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West Union council authorizes payments, hires auditor and approves staff raises
Summary
At the Feb. 10 West Union meeting the council approved paying an Adams County Water bill contingent on a contractor guarantee, hired an independent auditor for the treasurer’s office, referred motorized-bicycle policy to committee, and approved modest raises for two employees following an executive session.
At its Feb. 10, 2026 regular meeting, the West Union Village Council voted unanimously on a series of administrative actions, including a conditional payment to Adams County Water, hiring an outside auditor to correct treasurer records, and approving employee raises after an executive session.
Mayor Jason Buda told council the outstanding Adams County Water bill totaled $23,441.23 but could be reduced to $18,291.17 if paid within 10–15 days. Council member Jason Francis asked for a written guarantee that Kent’s company would be responsible if the bonding company did not reimburse the village; Solicitor Tom Mayes offered to draft the required agreement. The motion to pay the reduced amount once a contract was signed passed on a roll call of all yea.
The council approved hiring independent contractor Bill Gilpen to examine and correct the treasurer’s books at a rate of $50 per hour plus drive time; the agenda noted the goal of resolving year-end book issues by March 1, 2026. Council members said Gilpen has helped nearby villages straighten records and that his engagement could prevent a state audit if issues are corrected.
Other votes and administrative actions included: referring a safety review of motorized bicycles on public roadways to the Police and Safety Committee after Police Department Officer Ethan Lummer described state guidance on micro-mobility devices; approving pay for employees affected by recent snow and an internet outage and asking the Personnel Committee to draft a formal policy for future events; and approving payment of bills, including a procedural approval to include a police department gas bill for missing tickets.
Council entered an executive session for personnel matters, citing the transcript reference ORC§ 12122G1; after the session the board approved raises at annual review for Joey Taylor (an increase of $0.25) and Nathaneal Evans (an increase of $0.68). The minutes record all motions passed by unanimous roll call vote. The meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m.
The council also reviewed billing irregularities: Jason Francis flagged a Global Industrial invoice that appears to reference an order for a Maine school and recommended not paying it; the council approved conditional payment of a $70 Jamison McClanahan invoice once it is resubmitted with a company name.
Procedural motions recorded in the minutes were approved without recorded dissents; no additional policy-level decisions or capital appropriations were made at the meeting.
