EATON — The Preble County Board of Commissioners met with Scott Collbeck and Cole French from the Lakengren Board of Trustees to discuss updates happening around Lakengren during their meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 10.
“We have plans to tear down and reconstruct our guard house that has not been updated for I don’t know how long,” Collbeck said. “I’m pretty sure it is almost original with a few modifications, so that’s probably our biggest construction project this year.”
Additionally, after a few years of not being able to lower Lake Lakengren due to concerns about a valve under the dam, the lake was able to be lowered this year due to the creation of a separate siphoning system.
Collbeck also updated the board on an agreement Lakengren signed last year with Spectrum for internet.
“That was a major, major undertaking,” he said. “Very beneficial from a services standpoint and a financial standpoint. That allowed us to be the third-party biller. [We] get one invoice from Spectrum and we disseminate individual bills to homeowners.”
Collbeck also said residents have gotten good use out recycling bins that have been placed around the community.
“The residents are using it to the point where they’re complaining that it is full, which is a good thing, but some of the residents are a little frustrated,” he said.
Collbeck said final placement hasn’t been decided for the recycling bins, though they have been tested on the north and south sides of Lakengren.
“It’s amazing what [Lakengren]’s become,” Commissioner Adam Craft said. “Your community has grown tremendously and it’s continuing to grow. That’s awesome.”
In other business
During a meeting with Preble County Engineer Kyle Cross, the board moved to enter into an executive session to discuss what Commissioner Rachael Vonderhaar described as “imminent litigation” between the Preble County Engineer’s Office and the Preble Shawnee Local Schools regarding the use of Sewer District 3 for the closed West Elkton Intermediate.
The board also approved the following financial considerations:
Res. #99-21-194 to authorize payment to CSEA ($3,315.47); Certificate of Title ($4,589.36); Sheriff ($6,550); computerization of Clerk of Courts ($26,592).
Res. #100-21-194 for supplemental appropriation for recycling ($277,995.60) and Children’s Services ($100,000).
Res. #101-21-194 to authorize an expenditure of $39,336 for the purchase of 600 tons of deicing salt for the engineer.
Res. #103-21-194 to authorize an expenditure of $54,625.26 for the emergency purchase and installation of a Hobart model dishwasher at the Preble County Jail for the sheriff.
Res. #105-21-194 to authorize an expenditure of $18,306 for the cleaning and sludge removal at the landfill.
Res. #106-21-194 to authorize an expenditure of $277,995.60 for the purchase of a new Impaktor 205-Slow Speed Shredder for recycling.
The Preble County Board of Commissioners meet every Monday and Wednesday at 9 a.m. in the Preble County Courthouse. These meetings are open to the public.
