VW Council discusses finances, sidewalks

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Van Wert City Council received mixed financial information from Mayor Don Farmer and City Auditor Martha Balyeat, and also talked about a longstanding city problem: deteriorating sidewalks in the community.

Mayor Farmer noted that income tax receipts increased 15 percent in September, a positive for the city’s finances. Balyeat also noted that the city’s revenues for this year are $543,000 ahead of 2012, but also stated that nearly $300,000 of that amount comes from one-time financial windfalls, such as unexpected inheritance tax revenues, grants and proceeds from a class action lawsuit.

The auditor said that, while there are some positives in revenues figures, she also sees some concerns, with one big one the fact that withholding tax revenues decreased, possibly indicating that the number of people working has also decreased.

Safety-Service Director Jay Fleming had mostly good news, noting that asphalt should be poured on the second portion of West Main Street today, if weather permits, with the entire project to be completed soon. Fleming also noted that installation of a railroad crossing on U.S. 127 north of U.S. 30 has been completed and the road is now open again, while also stating that a portion of Bonnewitz Avenue at the railroad crossing there will be closed from today through Saturday to make improvements there.

The safety-service director also noted that a new traffic signal at Fox Road and Shannon Street should be completed by sometime next month.

Health-Service-Safety Committee Chair John Marshall reported that there were 30 code violations for a period from September 5-27.

A discussion on sidewalks was held during a Streets and Alleys Committee meeting prior to Council’s regular meeting. Although committee chairman Pete Weir was ill and couldn’t attend the meeting, Third Ward Councilman Stuart Jewett led the discussion from notes provided by Weir.

The discussion was one that has been held many times in the past, and this one generated pretty much the same results as in the past. One question that Weir had – whether 0.5-percent street tax revenues could be used to repair sidewalks – was answered with a “no,” while the issue of sidewalks in general also came down to the same issues as in the past: property owners are responsible for sidewalk maintenance and, if they can’t maintain them, the city doesn’t have the cash to do so.

Current city ordinances address sidewalk maintenance, indicating that, if property owners don’t repair their sidewalks, the city would do so and then add the amount to the property owners’ property tax bill. However, Mayor Farmer said that solution has been found to be unworkable, largely because of the cost involved. The mayor noted that, if a quarter of the city’s approximately 120 miles of sidewalks needed repaired, and property owners couldn’t afford to do so, the cost to the city would be an estimated $3.16 million.

The bottom line: “If a resident doesn’t do it, we can’t afford it,” the mayor told Council members.

Also Monday, City Council set up a meeting to discuss approval of a downtown development plan submitted by Main Street Van Wert and also a meeting for November 13 to finalize plans for a temporary city budget for 2014.