Wintersville Council changes made, gas crews recognized

WINTERSVILLE -- Two key changes were made on Wintersville Council, and thanks went to crews involved with a gas line project for the respect they paid to a late local resident.

At Thursday’s meeting, council accepted Mayor Robert Martin’s appointment of Brad Degenkolb to fill a vacant council seat and chose fellow council member Bob Merriman to serve as council president.

The seat filled by Degenkolb became vacant when Martin, as council president, stepped into the mayor’s seat following the recent resignation of Bob Gale.

Degenkolb is no stranger to the village, having served on council from 2017 to 2019 after being appointed to serve the unexpired term of Tom Bottorf, who had moved from the village.

Because the village isn’t divided into wards, all of the council seats are at large positions.

After being administered oaths of office by Martin, Degenkolb told council and other village officials, “It’s an honor to be back. I’m really excited to work with this team and administration.”

He was welcomed by his fellow council members, including Gael Damron, who had defeated him in the 2019 election.

Merriman also isn’t new to the role of council president, which involves presiding over meetings in the mayor’s absence. He and Martin have had alternating turns at it during the last 10 years.

Both the mayor’s and Degenkolb’s council seat will appear on ballots in the Nov. 2 general election, with the winners to take office on Jan. 1.

The council chambers were filled Thursday by employees of Wright Traffic Control, the NPL Construction Co.

and Columbia Gas who were invited by Martin to be recognized for a simple act of kindness they paid to the family of the late Regina Coppa.

Martin said the Coppa family asked him to thank crews with the three companies for their simple act of kindness as the funeral procession for Regina passed through their work zone on state Route 43 on April 18.

He said not only did the crews arrange for the vehicles to pass uninterrupted, they also stood along the road and lowered their hardhats to show their respect.

Robert Coppa, Regina’s husband of 56 years, told the workers, “When you did that, it gave us goosebumps. It was like you knew her. You have a lot of class.”

Jason Cramer, director of operations for Wright Traffic Control, said it’s not uncommon for the company’s workers to accommodate funeral processions traveling through work areas.

“But these guys took their own initiative to come to the edge of the road and tip their hats. So kudos to them,” he said.

Cramer said often crews repairing or replacing gas lines along roads and directing traffic around them aren’t seen in a positive light because the work unavoidably delays traffic.

“It’s great to be recognized for doing something good,” he said.

In addition to Cramer, the meeting was attended by Jason Cramer, Paul Black, Darian Black, Christian Dunham, Sherry Galiano and Melisa Morris, all of WTC; Dan Wamar, Brandon Durben, Zach Freeman and Travis Justice, all of NPL; and Mark Molinaro, Brian Sprouse and Rick Davidson, all of Columbia Gas.

As Robert Coppa and his son, Robert Jr., looked on, Martin told the crews the Coppas have been active in the community, particularly as volunteers for the Indian Creek High School Boosters.

In other business:

Earlier this year crews began replacement of about 1,700 feet of gas line in the village. Part of an ongoing regional effort to upgrade aging infrastructure, the work is expected to be completed later this summer, pending suitable weather.

Village Administrator Walter Ziemba noted Columbia Gas officials have begun efforts to restore areas where work was done.

He noted their efforts will include temporary patching of roads until paving can be done and for affected yards, filling holes, laying down topsoil and reseeding the grass, among other measures.

Ziemba also announced the village’s current $2.1 million sewer project is nearly complete, with replacement of lift stations at Ekey Street and Squirrel Hill Road the last to be done.

Crews have been working to replace sewer lines along Moon Valley, Rex and Russell avenues, East Church Street and Two Acre Drive and near the former Riesbeck's store.

In other business:

• Council approved the $12,300 purchase of a tractor-mower from the Bloomingdale John Deere and the $2,427 replacement of a village fence near the Valero gasoline station by Gil Thermes Fence Co. of Wintersville.

Ziemba said the fence, which stands on village right of way along Route 43, has been struck by a vehicle and damaged by vandals.

• Council approved the hiring of Jim Henry as a police officer at the request of Police Chief Art Fowler.

Henry has 27 years of experience in law enforcement, including 10 years in the Yorkville Police Department, a stint as Rayland police chief and most recently service as a Belmont County sheriff’s deputy.

• Fowler advised his department’s recent drug takeback event yielded the greatest participation since it was begun, with 151.5 pounds of pills collected. He added there are plans for a fall collection.

• It was announced council’s next meeting will be held at 7 p.m. June 3 at the Municipal Building.