WOOSTER – It’s a new year with new members of the city council.

Bob Reynolds and Barbara Knapic debuted on the loose at Monday’s meeting. They replaced former board members Bob Bostancic and John Ansel.

“I’m the new kid on the block and guarantee I’ll have plenty of questions,” Reynolds told the board after the meeting. “Bostancic and Ansel were the future officials, so they’re big shoes to fill.”

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In the months leading up to his first board meeting, Reynolds said he spoke with past and current board members to better prepare for the role.

Knapic is new to the general role, but she brings with her eight years of previous experience to city council.

“I’m happy to be back,” Knapic said. “This is a great group to work with and I look forward to the work we will do over the next four years.”

Vince Marion, Wooster’s new planning and zoning director, is also joining the city this year. With more than 20 years of experience in urban planning, Marion is delighted to begin this next chapter of her career.

“I’m happy to be here and look forward to working with all of you,” he told the board.

Action at the January 3 city council meeting in Wooster

• Wooster City Council will be looking for a contractor to replace 3,200 feet of water pipe along Kieffer Road. Current 6-inch cast iron pipes are susceptible to breakage and will be replaced with 8-inch ductile iron pipes, according to the meeting agenda. Construction will begin in late summer and cost $ 600,000 from the city’s water fund.
• The city will advertise a contractor to repair the sidewalk on Christmas Run Boulevard from W. Wayne Avenue to W. Highland Avenue, Morgan Street, Saunders Drive and McKinley Street. It will cost the city $ 925,000.
• The Ohio Department of Transportation will pay just over half of the $ 850,000 resurfacing project for several streets in Wooster. The city will pay $ 421,759 and ODOT will pay the remaining $ 428,241. The impacted streets are W. Larwill Street from W. Liberty Street to N. Market Street, E. Henry Street from S. Market Street to S. Bever Street, Smithville-Western Road from State Route 83 to Cleveland Road, Geyers Chapel Road from Long Road to north of Benden Drive and Back Orrville Road from State Route 585 to Geyers Chapel Road.

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On Twitter: @Bryce_Buyakie