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BELPRE -- A new officer has joined the Belpre Police Department and was presented to Belpre City Council on Monday evening.
Council held its regular meeting Monday evening. Due to COVID-19 cases, the Belpre City Building has been closed since Nov. 18, with all business conducted by mail, phone and electronically or by appointment. Monday's meeting was held by Zoom, with most council members meeting in-person in the Belpre Council Chamber and the public attending virtually.
Mayor Mike Lorentz introduced council to the Belpre Police Department's newest officer, John Bailey Welch. Lorentz said Welch is a Little Hocking native now living in Cutler who completed his police training earlier this year. The Belpre position will be his first as a law enforcement officer.
Lorentz said the hiring brings the Belpre Police Department to its full staff complement, with 10 officers under Chief Terry Williams.
Jon Neff and Jackie Cassidy, representing Beautify Belpre, gave an update on the group's plans for the coming spring. Beautify Belpre was formed as a nonprofit in 2020 to take over care of the city's beautification projects and efforts.
New banners have been installed by the group on several of Belpre's main streets by the group, Neff said. On April 22, Earth Day, different city groups will join Beautify Belpre to work on beautification projects at several sites in the city, from the Memorial Bridge exit to Civitan Park. A planting day is scheduled for May 18.
In other business, council approved the final readings on three resolutions -- one for supplemental appropriations for 2021 and the other two involving the annual contracts for the management of the Belpre Senior Center and for Soil and Water Conservation services for the city.
In his Mayor's Report, Lorentz said the city administration has been meeting with Washington County Commissioners to talk about sewer improvements to better handle flows at the west end of Belpre. Lorentz said it appears work will move forward with line changes in that area to address the current sewer issues.
Wayne Towner can be reached at wtowner@newsandsentinel.com