City Council OKs megasite agreement

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Van Wert City Council approved a pre-annexation agreement for the 1,500-acre Jobs Ready Site and also introduced legislation that, if approved, would provide pay raises to a number of elected officials.

Council approved legislation implementing an agreement that would allow for quick annexation of the megasite into the city limits if a plant would locate there. Mayor Don Farmer thanked the Ridge Township Board of Trustees and the Van Wert County commissioners for their cooperation in the matter.

City Council also introduced legislation providing pay increases to a number of elected positions in city government.

Council’s Finance Committee has been discussing the matter of salaries for several weeks, especially the disparity between elected officials and other city employees. Joi Mergy, who chairs the Finance Committee, said that, while elected officials’ salaries have increased by approximately 5.4 percent since 2008, the Consumer Price Index has gone up more than 10 percent in that same period.

Legislation increasing elected officials’ salaries by 7 percent in 2017, and then by 1 percent in 2018 and 2 percent in 2019, was introduced and will be read three times prior to passage.

Legislation giving elected officials, including the mayor, auditor, law director and members of council, raises in the next electoral term, as also introduced on Monday night. Salaries for City Council, which has gone the longest without a pay hike, will increase to $4,900 annually following the next Council election in 2015. The salary for the Council president’s position was increased to $5,500 a year because of the position’s extra duties and responsibilities.

Since state law and federal law bans elected officials from giving themselves raises, any pay increases for elected officials will take effect following the next election for those positions.

Mayor Farmer also talked about enforcement efforts against those owing city income taxes, noting that approximately $35,000 has been collected this year, compared to about $13,500 last year. He noted that those who still owe taxes should call the city tax office to avoid legal action. He also noted that those who apply for contractor’s licenses or building permits who owe city income taxes would have their applications denied.

The mayor also noted that income tax collections in November are up $54,000, a significant increase considering the year’s total increase prior to November is $135,000.

Also Monday, Safety-Service Director Jay Fleming reported that street striping work halted by inclement weather would likely have to wait until spring for completion, and also noted that one more leaf pick-up is scheduled for this fall.