Waterville Tree Committee Will Take Look At Inventory

Members of the Village of Waterville’s Tree Committee will start by looking at an inventory taken about five years ago.

Community residents volunteering on the committee attended last week’s Waterville Village Board meeting.

They and Village Board members, along with DPW Superintendent Jamie Bechy, spoke for about 30 minutes at the meeting.

Meredith Leland said there are steps to take to have Waterville recognized as a Tree City USA community.

Bechy said a tree inventory taken about five years ago pinpoints where every tree is in the village and its species.

At the time the village had 380 trees. Mayor Gene Ostrander asked for a list of the committee members to officially recognize who is participating.

Ostrander said he was ‘giddy’ about having a tree committee.

One of the issues the committee will help settle is who can plant trees and where.

The Village is also looking for people to serve on the newly-formed Planning Board. People have to live in the village.

Names can be submitted at Village Hall.

Bechy said inspections of the fire alarms in village buildings will be done March 1 at a cost of $2,800.

Service on the generator at the Wastewater Treatment will be done at a cost of $1,289.

DPW employee Douglas Weaver has been moved to full-time status.

Bechy said the lead pipe assessment shows 13 with lead pipes, 26 galvanized and 27 connections as of yet unknown.

The majority, he said, are on Stafford and Osborne avenues.

The first workshop for the 2026-27 budget is Feb. 2 at 5 p.m. at Village Hall.

Village elections are 12 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, March 18.

Trustee Larry Stern asked how many miles the village’s sidewalk plow covers when clearing the walkways.

Bechy said about 10 miles each time.

Village Clerk Gayle Barnes said she submitted a request to fund a grants writer for ...