At his first meeting as Blanchester mayor, Chad Hollon had to cast the tie-breaking vote for council president pro-tem at the Thursday night meeting of Blanchester Village Council.

Initially, Elizabeth Nichols made a motion to appoint Councilman Wayne Clifton as president of council, but the motion died for lack of a second. Dennis Lannerd then nominated Cindy Sutton to fill the position, with a second by Carol Elaine. At roll call, Nichols and Clifton both voted no, while Lannerd and Elaine voted yes and Sutton abstained, leaving the vote tied at 2-2. To break the tie vote, Hollon voted yes for the appointment of Sutton.

The president of council serves as vice mayor in the absence of the mayor.

In other action, Patti Loftin, clerk-treasurer, submitted her resignation effective Jan. 31, after which council passed a motion to hire Marie Mays as a consultant at $20 per hour, beginning Monday or at her earliest convenience.

Mays served for many years as clerk-treasurer of the Blanchester Local School District.

Loftin originally planned to leave her post on Dec. 31, 2007, but she was informed her term of office ended March 31, 2008. At that time, she decided to continue serving as clerk-treasurer.

In her letter of resignation, Loftin said, “After careful consideration of my present circumstances, I feel I can no longer fulfill the duties of my office. Since I was unaware that my term did not end, I chose to attend school full-time in order to further my career. I find my time is inadequate to do both. It is with deepest regret that I am tending my resignation effective Jan. 31, 2008.”

Loftin further stated that she is willing to remain in a consultant’s capacity with the same terms of $20 per hour, as previously agreed. Loftin said she also is willing to complete the Annual Financial Report.

Loftin said she was given an “extraordinary experience and appreciated the opportunity to serve her community.”

In other business, council hired Andrew McCoy for the combined positions of prosecutor and solicitor. His salary will be $25,000 per year and he will be paid $50 per hour for extra work.

McCoy replaces Dexter Bastin, whose resignation was effective Dec. 31, 2007.

At the suggestion of Hollon, council unanimously gave approval for Jim Myers, clerk of the Board of Public Affairs, to sign checks.

Two residents of the village, Jeremy McMains and Richard Braley, informed council they are interested in the vacant council seat.

Hollon said action will be taken at the Jan. 24 council meeting to fill the empty seat.

Wayne West, chairman of the Blanchester Planning Commission, informed council that Banta Electrical Contractor, near Cincinnati, is interested in buying slightly more than two acres of land on Cherry Street (state Route 28). West said the land is owned by Duke Energy. One plot, totaling 1.05 acres, is inside the village. The potential buyer is asking that the second plot, 1.025 acres, be annexed into the village as soon as possible, he said.

According to West, Banta may decide to put a construction office on the land.

“The township trustees have indicated they don’t have a problem with it (annexation),” West said.

In his street department report, Clifton said the village received delivery in December of 48 tons of salt from Morton Salt Company in Cincinnati.

The village has been purchasing salt from the Clinton County Engineer’s Office, but at the December meeting, Clifton told council he could not get any more salt from the county until January.

Clifton said in the future, he plans to continue buying salt from Morton Salt Company. “We will save $12 a ton for salt from Morton’s and they deliver,” Clifton said. “The price is locked in for a year.”

Clifton added, “The county didn’t really want us (as a customer) anyway.”

He told council 50 new stop signs have been erected to replace some of the old signs. He said the signs all have reflective strips on them so they are easier to see.

At Clifton’s request, council approved purchasing 50 more reflective strips for the 50 stop signs which the village purchased last year.

At the request of Paul Jackson, chair of the Blanchester Parks & Recreation Board, council gave approval to hire Architect Mark Paul to draw up plans for the concession stand at Veterans Memorial Park, at a cost up to $4,000.

Additional donations are needed for a new concession stand and rest rooms at the park, Jackson said.

Last year, Jackson said he was trying to get Laurel Oaks students to erect the building, but he told council the students are committed to schools to put in ball diamonds.

Jackson said the work has been completed on the gymnasium floor in the municipal building.