City Council OKs tax budget, city auction

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

During a brief meeting held Monday, Van Wert City Council approved the annual tax budget for Fiscal Year 2015 and also gave the go-ahead for an auction to sell off surplus and unneeded items left in the former First Financial Bank building purchased by the city as a future home for Van Wert Municipal Court.

In addition to approving the tax budget, Council adopted legislation authorizing Safety-Service Director Jay Fleming to contract with an auctioneer to sell off equipment included in the former First Financial Bank building following its sale to the city earlier this year. Prior to the auction, city department heads will first inspect the furnishings and equipment to see whether some of the items can replace outdated or unusable city equipment.

Council also adopted legislation authorizing several needed supplemental appropriations and prepared a measure approving changes to the city’s codified ordinances, as recommended by the outside firm hired to ensure city ordinances are in compliance with state and federal laws.

Three invoices were also approved on then-and-now certificates at the request of City Auditor Martha Balyeat.

First Ward Councilman John Marshall, who also chairs the Health-Safety-Service Committee, noted that the city had 22 code violations during a period from June 9 to June 20, including 15 citations for uncut weeds, while Council committees also discussed a number of items prior to the regular Council meeting, including several items handled during the regular meeting.

The next regularly scheduled meeting of Van Wert City Council will be at 7:30 p.m. Monday, July 14, in Council Chambers.