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Athens makes offer on bank

Athens makes offer on bank Athens makes offer on bank

Local citizens want to move village government to larger quarters

The Athens Village Board voted on Monday to approve a non-biding resolution of intent to purchase the shuttered U.S. Bank building in the village for $100,0000.The resolution will aid a group of Athens citizens who have organized to raise money to buy the abandoned building so the village municipal offices and library can be relocated into this larger space.

Lisa Czech, Athens village clerk, said no village resident tax money will be used to purchase the U.S. Bank building. She said a group of Athens residents simply want to “make a difference” in the Athens community by attempting to buy the building and relocate the village clerk and police offices, village board room and library into the former bank.

U.S. Bank closed its branch in Athens and Forward Bank is currently building a new branch in the village near the abandoned U.S. Bank building. U.S. Bank’s ATM is still working outside the building, but the office is closed.

In other news:

_ The village will hire Adam Wigstadt as a part-time police officer, pending his background check.

_ Approximately $56,000 the village received in American Rescue Care funds will be used by the village water and sewer departments.

_ The village will hire Steve Janke for $2,600 to install culverts at Erbach Park.

_ Village board member Tracy Westfall reported on the Athens Fire Commission’s annual meeting on June 21. Westfall said the fire department’s sinking fund approved will increase from $55,000 to $60,000 beginning in 2022 with the same split of money from each municipality.

Westfall said the firemen’s compensation for fires will increase from $12 to $15 per hour. Right now, she said EMTs receive $300 total for each emergency call which is divided evenly among all emergency personnel. Now, each EMT worker will receive $150 for each emergency call and an additional $50 for showing up at the emergency scene.

She said the fire department sold its tanker for $10,557 and bought a new tanker from Osco for $211,940. Construction of the new tanker will be completed in eight months.

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