JEFFERSON — Increased village interest revenue will help offset the costs of rebuilding the playground at Giddings Park.
The Village Council approved a spending change to allow increased investment income to cover the costs of rebuilding a playground donated by a local Jefferson Area school.
“There is no direct funding from taxpayers,” said Jefferson Village Administrator Chris Mackensen, who said the playground has been in storage since last year’s donation and that the costs of restoration have been higher than anticipated.
Jefferson Village Treasurer Patty Fisher said the investment change has generated more than $10,000 a month in revenue.
Makensen said building a similar playground from the ground up would cost at least $320,000. The village hopes to begin partial construction this fall and accelerate the process in early spring to have it finished in the summer of 2025, he said.
Other businesses:
• Mackensen said an application for an Ohio Public Works Commission grant to rebuild the septic tank at the wastewater treatment plant has been sent to the commission.
He said the village previously received a $515,000 grant to rebuild another septic tank at the plant and has contributed more than $200,000 to the project.
He said if the grants are approved, the second grant and the grant to the village will be similar.
• Mackensen said four new trees were dedicated in downtown Jefferson on Memorial Day to honor former Jefferson Police Chief Ken Johnson, former Jefferson Mayor Ken Fertig, former Ashtabula County Executive Betty Johns and former Ashtabula County District Court Judge Gary Yost and his wife, Benita.
• The village is working with the Ohio Department of Transportation to seek approval to build a pedestrian crossing from Wall Street Alley to Ashtabula County Peace Officers Memorial Park.
• The Village Council approved a second reading of an ordinance banning adult use of marijuana in the village. Council members had suggested they wanted to explore the possibility of allowing it with limitations, and this was the best way to start the process.
