GAMBIER – Gambier Village Council has approved a $215,000 contract to place 94 ground-mounted solar panels at the village wastewater treatment plant to supplement its energy costs.

The emergency ordinance authorizes the administrator to sign a contract with Gordian to manage the project this summer under Sourcewell, a national joint purchasing alliance, of which the village is a member. Gordian will use McDaniels Construction and Third Sun Kokosing Solar to install the panels. Third Sun has done other solar projects in Gambier, including the roof-mounted solar panels on the village’s Community Center.

Most of the cost will be paid for from Gambier’s American Rescue Plan Act allocation, but the village will add some of its own capital funds as well. The system is designed to allow the village to add to the solar array as future funding permits.

In other items, the council:

• Passed a resolution of support for the Knox County Active Transportation Plan, a countywide collaboration with Knox Public Health to develop a strategy for improving sidewalks and trail connections. 
• Approved a renewal with the Ohio Plan for property and casualty insurance.
• Authorized a contract with Small’s to add new gravel to the driveways at Oak Grove Cemetery. 

The next council meeting is June 6 at 7 p.m.