City Council hears positive financial info

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Van Wert City Council approved legislation making changes to three spaces in a city parking lot, formally approved Mayor Jerry Mazur as a member of the Van Wert Area Economic Development Corporation board, and also heard positive information on the city’s finances.

Council unanimously approved on third and final reading an ordinance that makes three parking spaces in the city park lot on Central Avenue, between Washington and Jefferson streets (south of First United Methodist Church), unavailable to the public during business hours. The change was requested by a neighboring business to make more room for delivery trucks.

Council also unanimously confirmed Mayor Mazur’s appointment to the VWAEDC board following a statement by Economic Development Committee Chair Jon Tomlinson noting that Council needed to officially confirm the mayor as a member of the VWAEDC, as it already has done for city appointees Bob Priest and Nicholas “Sticky” Rammel.

In her report to City Council, Auditor Martha Balyeat provided some positives on the city’s financial position, noting that the city has taken in $31,000 more than it has spent so far this year. That’s a positive, she noted, since projections were that the city would have to take money from its reserve fund this year to balance the budget.

“So to be halfway through the year and pretty much be even, that’s a good sign,” Balyeat noted. “We’re holding our own.”

She also reported that real estate and income tax collections are $92,000 ahead of last year, with most of that coming from income taxes, while adding that collections from self-employed people are also rising.

City Law Director John Hatcher also added that collection on delinquent income taxpayers is going well, with $30,000 to $45,000 in delinquent taxes paid so far this year. Hatcher also noted that September was when his office would begin collection proceedings on those who did not file a city income tax return or who owe delinquent taxes from 2015.

Hatcher also noted that several code violation cases have been filed in Van Wert Municipal Court, and said he plans to file all outstanding cases by the next Council meeting on July 25. He is also working on a case against the owners of the former Home Guard building, citing the building as an environmental hazard, and is reviewing regulations related to cell towers located in the city limits.

Mayor Mazur, reporting on behalf of Safety-Service Director Jay Fleming, who did not attend Monday’s City Council meeting, said the Washington Street reconstruction project was on schedule, but noted there was approximately 30 days more work needed on the project. The mayor added that Washington Street would be accessible to the Van Wert County Fairgrounds during fair week.

He also noted that city work around Franklin Park is completed, with Alexander & Bebout ready to begin work on the first phase of the park project being funded by Scott Niswonger and The Van Wert County Foundation.

Streets and Alleys Committee Chair Steve Trittschuh said his committee hasn’t yet come up with a recommendation on whether to allow left turns from Court Street, while it is also working on a definition for what constitutes a defective sidewalk in the city.

Council President Pete Weir said he has received a request for liquor license from a new business that is planning to establish a billiard parlor at 142 E. Main St. (formerly Dave’s Cleaners). That request was forwarded to Tomlinson, who chairs the Judiciary and Annexation Committee, with Tomlinson noting that the request will be kept for two weeks to see if there are any objections to granting the license.

The next regularly scheduled meeting of Van Wert City Council will be held at 7:30 p.m. Monday, July 25, in Council Chambers, on the second floor of the Municipal Building, 515 E. Main St.