Jacksonville council approves amended Old Settlers Reunion contract, sets timed 6th Street closures

Acting Mayor Angela Strock presided over a July 2 special council meeting in which the council approved an amended Event Contract for the Old Settlers Reunion and set timed closures for 6th Street during the festival.

Councilperson Rachel Gratz asked the Old Settlers Committee for an update on planned attractions and street closures. Becky Koons-Petty, president of the Old Settlers Committee, listed planned attractions including laser tag adjacent to the fire department lot, three large inflatable bounce houses on 6th Street south of Palmer Street, a semi-sized gaming truck on 6th Street north of Palmer, smaller roadside games, and a possible riding bull. Koons-Petty said inflatables and mechanical activities would begin setup Wednesday, Aug. 28 at 4 p.m., with the gaming truck arriving Friday. "I can push to get something in writing," Koons-Petty said about confirmation from ODOT regarding State Route 13 parade routing.

Council members expressed concern about diverting heavy school traffic onto unpaved side streets. Acting Mayor Angela Strock reminded the committee of an earlier understanding that 6th Street would remain open during daytime school hours if no large rides required center-street closures. Council and the committee agreed to a modified closure schedule: close 6th Street at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 28; open for vehicle and bus traffic Thursday 7–9 a.m. and 2–4 p.m.; open Thursday 9 a.m.–2 p.m. and Friday 9 a.m.–2 p.m. only as amended by council to allow buses during peak hours; open Friday 7–9 a.m. and 2–4 p.m.; outside those windows, the street may remain closed through Monday afternoon. The committee confirmed the closure would run from State Route 13 on the north end to the blessing box near the post office on the south end, and that the full width of 6th Street would remain open at and south of the post office.

Councilperson Gratz directed the Old Settlers Committee to amend its insurance certificate to list the Village of Jacksonville as an additional insured and to check with the Village Clerk about required wording; the committee agreed to secure that amendment. The temporary stage is scheduled to arrive Sunday, Aug. 25, to be placed on the village lot at the corner of 6th and Palmer.

Fire Chief D.J. Henry said the Fire Department will manage parade logistics and street closures, requiring parade traffic to approach via 5th Street, and suggested trucks and floats use State Route 13 to the Kroger for turnarounds rather than using steep residential streets.

Councilperson Gratz said she would confirm the village quiet hours with the Village Clerk (committee was told to abide by the commonly understood hours—11 p.m. on weekends and 10 p.m. on weekdays—until the ordinance is confirmed). Gratz agreed to update the draft contract with the discussed 6th Street closure windows, the southern end-point near the post office, and the parade route closure times so the final contract would be ready for the committee to sign the following morning.

Councilperson Gratz moved to approve the amended Event Contract; the motion was seconded by Councilperson Butch Chapman and all council members voted yes. The committee indicated it would pay the deposit when signing the finalized contract.

After approving the contract, the council voted to enter an executive session to discuss complaints against a public employee under Ohio Revised Code Section 121.22(G)(1). All council members voted yes and the meeting was suspended for the executive session at 8:23 p.m.