By Mary Bargdill
Staff Writer
MINSTER — A week after interviewing seven candidates vying for a seat on village council, Minster councilors announced their choice to fill the position.

Nicole Clune will join the ranks of public servant as the village of Minster’s newest council member. She will be sworn in during the Sept. 4 council meeting to complete the remaining term of three years and four months that were left vacant by former Councilor Derrick Seaver.
Mayor Dennis Kitzmiller spent the past week meeting with village councilors individually to hear their recommendations for the open council seat.
“They felt she would do us a good job,” Kitzmiller said.
Clune has a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from The Ohio State University. She has worked for the Ohio Department of Transportation for 10 years. For the past three and a half years she has worked out of her home for LJB Inc., out of Dayton, where she commutes once a week.
A native of Bay Village, a suburb of Cleveland, Clune has resided with her husband Vince Clune in Minster for 14 years. They have a son, Nicholas, 5. She also has two stepsons, Michael, 25, and A.J., 23.
Clune said she is looking forward to her upcoming term serving the village of Minster.
“I’m feel like I know the village well enough that I can contribute,” Clune said.
Following executive session, councilors made a motion to appoint Officer Kirby Cummins to the position of police sergeant for the village of Minster, at a pay rate of $17.58. Cummins was recommended as sergeant by Police Chief Randy Houseworth and will be sworn in at a later date.
The position had been left vacant for nearly a year following the resignation of Sergeant Beth Steine. Councilors wanted to offer the new chief a chance to evaluate officers for the position, Village Administrator Don Harrod said.    
Councilors also approved a motion to hire Floyd Gregg, 26, of St. Marys as a part-time officer at a pay rate of $10.48 per hour. Gregg is a recent graduate of the Apollo Law Enforcement Program in Lima. His tenure was effective Tuesday.
Councilors also made a motion to accept the resignation of Officer Andrew Golden who tendered his resignation to Police Chief Randy Houseworth Aug. 14 citing personal reasons.
Councilors also approved:
• The second reading of an ordinance establishing the Salary Administration Plan providing for consideration of the increases in compensations on an annual basis.
• The second reading of a resolution authorizing the village administrator to prepare and submit an application to participate in the Ohio Public Works Commission State Capital Improvement Program.
• The first reading of an ordinance designating 2.264 acres of public land at a cost of $10,000 per acre, for a total cost of $22,640. The parcel is located in the Industrial Park west of Apria Health Care, and north of the retention ponds.
• A motion to reject bids that had been submitted to the village for the 2008 Minor Street resurfacing because each of the five bids received exceeded the 10 percent allowed by the state. Original estimate for the project was $96,997 but has increased to $129,343 due to an increase in cost of asphalt. Bids will be re-advertised on Aug. 21. The bids will open Aug. 29, and will be presented to councilors during the next council meeting. The project deadline has been extended to the end of October.
• A motion to seek bids for a cab and chassis for the Electrical Department. A standard 19,000 pound pickup truck similar to the Dodge F-550. Estimated cost for the vehicle is between $36,000 and $47,000.