NP Village Council meeting on Monday, Sept. 9, Shroeder warned council and asked members to make the community aware of the issue.

When asked by council member Mary Jane Thomas, he explained there were counterfeit $10s and $100s. This happened at two different places in New Paris, neither of which caught the perpetrator in the act. The case will be handed over to the FBI.

“Pay attention and look closely at [the bills],” he said.

Shroeder also presented his monthly report: in the month of August, the New Paris Police Department handled 141 calls for service, took 12 reports, made three arrests, issued five citations and issued 35 warnings. All officers completed their fire certifications.

Council approved a request for the police department to purchase gift bags to hand out during Trick-or-Treat.

Susan Laux, with Mote & Associates, attended the meeting to speak with council about potential funding and projects.

She began by talking about the East Cherry Street project, informing council almost everything is completed with the project. Council approved a change order for the project. However, the paving of Main Street and Hawley Mills Road will have to be invoiced separately, costing an additional $28,239.99.

Council also approved the final pay request for the East Cherry Street project, at a cost of $202,058.85. According to Laux, all but $2,500 of that amount is covered by a grant.

“I’m happy with the project and how everything turned out,” Laux said.

She also updated council on a Spring Street Bridge project.

“Those plans are in the final stages at our office and they will be submitted to Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) on Monday, Sept. 16. That will get that part started,” she said.

She added, she resubmitted the application for the Tornado Siren Grant which was previously denied.

As for the ongoing New Paris Park project, Laux said she spoke with two remediation companies to get bids.

“Based on the Ohio Revised Code — both bids were above $150,000, which I don’t think anybody is surprised about — if you are going to sign a contract with somebody for more than $150,000, you have to publicly bid that project. I haven’t been able to find anyway around it, because that rule doesn’t really have to do with streets or this or that. It is pretty much anything. My suggestion is, at this point, that you authorize us to advertise that for bids,” she said.

In other business, American Legion Post 360 asked permission to put flags on both sides of the street for Memorial Day. According to Smallwood, there has been an agreement in the past that the Chamber of Commerce utilizes one side of the street for their banners and the American Legion has the other side for the American Flag. Smallwood promised to look into the situation further.

New Paris Council will hold its next meeting on Monday, Oct. 7, at 7 p.m. in the New Paris Village Building.