The Batavia Village Council has decided to remove the village’s remaining parking meters.

New signs will notify drivers of a three-hour parking limit on East Main Street. Unlimited free parking is available on side streets and in public parking lots.

Councilman Earl Carter proposed removing the meters at a special meeting Saturday, Oct. 29. The village had already removed meters from in front of the Clermont County Courthouse and the Clermont County Administration Building. The council called the meeting to talk about plans for village improvements as funds become available from annexations.

“We’ve got to make Batavia more attractive, and we should start with the streets and sidewalks,” Carter told other members at the meeting.

Carter said the meters are unsightly and produce little revenue. He said time limits on parking will serve businesses better.

“I counted them the other day, and I think there are only 37 parking meters left,” Carter said. “They look bad, and we’ll be better off without them.”

He said revenue projections for the meters come to only $3,000 for the year.

“And I don’t think they’ll collect even that,” he said. “You’d better prove it to me.”

Councilman Steve Staton seconded Carter’s proposal, and the council agreed unanimously.

Carter also called for urgent attention to the deteriorated sidewalk on the Main Street bridge over the East Fork of the Little Miami River, and he suggested pole lamps in the style of 19th century gaslights in place of street trees.

The village recently removed some of the street trees, which were dropping linden berries on the sidewalk. The berries rot and stink.

Mayor John Thebout and the village council discussed capital improvements that may include reconstruction of East Main Street and replacement of downtown sidewalks. First projects will be the parking meter removals and the bridge sidewalks, along with building code enforcement and clearing of remaining areas of weeds and dead trees in public places.

Council’s Beautification Committee members, Carter and vice mayor Kathy Turner, will review ideas for the downtown sidewalks.

Batavia recently annexed Clermont College, the Southwest Ohio Developmental Center, and commercial land belonging to Don and Jerry Saylor. A second annexation petition includes the Clermont County Jail, the Municipal Court, the Middle East Fork Wastewater Plant, and farm property belonging to Glen Wiedenbein.

Batavia Township has challenged the second annexation, contending that the county commissioners have to give their assent because the territory includes the court, which was created under a special, unique law 12 years ago.

Earnings taxes from public employees at the county and state facilities will help support the renovations. Batavia, the county seat of Clermont County, is the second smallest county seat in Ohio and has had declining revenue as county offices have moved to unincorporated sites just outside the village.

The village expects to derive about $250,000 annually from the first annexation and $150,000 from the second. Village officials have discussed further annexations.