Mayor sees positives ahead in 2011

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Although it has been a struggle to maintain services while the city has been suffering from the worst economic downturn in decades, Van Wert Mayor Louis Ehmer was optimistic in his State of the City address that cost-cutting measures and economic development moves have positioned the city for growth in 2011.

Mayor Ehmer noted that the city received maximum funding of $5 million to develop a 1,600-acre Jobs Ready Site north of the city, and added that the remaining $5 million needed to provide utilities and a railroad spur to the site are also now in place.

He said work would begin at the site tis spring and should be completed by December 2012.

While the economy remained stagnant in 2010, resulting in the city losing more than $1 million in revenues the past two years, the mayor said downsizing of city staffing levels and other cost-cutting moves allowed the city to avoid having to cut services to city residents.

“These cost-cutting measures and budget restraints could not have been done without the help and dedication of the supervisors and all city employees,” Mayor Ehmer said, adding that a stabilization fund has been established to be used in case of an emergency, while cost-cutting allowed the city to end last year with a $400,000 carryover.

Highlights from his speech include the following:

Police Department

Police Chief Joel Hammond and his department were able to provide law enforcement services and the DARE program through ongoing reduction in officers through attrition and changes in scheduling, staffing requirements and leave. In 2011, the department will continue to continue enforcement efforts that target the “dramatic increase in heroin use and sales.”

Fire Department

The fire department had a total of 225 fire runs and 1,126 EMS runs in 2010. Average response time was 8 minutes, 16 seconds. The department also spent 4,647 hours on training and 262 hours on equipment and facility maintenance.

Engineering Department

The city engineering department repaired 95 traffic signals, replaced old lighting with new LED lighting at five intersections and updated wiring. The department also was in charge of Christmas decorating in the downtown area, as well as flags and banners on utility poles downtown.

Code enforcement violations were up 25 percent in 2010 over the previous year, while 275 building permits were issued, 219 buildings inspected and eight variances prepared.

Goals for the department this year include installing new traffic signals and wiring for six intersections and to complete a federally-mandated sign inventory.

Utility Office

The water department collected $3,974,790 in water-sewer charges in 2010 and sent out approximately 4,550 bills monthly during the year. New letter-size utility bills were sent out this month with a return envelope that replace the old postcard utility bills.

The water department is also working on a website that will allow people to access their utility bills online, check water usage and payment history and, eventually, also pay bills online.

Income Tax Office

The income tax office came up with tax changes for contractors doing work within the city. Working with the city engineering department, the income tax office now requires that contractors be current in all tax payments when bidding for city contracts. All tax returns will continue to be audited. Last year, 1,741 tax returns were audited, resulting in a finding of $53,015.94 in favor of the city. Of the audit results, 63 percent of the money was money owed, while 37 percent was money that needed to be refunded to city taxpayers.

Based on 2010 results, Mayor Ehmer’s administration has decided to maintain the tax office in the Municipal Building.

Parks and Recreation Department

It was a tough year for capital projects within the parks department because of the economic downturn. Although most of the parks staff was either laid off or moved to other departments, parks services were maintained, thanks to the use of volunteers and community organizations.

“I want to extend my person thanks to theses volunteers,” Mayor Ehmer said in his State of the City.

Statistically, the parks department had a total of 126 pavilion reservations, there were more than 360 baseball and softball games, 46 flag football games and more than 114 soccer matches.

Water Distribution Department

The water department installed new water main and service lines and sidewalks on Forest Avenue, put a new main and valves at the intersection of Walnut Street and Central Avenue and at Main and Shannon streets.

Projects this year include extending the 12-inch water main south on Shannon Street and Ohio 118 for the new elementary school, put a new water main on South Vine Street, from Main to Central, and on North Wall Street, from Center Street to the railroad tracks.

Sewer Collection Department

Major projects for the department in 2010 included design work and inspection of new taps on Allingham Street. Tied laterals from the Summit Shopping Center into new sewer to eliminate storm water getting into the old main sewer line.

Projects for this year include design work for the grant project on Neel Avenue, inspection of new sanitary sewer lines on Neel Avenue and inspection of sanitary line installation on South Shannon Street

Water Treatment Plant

Daily average usage of water in Van Wert is 1.6 million gallons. The plant is responsible for keeping water quality in compliance with state and federal regulations and plant employees also mow the grass around all three reservoirs and maintain the area for public use.

Goals and objectives for 2011 include rebuilding or replacing equipment to maintain consumer confidence, as well as to make the system as cost-effective as possible.

Wastewater Treatment Plant

The plant treats approximately 2.4 million gallons of water a day that is returned to Town Creek and the city has found a way to recycle the sludge created so it can be used as fertilizer for local farmers’ fields.

Goals this year include moving forward on reducing combined sewer overflows and exploring options for electrical power savings.

Revolving Loan Fund

The fund has been an important tool for stimulating the local economic, Mayor Ehmer noted, adding that it helps create and retain private-sector job opportunities for low- and moderate-income workers. The program has loaned at more than $2.25 million and presently has 33 open loans. There is also $200,000 that can be loaned out to businesses or industry with an eligible project.

“Van Wert continues to show progress,” the mayor summarized in closing.

“We turned downtown into an attractive Streetscape project,” he said, adding that Shannon Street, from Main Street to Ervin Road, will be totally rebuilt this year.

Other projects for 2011 include beginning design work on the West Main Street reconstruction project, replacement of sanitary sewer lines on Neel Avenue, replacement of water main on Wall Street, from Jackson to Center; installing a new water main to service the new elementary school; painting the South Water Tower; installing a roof over the sludge storage pond; and replacing the large blower at the Wastewater Treatment Plant with a new variable speed blower to increase energy efficiency.

“We want to continue to be a progressive city, with improvements even in these slow economic times,” Mayor Ehmer said in conclusion.