By Allison Roorda
Community Post
NEW KNOXVILLE – On the morning after President Obama’s State of the Union address, local government officials and business owners gathered for their own version: the State of the Villages Breakfast.

After a breakfast at the New Knoxville American Legion Post, the Southwestern Auglaize County Chamber of Commerce hosted the mayors of Minster, New Knoxville and New Bremen for their reports on 2009. Progress on internal projects was reported as well as final numbers for the economic downturn that everyone has been talking about.
“Many businesses tightened their belt to weather the 2009 economic storm,” reported Minster Mayor Dennis Kitzmiller, “and the village was no different. Strong steps were taken to ensure the village was watchful in terms of spending.”
The Village of Minster reduced its spending by seven percent in 2009, but also included numerous infrastructure improvements to its streets and the Minster Industrial Park on West Fourth Street. Electrical crews finished up a 69 KV transmission line to provide a loop and work at the substations. The Minster pool saw improvements in the guise of a wading pool, slide and new deck chairs and umbrellas.
“Despite tough economic times, the village has several positive financial highlights in the form of grants awarded from several programs,” said Kitzmiller
In 2005, Minster received a $1.3 million grant from the Ohio Department of Transportation, which is designated for the renovation and reconstruction of Fourth Street in 2011. The fire department also received a grant for communication equipment, and the Ohio Public Works Commission made it possible to resurface several streets within the town of Minster.
“With an eye to the future and better economic times, 2010 could be considered the year for planning for several upcoming projects. With all these projects in the works, 2011 promises to be a very exciting year in Minster.”
Some projects in the planning stages for the future include the renovation of Minster’s Waste Water Treatment Plant and Fourth Street renovation that includes a street-scape program. The Fourth Street plans should be finalized and ready for construction by 2011. Another of Minster’s most recent projects started in September 2009 with a ditch petition to Auglaize County concerning the Miami-Eric Canal clean-up and restoration.
“In closing, 2009 was a year of many worldwide economic unknowns,” finished Kitzmiller.” But the village of Minster was able to withstand the storm and remain a strong, vibrant community with a positive outlook for 2010 and beyond.”
For the Village of New Knoxville, the uncertainty of last year meant playing conservatively with the village budget.
“Last year we really didn’t know what 2009 would be like,” said Mayor Keith Leffel. “We went back as a village, our fiscal officers, and asked ‘what do we need to do’.”
Leffel’s solution was to reduce the budget by 15 percent, analyzing which projects were necessary for the village.
“I remember listening to Earl Brusch one time. He made a comment when it came to football: ‘You’re only half as good as what you think you are, and when things are going bad you’re only half as bad as what you think you are.’ I think that summarizes where we were this year as a village.”
New Knoxville’s income tax went down by 5.2 percent, and the village completed several projects for the year of 2009. The storm sewer system was replaced, along with the gazebo in the park. New Knoxville resurfaced parts of New Bremen and Walnut Streets and installed a backup generator in the town hall, thanks to a grant from FEMA.
Concerning 2010, Leffel said the village is not looking at any multi-million dollar projects down the road, although plans are in place for some smaller projects.
“We still want to circle the wagons and be fiscally responsible,” said Leffel. “I sometimes think that gets overlooked in the government. If the government is run like a business in some aspects, it really makes for an efficient way to use your money.”
Some new projects for the Village of New Knoxville include a geo-caching program, instigated by Janet Hall and Allison Brady. Ryan Miltner also joined the New Knoxville economy with his law firm on dairy and agricultural law. New Knoxville also gained four new council members as well as a new chief of police within the village structure.
For 2010, Leffel’s main concern was the budget, both at the village and state level.
“We want to be fiscally responsible to the members of our community,” Leffel said again. “I want to thank everybody. There’s a lot of uncertainty. Sometimes we don’t have control over that, and I thank all our village members for pulling up their boot straps and doing what needs to be done to make things as well as they are this last year.”
Mayor Jeff Pape of New Bremen was the last to the podium for the morning.
“Like most entities in the country this year, things were down in New Bremen,” Pape reported. “Quite a bit down. I’m always happy when I can beat Keith. This time I can beat him, but in the wrong way. Our income tax was down 20 percent from the year before. We’re going to have to look at that for 2010, and we will.”
Pape emphasized even with the income of New Bremen down, the village was busy with projects and expansion for businesses. Crown Equipment have taken on the LD lift truck, a gas lift truck, and Precision Reflex added 6,200 square feet to their business. The largest  new development for 2009 coming into 2010 is the Elmwood Communities building, a $4 million project.
“The initial phase of this project will bring 35 new jobs to New Bremen, so that’s going to help us out,” said Pape. “That’s a great thing done on that end of town, and we’re very grateful.”
Residential projects were down in New Bremen, however some tax incentives to people who made renovations to a house 50 or more years older. New Bremen also finished phase two in a three-phase renovation project for the Teton Subdivision. Along with resurfacing Rummel Creek and Pioneer Subdivision, a state grant provided the funds to resurface South Walnut and Main Streets. The Rotary Centennial Park is moving along with the filling in of the canal in downtown New Bremen.
The Lockkeeper’s House has also been a major project in New Bremen, funded by a $600,000 grant from the state and a match of $120,000 from the New Bremen Historical Society. The house, hopefully open for visiting hours in May 2010, will be home to the Southwestern Auglaize County Chamber of Commerce offices as well as the Miami-Erie Canal Corridor Association.
Coming up in 2010, Pape said people were getting good deals on the projects that were going through, which provided incentive to finance certain projects cheaper than would otherwise be possible.