The Wayne City Village Board is facing two departures following Monday night’s meeting, with the resignation of a longtime trustee and the announcement that the village’s police chief will be leaving later this month.
Village Trustee Steve Buxton resigned Monday morning, just hours before the board’s regular meeting. Buxton, who had served since 2022, had missed several recent meetings, including one in September when the board was unable to establish a quorum.
Buxton said he had already decided not to seek reelection, citing personal demands that made it difficult to continue serving the community. He said stepping down early was the right decision.
Meanwhile, Police Chief Jason Settle announced plans to leave his position by the end of October to concentrate on his work with the Mount Vernon Fire Department.
Settle, a Bluford resident, was hired in June 2025 after Wayne City had gone nearly a year without a full-time police officer following the departure of former Chief Anson Fenton in September 2024.
Settle’s departure will again leave the village without an officer on regular duty. Village officials did not discuss potential candidates to replace him. Equipment purchased during his tenure, including body cameras, a Taser and firearms, will remain with the department.
In other business, the board approved an ordinance increasing natural gas rates for Wayne City customers.
Board members also granted a request from Sims Mayor Keith Moyer for a reduction in sewer utility costs. Moyer said his village may need to flush water lines more frequently because summer heat has made it difficult to maintain required chlorine levels.
The board approved a five-year trash collection contract with Republic Services. Commercial rates will remain unchanged, while residential customers will see a $3 increase.
A proposed agreement with the Wayne County Humane Society was also discussed, but no representative attended the meeting. Village officials said repeated attempts to contact the organization over the past two years have been unsuccessful. Wayne City currently has no contract with the Humane Society.
The village has instead made donations to Critter Fixers of Cisne, which works to control the stray and feral cat population.
During public comments, a resident expressed concerns about smoke from a neighbor burning large trees and allowing the debris to smolder for several days.
The resident also raised concerns about businesses near the village’s longtime burning site south of Wayne City. Village officials said the site had previously been reviewed following complaints and was reportedly determined to be operating legally under regulations applicable to communities of Wayne City’s size.