Broken water mains and roadwork were the main topics of discussion at the Gays Mills Village Board Meeting on Monday, August 3, 2026.

Gays Mills Village Trustee Kevin Murray questioned why there were so many water main breaks.

The answer from Bob Robinson at the Department of Public Works was that the water mains were in pretty bad shape and were being replaced.

Another water outage lasting four or more hours in parts of the old village south of Main Street occurred on Thursday, August 6.

The village worked on replacing a fire hydrant on Orin Street that had been out of commission for a year or more. Other working fire hydrants in the immediate area were adequate to provide water in the event of fire. Now, this fire hydrant will be restored.

Gays Mills Village President Harry Heisz noted that work on State Highway 171 appeared to be on schedule and was ready to be substantially concluded by September. However, guardrails would not be completed by that date.

“Basically, the contractor will not start work on Main Street until the intersection of 171 and 131 is completed,” Heisz said.

As of Tuesday, August 11, it appeared the intersection was completed or close to being completed.

Heisz explained that plan for Main Street resurfacing was to take up two inches of concrete, grind it and resurface the roadway with asphalt. The village president did not agree with that process.

“It will crack within a year,” Heisz said. “And, the workers know that. But, that’s what will be done.”

In other business, the Gays Mills Village Board:

• approved the recommendation of the Plan Commission to allow a landowner on West Point Road to construct two campsites on the property
• learned DPW Supervisor Bob Robinson is just one test away from being fully certified on both levels-he will spend one more year as an ‘operator in training’ and then become an ‘operator in charge’
• learned that Grove Street from Highway 131 to Gay Street will be repaved next year with a $30,000 grant and a $68,000 loan
• learned a new mower has been received and is working well
• learned that the Gays Mills Public Library will purchase two rockers for outdoor use, funded by Friends of the Library and a donor
• approved a vacant land lease agreement with Charley Preusser for 217 Orin Street
• agreed to have a resolution/ordinance drafted opposed to bringing the kV 765 electric transmission line through the village
• agreed to place an ad for a part-time DPW employee