Strecker thanks Kinder Morgan for $50,000 Jungle Junction gift

Bellevue City Council got through Monday’s agenda in just over 30 minutes. Mayor Kevin Strecker opened by giving Kinder Morgan an award for its $50,000 gift to the Bellevue Rec Club’s Jungle Junction project. The gift gave the company naming rights to the building, now the Kinder Morgan Kids Center. Allen Fore, the company’s vice president of public affairs, accepted with Recreation Director Marc Weisenberger and Third Ward Councilman Steve Hill.

Strecker then thanked Kenn and Donn Rospert, who organized the March 30 Vietnam veterans ceremony at the Fallen Soldiers Memorial. “It was one of the most moving things I’ve ever been to,” he said. He gave them a proclamation marking the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War and the keys to the city.

Safety-Service Director Mike Lantz said all city hydrants had been flushed faster than ever. Clarifier work was waiting for 50-degree weather, and union negotiations were nearly finished. Loraine Robinson of the Committee to Grow Bellevue said planting day is May 14 and Open Air Market contracts had gone out. George Keller said the Sandusky County Communities Foundation would present the Bellevue Historical Society a $50,000 matching grant check April 29 for the Tremont House, and the Mad River & NKP Railroad Museum would open its 40th season April 30.

Council approved the Tax Incentive Review Committee’s recommendations 7-0 and gave a first reading to Ordinance 5-16, which would let the police chief close a liquor-licensed business for up to 24 hours without a hearing when it is a crime scene. Ordinance 6-16, creating the state-mandated volunteer peace officers dependents board, passed 6-1 after Second Ward Councilwoman Peggy Missler raised concerns about how its benefits are worded.

Related: the railroad museum, the Open Air Market and council’s May meeting. Company: Kinder Morgan. More in Local News.