City Council hears MSVW yearly update

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Van Wert City Council heard more from a group opposing a men’s homeless shelter, heard a year-end Main Street Van Wert update, and also approved several end-of-year financial measures during its final meeting of 2019 on Monday.

A group of city residents who live in the area of Market and Sycamore streets returned Monday to voice its concerns that, despite Council voting to overturn the city administration’s decision that a homeless shelter was an approved usage in a B-3 zoning area, Haven of Hope, the group operating the shelter, was moving forward with getting the shelter ready for operation.

North Market Street resident Chris Wilson, who with his wife, Jodi, was among those opposed to locating the shelter adjacent to the residential area, noted that, despite Council’s action, Haven of Hope had not taken the usage issue to the City Zoning Board of Appeals, but had continued with its efforts to prepare the shelter for operation.

Council President Jon Tomlinson said, in his opinion, Haven of Hope had likely been given legal advice from an attorney that a homeless shelter did meet the guidelines for B-3 usage, and Haven of Hope was moving forward with the remodeling the former union hall based on that legal advice. He suggested that those opposed to the shelter’s location take the issue to the Zoning Appeals Board themselves to get a decision on the matter.

Main Street Van Wert Executive Director Mitch Price also attended Monday’s City Council meeting to update city officials on MSVW’s activities in 2019. Price noted that approximately 3,000 volunteer hours were donated to the group — worth approximately $67,000 if the volunteers were paid minimum wage.

He also said the group was again accredited this year, with an evaluator raving about how good Van Wert’s downtown area looked, compared to five years ago.

Price also talked about upcoming projects for downtown, noting things were moving forward downtown.

“We’re excited about the ride,” Price said. “We’re excited about the future.”

Also Monday, City Auditor Martha Balyeat noted that, while income tax revenues were somewhat disappointing in 2019, the city’s financial situation “was nothing totally out of the ordinary” from what was projected for the year.

Council approved a then-and-now certificate for $20.000 for work done for Van Wert Municipal Court and also adopted legislation for fund transfers and supplemental appropriations needed to close out the year. Council also passed the city’s temporary appropriations ordinance on third and final reading to provide a financial template for the first three months of 2020.

Also approved as part of a consent agenda was a resolution approving the rates of employee contributions to the city’s health insurance programs, a measure approving returned check fees, and a resolution approving the final plat for Phase 1A of The Landing at Dickinson Farms subdivision.

City Council also approved resolutions honoring Mazur for his service as mayor, as well Fourth Ward Councilman Steve Trittschuh and Councilman At-Large Warren Straley for their contributions to city government.

The next meeting of Van Wert City Council will be held at 6:30 p.m. Monday, January 13, 2020, in Council Chambers on the second floor of the Municipal Building, 515 E. Main St.