In Brief

4/11/2007

Fulton County commissioners on Monday will hear more about the county's potential for developing alternative energy.

Dale Arnold, Ohio Farm Bureau Federation energy services director, is to give a presentation in the commissioners' meeting room. He has spoken to about 50 groups the last two years.

Alternative energy is "not a cash bonanza or get rich quick," but there are opportunities to make it viable, Mr. Arnold said.

Some farm bureau members take a particular interest in the topic because energy is one of the biggest expenses for farms and related businesses.

But Mr. Arnold has warned in his presentations that questions arise in sizeable alternative-energy endeavors. The best way to alleviate such disputes, he said, is to get as many people as possible involved as early as possible.

Alternative energy is a subject that will have the commissioners' attention "from here on out," said Dean Genter, a farmer who serves as the commission's president.

ARCHBOLD - East Williams and North Lincoln streets in northeastern Archbold are to be rebuilt this summer, complete with new water lines and storm sewers.

The village engineer is to open bids May 3 and village council is expected to consider awarding a contract May 7 for the $500,000 project.

On the to-do list is replacing a 60-year-old water line that is 4 inches in diameter and made of cast iron, which is prone to breaks and too small by today's fire protection standards, according to village administrator Dennis Howell.

The new plastic pipes are to be twice the size. The streets will be widened to 29 feet from curb to curb. Funds for the project are to come from the village's 1.25 percent income tax for capital improvements, which collected $3.75 million last year.

DELTA - Plans to sell beer at the Delta Chicken Festival for the first time in the event's 51 years have scratched up a controversy.

The Rev. Junior Parker, who leads the Family New Life Church, which includes about 70 people in Wauseon, said he's organizing a group of area pastors and calling on Mothers Against Drunk Driving to help him oppose the plan.

Churches will pledge $3,500 to clean up the village and its park if organizers don't sell beer, the pastor said.

That money, he said, would be paid at a rate of $10 an hour to people willing to pick up trash, pull weeds, and make other park improvements.

Pastors will urge their congregations to boycott the July 13-15 festival if organizers go through with the proposal for a beer tent on the Saturday night of the event, Mr. Parker said.