Church Asks North Webster To Vacate Lane

July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.

By Julie Harvey-

NORTH WEBSTER - North Webster Church of God took the preliminary steps to ask the town council to vacate Ward Lane that runs north and south through their property at the parking lot.[[In-content Ad]]Senior Pastor Jeff Boyer, along with Randy Hickman and attorney Paul Refior, expressed their concerns about the safety issues with Ward Lane and how it is currently used as a thoroughfare. Boyer said that between 5:30 and 8:30 there are anywhere from 120-145 middle school students in the area, and the traffic that runs through there is potentially dangerous.

Boyer said the vacation of the lane would not affect or impede police or any emergency vehicles' accessibility, nor would it be limiting to homeowners.

Council President Jon Sroufe acknowledged the church's intentions, but expressed some concerns that the town has. The biggest issue is that there is a sanitary main that runs down the center of the lane, which carries 25 percent of the town's sewer flow.

Paul Refior assured the board that the vacation document could have any conditional stipulations that the town felt necessary to allow for any maintenance of the sewer main.

The board approved the preliminary request for the Church of God to give notification to all adjacent properties from Crystal Flash Road to Washington Street, including the Lion's Club and the Township. The hearing of those results will be at the next council meeting April 15.

Maintenance Superintendent Jeremy Sponseller reported to the board that he and his crew have repaired the old oil burner furnace. Sponseller is using the furnace to supplement heat at the shop and curtail propane usage.

Chief of Police Greg Church reported that his department answered 186 calls in February. The incidents included two battery, one criminal mischief, seven theft and conversion, 31 traffic related and nine accidents.

NORTH WEBSTER - North Webster Church of God took the preliminary steps to ask the town council to vacate Ward Lane that runs north and south through their property at the parking lot.[[In-content Ad]]Senior Pastor Jeff Boyer, along with Randy Hickman and attorney Paul Refior, expressed their concerns about the safety issues with Ward Lane and how it is currently used as a thoroughfare. Boyer said that between 5:30 and 8:30 there are anywhere from 120-145 middle school students in the area, and the traffic that runs through there is potentially dangerous.

Boyer said the vacation of the lane would not affect or impede police or any emergency vehicles' accessibility, nor would it be limiting to homeowners.

Council President Jon Sroufe acknowledged the church's intentions, but expressed some concerns that the town has. The biggest issue is that there is a sanitary main that runs down the center of the lane, which carries 25 percent of the town's sewer flow.

Paul Refior assured the board that the vacation document could have any conditional stipulations that the town felt necessary to allow for any maintenance of the sewer main.

The board approved the preliminary request for the Church of God to give notification to all adjacent properties from Crystal Flash Road to Washington Street, including the Lion's Club and the Township. The hearing of those results will be at the next council meeting April 15.

Maintenance Superintendent Jeremy Sponseller reported to the board that he and his crew have repaired the old oil burner furnace. Sponseller is using the furnace to supplement heat at the shop and curtail propane usage.

Chief of Police Greg Church reported that his department answered 186 calls in February. The incidents included two battery, one criminal mischief, seven theft and conversion, 31 traffic related and nine accidents.
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