T-L Photo/JOSIE BURKHART Brookside Mayor Richard Kurner gives a gift to Fiscal Officer Amber Berry, thanking her for the work she’s done in recent years, as she attends her last meeting as fiscal officer Tuesday evening.

BROOKSIDE — A new fiscal officer will be in charge of Brookside’s finances at the beginning of 2025.

Jeannette Humpe will serve as the new fiscal officer for the village after Amber Berry attended her last council meeting Tuesday evening.

Council members including Roger Stewart, Paula Curtin, Wendy Anderson, Michael Tully and Sarah Mudrick unanimously voted to suspend the rules requiring three public readings and declaring an emergency and then approved a resolution naming Humpe the fiscal officer starting Jan. 1.

Humpe said Berry has been a great help for the past few months, teaching her how to perform the job. She said with her help, she will be able to take on the role and provide Brookside the service it needs.

Berry also received a gift from Mayor Richard Kurner for serving as the fiscal officer for the past three years. Kurner thanked her for all of her work and said she had done a great job for the village.

Kurner discussed how Berry has taken on a number of office projects, including modernizing and updating the office, improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the office, providing cost savings to the village and obtaining internet capabilities for the office, which have enhanced the village and lives of residents.

“Amber deserves to be recognized for her three years of faithful and dedicated service to the village of Brookside as the fiscal officer of the village …” he said. “Whereas the village of Brookside wishes to recognize Amber for her outstanding loyalty and commitment to the village of Brookside.”

Kurner also recognized Fire Chief Allan Ketzell III for 20 years of service. Kurner presented him with a plaque and thanked him for his “dedicated service” as chief of the Brookside Volunteer Fire Department.”

Ketzell said he has dedicated his life to the village and fire service and has never done his work for awards or recognition. He added, though, that when he is awarded for his service, it makes all of the long, sleepless nights worth it.

“It means the world to me to be recognized by the village,” Ketzell said. “Words cannot begin to explain the pride in representing the village and the fire service.”

Ketzell asked council to approve of the fire department applying for grant money. First, the fire department would like to apply for the State Fire Marshal’s Equipment Grant in the amount of $15,000. The second grant would be the State Fire Marshal’s Training Grant for $2,000 and the third would be the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Fire Equipment Grant for $15,000. The last is the Federal Emergency Management — Firefighters Assistance Grant for a fire engine and equipment. Ketzell will not know how much that grant could generate until he turns in the application Friday.

Ketzell also discussed another grant for the village that Tully is working on – a tax grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for $20,000. This grant is a technical assistance grant. Ketzell said it would clean up blight throughout the village, such as dilapidated houses.

Council also discussed how it might be beneficial to go on record and petition the state to put a traffic light at the bottom of Blaine Hill. A group seeking to have the repair of the Blaine Hill Bridge completed sooner than planned has suggested that traffic on the bridge could be restricted to a single lane and controlled from each direction with traffic lights.

The bridge had been restricted to eastbound traffic this summer after structural concerns were discovered. It was completely closed after motorists ignored the posted signs and traveled west in the eastbound lanes, causing dangerous situations.

The next meeting will be at 6 p.m. Jan. 14 at the village building.