GEORGETOWN — On a busy and eventful Sept. 10 evening, Georgetown Village Council filled an empty council seat with Virginia Colwell.
Colwell, who is running for election to Georgetown’s village council this November, was chosen over Kelly Campbell by Mayor Dale Cahall to replace Drew Watson, who resigned in August due to a move outside of the city limits. Cahall selected Colwell as the tie-breaking vote after both Colwell and Campbell secured two council votes each. Councilman Dennis White abstained from the vote, as Colwell is his sister.
“It’s really easy because both of these people are going to be on our council here very shortly,” Cahall said. “I think at this point of time I would have to go with Colwell to be our council member for these next several months to fill that seat. Colwell has worked as fiscal officer for many years here, she has also served on village council, (and) she’s worked in the utilities department.”
Cahall encouraged Campbell to remain in attendance at village council meetings in the future. Campbell is a write-in candidate on this November’s ballot.
After Cahall’s selection of Colwell, Georgetown Solicitor Joe Braun swore Colwell in and she took her seat at the council table.
“I want to help with the community as much as I can,” Colwell said after being sworn in.
Soon after, village council elected councilwoman Kelly Cornette to be the next council president.
Georgetown village council was paid their first visit by a candidate for Brown County Sheriff, as Reggie McKenzie introduced himself to village council. McKenzie is running for the Republican nomination in next spring’s election.
Earlier in the meeting, Georgetown Administrator Art Owens gave his administrators report.
Owens discussed the early August street paving project on Mt. Orab Pike that was completed just prior to school opening up on Aug. 19.
Owens also told village council that the city had loaned some street sweepers and was sprucing the village up this past Wednesday evening.
In addition, new LED lights have been ordered and will be placed into traffic lights as soon as they arrive. One of the traffic lights at the intersection of State St. and Main St. has already had changed bulbs. The LED lights are brighter than the old bulbs and they consume less energy, saving the village money in the long term.
After the administration’s report, new Georgetown EMS Medical Director Dr. Joshua Adamow introduced himself to those in attendance and to village council. The Ohio Revised Code mandates that each EMS organization have a medical director. The medical director’s job is to oversee the medical work conducted by each EMS agency.
“I was contacted at the last minute to fill the position that opened up here,” Adamow said. “It fit perfectly for me, it’s not too far of a drive, and working with Brian (Dutlinger) and Joe (Rockey), we’re going to try and keep it very current, keep all our protocols up to date, and making sure that we’re trying to be the best that we can with what we have here.”
Later in the meeting, Georgetown village council approved a motion to send the zoning ordinance back to the planning commission for further studying and discussion. It was passed unanimously.
Cahall said that hopefully the planning commission will have revisions to the zoning ordinance by the next village council meeting.
Georgetown Police Chief Rob Freeland gave his police report towards the close of the meeting, and discussed that an anonymous person donated more funds to the police department, enabling everybody on the force to wear a body camera, as well as discussing the situation with Patrolman Kendall Kumpf, who was arrested by Brown County Sheriff’s Office deputies and is currently on paid administrative leave.
However, councilwoman Bean insisted that Freeland discuss the situation of an unnamed Georgetown police officer.
“I would want to know what he did,” Bean said. “I think it’s really important that this village knows the quality of the police officers serving and protecting us.”
It’s alleged that the officer hid a toy gun in one of the trash cans in the Brown County Courthouse, in relation to a court order from the Brown County Court of Common Pleas that only court security can hold guns in the courthouse, and that all other law enforcement must check their gun at the door.
“The next business day I made contact with the prosecutor’s office and advised them of what the officer had done,” Freeland said.
Cahall said that the officer was disciplined by being demoted and had a reduction in pay, and the officer was instructed to write a letter to Judge Scott T. Gusweiler. The Brown County Prosecutor’s Office declined to press charges, according to Freeland.
Cahall did not reveal which officer it was that suffered the demotion.
