City Council OKs several money measures

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Van Wert City Council approved a number of finance-based legislation during its first virtual meeting Monday evening, including salary ordinances for city employees and the creation of a new fund as a repository for assessments for clean energy project.

Joi Mergy, vice chair of the Finance Committee, made motions to adopt the legislation in the absence of committee chair Jeff Agler, whose absence was excused by a vote of City Council.

Legislation approved included two salary ordinances for departments funded through the General Fund, including the police and fire departments, auditor’s office, income tax office, and other non-bargaining unit city employees. A request to prepare both ordinances was made at the previous Council meeting and both were adopted on first and final reading Monday as emergency legislation.

Also adopted was an ordinance creating a new fund, Fund 801, as a repository for clean energy project funds, and a supplemental appropriation measure that would appropriate money received through assessments into the new fund.

Council also approved a then-and-now certificate for $3,590 to pay for a Van Wert Municipal Court computer project.

During a brief report, Mayor Ken Markward urged city residents to complete U.S. Census forms sent out, since not doing so could result in the community’s population being under-reported, which could then result in a loss of funding.

The mayor also noted that the visit of a delegation from sister city Sumoto, Japan, has been postponed until July 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“That was not completely unexpected,” the mayor said, although he added it was a bit of a disappointment.

Mayor Markward also urged those still planning to vote in the primary election, which has been moved back to April 28, should move quickly, since voting by mail is a multi-step process that takes time.

Later in the meeting, the mayor also noted that nothing has been decided yet on having a citywide clean-up day this year, but noted that, if there is one, appliances will not be accepted, since people can take appliances to a recycling center and receiving money for doing so.

Safety-Service Director Jay Fleming noted that brush pick-ups are scheduled to begin on May 4, June 29, and August 31, adding that the city has been working at half-staff, with staggered shifts, during the COVID-19 “stay at home” period.

Fleming also noted that bids for the summer street painting project will be opened this Thursday, and a curb in front of Central Insurance Companies where a pole was hit will be grinded down on Tuesday.

City Auditor Martha Balyeat had mostly positive fiscal news for Council from the first few months of the year, although she wouldn’t speculate on what the remainder of the year may bring.

Balyeat noted that a real estate tax payment of $196,000 was received in April, rather than March, as is usual, and also noted that the city is in a fairly good cash position currently to weather negatives related to the coronavirus financial issues. The city auditor said the city was in a better cash position to begin the year than it has been in several years, which should help in the months to come.

“I guess if we have to take a financial hit, this is as good a year as any,” Balyeat said, while adding that, with income taxes not due until July 15, it’s a little too soon to make any real financial predictions.

“Hopefully, this year we’ll be able to ride out the storm,” she said. “We need to hang in there, I guess.”

City Law Director John Hatcher noted in his report that, with the courts at reduced capacity because of the COVID-19 pandemic, civil cases have been postponed until the end of May or early June, at the earliest.

Bill Marshall, who chairs the Health-Service-Safety Committee, noted a problem he has seen where apartment renters who move are leaving a number of items in front of their apartment building. Noting doing so is a code violation, Marshall said he has contacted owners of city rental properties to make them aware so they can be more vigilant in stopping the problem on their end.

Economic Development Chair Jeff Kallas spoke about financial assistance available for businesses suffering from the effects of the coronavirus shutdown through the U.S. Small Business Administration, and other agencies, noting that local businesses interested in loans should contact the local economic development office at 419.238.2999.

Mergy, in reporting for the committee she chairs, Judiciary and Annexation, noted that Council will meet next Monday, April 20, starting at 6:30 p.m., as a committee-of-the-whole to talk about where the Haven of Hope shelter fits in the city’s zoning code. That meeting will also be held virtually.

The next meeting of Van Wert City Council will be held at 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 27, via Zoom meeting software.