MIDDLEPORT — A discussion on a Meigs County Commissioners’ proposal to hire Middleport Village to administer Rutland’s public works system highlighted a meeting of Middleport Village Council Monday night.

In mentioning the proposal which apparently came from not only the Commissioners but also the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Mayor Mike Gerlach emphasized that before anything is agreed to “it has to be profitable for the village … it has to work for us … it has to be beneficial to Middleport.”

He said the final decision on any action has to be made by the Council. He also said that Middleport was selected as the best to administer Rutland’s system on the basis of experience.

As Gerlach explained it, the Commissioners want to contract with Middleport to administer the sewage/water system in Rutland which the Commissioners are in the process of taking over from the Rutland Village administration. The water for the village comes from the Leading Creek Water System.

The mayor said that an informational meeting with the Commissioners and EPA representatives has been scheduled for today (Wednesday).

During the meeting at the request of Mick Childs, Council approved naming the bridge over Leading Creek in lower Middleport in honor of his late father, Bill Childs, a former Middleport Council member. The bridge, Gerlach reported, is owned by Meigs County. He said he contacted Gene Triplett, county engineer, who agreed to the bridge naming and volunteered to make the sign.

A discussion was held on the AEP”s recent increase in rates for electricity and the possibility of using an alternative vendor offering a lower rate in order to save village money. Clerk/Treasurer Susan Baker was authorized to explore different companies and rates and then make a choice of one offering a lower rate.

Council approved bills of $10,834.81 and heard the mayor’s report of $5,824 in collections with the village share being $4,776.

Council then moved into executive session to discuss legal matters with the village solicitor.