COAL GROVE — The Coal Grove Volunteer Fire Department got a surprise gift from one appreciative family in the village.

At Monday night’s council meeting, Leonard Molter and his family presented four brand new fireman’s jackets to the fire department.

Molter, who lives on Marion Pike, said he knows how hard the department works for the village.

“We are extremely fortunate and grateful to have a volunteer fire department,” Molter said. “… If the (jackets) are not needed now, they won’t spoil.”

The jackets were presented to vice fire chief Chris Harmon.

“On behalf of the fire department, I’d like to thank you very much,” Harmon told the Molters.

Later in the meeting, councilmember Juelda Collins suggested a thank you letter should be sent to the Molters.

In other business:

• Jae Roush, Coal Grove Betterment Club member presented council with receipts from improvement work done at Paul Porter Park. New roofs were put on the shelters, stage and gazebo in preparation of Family Fun Days.

The betterment club paid $2,632 for the repairs and asked council to consider paying half and council agreed.

• Harmon presented the fire report, saying the department had made 100 runs so far this year.

He also asked council to approve the purchase of an idle portion valve for the rescue truck to protect the truck’s alternator from going out.

“When all the lights are on, it’s on the verge of discharging,” Harmon said.

Council approved the $250 purchase.

• Police Chief Eric Spurlock gave council two applications for officers. He said he wanted council to hire one officer.

Spurlock also said he wanted to have one of his auxiliary officers act as an animal control officer and pick up stray dogs in the village.

He asked for permission to purchase a small dog noose for $71, a large dog noose for $87 and a cage for $99.

Spurlock said he has been telling villagers there is nothing he can do about stray animals because the county dog warden won’t come into the village on calls.

“I tell them there is nothing I can do because I don’t have a dog catcher,” he said.

Spurlock also told council one of the cruisers was damaged early Sunday morning when a deer ran out into the road as an officer was transporting a DUI suspect to the state patrol post. The deer damaged the front driver’s side door and the front and rear bumpers.

Spurlock said parts could be taken from an old cruiser that is not in use and the only cost for repairs would be the labor.

• Council approved a $60 payment to the Dawson-Bryant High School cheerleaders to take out a half-page ad in their program.

• Council entered into executive session to discuss collective bargaining with AFSCME Sub Local 711-A President Steve Patton, vice president Aaron Gully, and representative Sandra Shonborn.

• Council also entered into an executive session to discuss personnel.

No action was taken when council reconvened and the meeting was adjourned.