Village of Sunbury renovating, expanding

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In and around its square, Sunbury is renovating and expanding, as was reflected during the Sunbury Village Council meeting on Wednesday.

“The square is getting a facelift. It’s looking pretty nice,” said Councilman Joe St. John as the two-hour meeting neared the end. That facelift starts with its iconic town hall, which is undergoing substantial renovations.

The interior walls have been freshly-painted gray, new windows are installed, and the shutters cleaned. The restroom will be updated, replacing a Port-a-John and Dumpster outside the building. Decorations and government symbols will be displayed more prominently.

At the meeting, council approved a bid from Rite Rug for $12,539 for new carpeting on the second and third floors, rooms, hallways, and stairs of the town hall, thousands less than from vendors 6 Floors Down and America’s Floor Source.

Mayor Tommy Hatfield said the work may be finished or mostly done in time for the annual Christmas on the Square celebration on Dec. 1.

In addition, Administrator Allen Rothermel said there is finally a new fiber line in the Municipal Building, improving connections for village services. He said work on the Sandel Legacy Trail will be completed in a couple weeks. In his report to council, Rothermel said, “We’ll have a very robust street improvement plan for 2019” with the assistance of the Ohio Public Works Commission.

Radiating outward, more storefronts are being filled around the square. Perhaps most notably, across the street from the town hall, a long-anticipated restaurant now has a name: SURVE. Throughout the year, the former hardware store on the corner has been transformed into a sit-down eatery being initially compared to the North Star Café in Westerville. In a few days, Sunbury residents will get to decide whether SURVE can serve alcohol.

Kelsey Kuhlman, of the Delaware General Health District, said the agency’s new satellite location in the Sunbury Plaza is looking at a late fall opening. In the meantime, the DGHD will continue to operate a clinic at the Vineyard Church of Delaware County in Sunbury.

Across from Sunbury Plaza, construction has begun at the Inn at Walnut Trail. Council said it would like some lingering work at Arrow Industrial Supply and the Dairy Queen to be completed. Councilman Leonard Wetherby said the Big Walnut Local School District should be presenting additional plans for new high school and elementary buildings at a public hearing in November. An earlier meeting had some public concerns about traffic flow.

Council unanimously approved a working agreement between the village and the Delaware Soil and Water Conservation District for a cost of a dollar per resident. “DSWCD will provide a variety of storm water educational materials, workshops, training, and other services in support of the Village of Sunbury’s Storm Water Management Plan,” the resolution reads.

In other action, council approved a road extension of Sunbury Meadows Drive to Granville Street directly across from Burrer Drive; allowing Pulte Homes to install a sanitary sewer on village property to connect the subdivision to a village trunk sewer; as well as the construction improvement plans for Sunbury Meadows Section 15. “This section consists of 18 lots and is located with the east portion of Sunbury Meadows in the northeast corner of the development,” states the engineering status report.

According to the Oct. 12 report, Sunbury Meadows Sections 12 and 13 are currently under construction.

“Pulte wants to get started. The weather is really good,” said Sunbury Engineer David Parkinson of the emergency language in the legislation.

https://www.delgazette.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2018/10/web1_DSCF8077-1.jpgGary Budzak photos | The Sunbury News

https://www.delgazette.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2018/10/web1_DSCF8078-1.jpgGary Budzak photos | The Sunbury News

A new restaurant, SURVE, is about to open in Sunbury, across from the village square.
https://www.delgazette.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2018/10/web1_DSCF8074-1.jpgA new restaurant, SURVE, is about to open in Sunbury, across from the village square. Gary Budzak photos | The Sunbury News

By Gary Budzak

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An open forum regarding the ballot issue to form a Charter Commission will take place at 7 p.m. Oct. 30 in Sunbury council chambers. The public is invited to attend. For more information, visit www.sunburyohio.org.

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