The Ridgeway Town Council members have been busy outside of the Town Hall walls.

Council members have been paying personal visits, calling on and writing to residents who live on streets where new water lines are being planned.

Residents are being asked if they want to tap onto the new water lines, rather than continuing with the wells they currently use. Council members compared progress notes and resident contact information at their regular Council meeting on Thursday evening.

Fairfield County is assisting the Town of Ridgeway with $40,000 to put in water lines from Highway 34 to Smallwood Road, Third Street and Hood Road.

“We try to encourage residents to tap on when the pipe is exposed, rather than when the construction is completed,” said Deputy County Administrator Davis Anderson. “That way, it will cost them less.”

“The County is paying for upgrades to the lines to support fire hydrant,” Anderson said. “Instead of a 2-inch line, they will have a 6-inch line.”

Resident Thomas Kennedy spoke during the public comments portion of the meeting to address his concern over a neglected piece of property near his home.

“I am speaking on behalf of my neighborhood,” he said as he presented photographs. “There is a piece of property on Church Street that has become a junkyard. We do not think that it belongs in a neighborhood.”

Mayor Charlene Herring assured Kennedy that junkyards are not allowed by code inside of the Ridgeway Town limits.

“The permit for this property was issued for a towing business, not a junkyard,” Herring said as she looked at the photos. “Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We will have our Zoning Administrator handle this by notifying the permit holder in writing.”

In other business:

• The Town of Ridgeway and Ridgeway Merchant Committee were given a Certificate of Appreciation by the Fairfield County Chamber of Commerce for their support of Chamber activities.

• Mayor Herring asked that Citizen of the Year nominations be turned in to her by July 30.

• The new ballfield at the corner of Church and Means streets is experiencing parking issues, because of the small parking area. In addition, nearby residents have concerns about the noise level. After much discussion, the Council decided to move the parking area to behind the old Town Office, and turn the volume down on the P.A. system. The ballfield will soon be getting a new flag pole as well.

• The Council voted unanimously to extend the length of time after a Town election to have a new council member sworn in from 72 hours to 10 days.

• Doug Porter was appointed to serve on the Town’s Board of Appeals and Zoning Board. The Council is looking for one more member for the Zoning Board.