Kelleys Island News
By Leslie Korenko
Wow! When summer visits the island, it comes fully prepared to enjoy itself: Long days of sunshine, pleasant temperatures, the trees filling out nicely, wildflowers in full bloom, the lake warming up, fish abiting, every business opening up and our friends coming back to the island. What more could you ask for? Unfortunately, Covid came back too with reports that several people have contracted this, milder, form. The school closed for a day of deep cleaning. The library closed for a week. Safety Services Day has been delayed and the EMS spaghetti dinner has moved to June 11th. Council meets on June 9th at 7 p.m. (or online), and June 4th is free scrap metal day at the Transfer Station, so clean up that yard.
The Island mourns the loss of Stanley the Wild Turkey. He was shot in a yard off Bookerman Road on Sunday, May 22nd, late afternoon. The perp was chased into the quarry, the police were called and an investigation is underway. Stanley was the only survivor of a flock of turkeys brought to the Island in 2008. The flock thrived and baby turkeys were spotted the next year, then their numbers started to decline. Wild Turkeys have a lifespan of just 3-5 years, but this veteran outlived the entire flock and, even though probably quite lonely, he thrived on the generosity of our residents and his wily knack for eluding predators. Stanley will be missed.
Our community welcomes new POLICE CHIEF Brigitte Door-Guiser. She fills the hybrid position previously adopted by the Village; the only change being references to “he” are changed to “he/she.” She was sworn in on Saturday, May 14th. She is a veteran of the Cleveland Police Dept. where she was the officer in charge of Cleveland’s crisis intervention team. Officer James Bartus II was promoted from part-time to full-time. Council voted to donate the police boat, motors and trailer to the Sandusky Police Dept. The PARK BOARD revealed plans for the new playground. You can view them on the Village website KelleysIsland.us under Departments/Park Board.
The parking situation is getting worse as the season ramps up. It was difficult to find a parking spot for the Council meeting and that was on a Thursday evening. Under consideration is a proposal to turn the area around the water tower into an official parking lot. Legislation was passed redefining the no parking areas on Division Street. Chapter 78 prohibits parking on either side of Division St. from the Police station to Bookerman Rd. and is effective immediately.
COUNCIL – Council has moved to Thursdays at 7 p.m. and online (see P O for details). EMS reports two runs and three clinic calls. They continue with monthly training and are offering CPR classes for the community and seasonal employees. FIRE DEPT. indicated the burn ban is still in effect, monthly training continues and the brush fire truck is sidelined due to its age and the scarcity of parts. POLICE DEPT. had four reports (hit and run, 911 call, protection order and theft), fielded 127 phone calls, made one arrest for outstanding warrant and issued three traffic violation warnings. The VILLAGE ADMINISTRATOR has been busy. The Village is now considering contracting with Erie County or SAFEbuilt for providing zoning and building code enforcement for the Island. The SAFEbuilt ordinance was presented as a first reading: “That if a certification of a residential building department is granted by the State of Ohio, Council will subsequently address the scope of services to be provided….as well as necessary ordinances and fee schedules required to implement such a department.” We currently have zoning regulations, but it looks like we will be adopting a standard building code for all properties on the Island. HUNTINGTON LANE survey work is complete in preparation for a waterline replacement as the Village explores applying for emergency funds from the Ohio Public Works Commission and the Ohio EPA. The personnel policies are being updated as the village has ‘experienced some issues that need to be addressed.”
AIRPORT – The village received two applications for Aviation Consultant. Reynolds, Smith and Hills was awarded the contract. In the award letter it was noted that “W are extremely discouraged at the progress we have been able to make thus far…We have now for decades, been involved with this program with the FAA and have spent cumulatively millions of dollars in engineers, consulting and property acquisition fees with very little to show for the money spent.”
The previous piece is published in this month’s Put-in-Bay Gazette. The Gazette has been producing incredible independent Put-in-Bay island news for over 40 years. If you have any interest at all in what is happening on South Bass Island, we urge you strongly to subscribe to the Put-in-Bay Gazette. One-year online subscriptions are only $15, and print subscriptions are available as well. To subscribe please visit the Put-in-Bay Gazette subscription form. This piece of Put-in-Bay journalism has been provided to putinbayohio.com courtesy of the Put-in-Bay Gazette, Put-in-Bay’s only local newspaper. Visit their website putinbay.news for more information and to subscribe!
