{"id":190025,"date":"2025-02-24T22:02:22","date_gmt":"2025-02-25T03:02:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/?p=190025"},"modified":"2025-02-25T22:01:14","modified_gmt":"2025-02-26T03:01:14","slug":"council-members-hear-updates-vote-on-legislation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/2025\/02\/24\/council-members-hear-updates-vote-on-legislation\/","title":{"rendered":"Council hears updates, OKs legislation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

SCOTT TRUXELL\/<\/strong>independent editor<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Monday\u2019s meeting of Van Wert City Council was the quickest of the year, just 25 minutes, but in that time, council members handled several pieces of legislation and heard a pair of reports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mayor Ken Markward, City Auditor Erika Blackmore and At-Large Councilwoman Judy Bowers were absent from the meeting. It was the third absence by Bowers in four meetings held this year.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Shown from left to right are Law Director John Hatcher, Council President Thad Eikenbary and Council Clerk Stephanie Phillips. Scott Truxell\/Van Wert independent<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Reports<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Law Director John Hatcher informed council members that he recently had a discussion with the building that formerly housed the Variety Store on E. Main St., across the street from the post office. He noted it was a productive meeting and said the property is currently in litigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe wanted to meet with me before he filed any responses in court and we had a very productive conservation and I\u2019m hoping we come to a fairly quick resolution on that matter,\u201d Hatcher said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also said March 13 is when court hearings will be held for several other blighted properties around the city and he said an update will be provided at the March 24 meeting of council.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hatcher also said shoplifting cases, which seemed to peak last summer and fall, have since declined. Most of those cases involved Walmart. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Texting and driving cases continue at an average rate of 4-6 new cases per week in Van Wert Municipal Court. He added at one point last year, the number of cases doubled or tripled the current average and he gave a brief refresher on the law, which went into effect in 2023. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe call it driving and texting but the actual title is \u2018prohibited use of an electronic device while driving in a motor vehicle,\u2019\u201d he said. \u201cBasically it\u2019s a hands-free law meaning (if) you\u2019re driving in your car, your cell phone needs to be in some sort of a cradle. If it\u2019s in your hand, it doesn\u2019t matter if you\u2019re checking your GPS, it doesn\u2019t matter if you\u2019re flipping a song on your bluetooth, you\u2019re going to get a ticket if they see your cell phone in your hand while you\u2019re driving and they\u2019ll let you go explain it to the court.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to state law, citations are mandatory and a court appearance is mandatory. There is no option to pay a waiver or bond. State law also spells out the penalties if found guilty:<\/p>\n\n\n\n