BELMONT — Village Council on Wednesday voted to place a 3.5-mill levy for general operating expenses on the Nov. 5 ballot rather than the 3-mill police levy that had been discussed earlier this year.
During a scheduled meeting, Village Fiscal Officer Ricky Burkhead informed council that he had the levy language ready to submit to Belmont County officials to be certified, but that the possibility of making it a general expense levy had been raised.
Burkhead explained that the bulk of the funds could be used for the police department as originally planned, but that making it for general expenses would allow the funds to be used for other departments as well, mentioning the cemetery fund specifically.
“Right now I’m supplementing $12,000 to $13,000 from the general fund annually for the police and $7,000 to $8,000 for the cemetery, and this would cover that,” Burkhead said, later adding that he had supplemented as much as $24,000 total for the two funds.
Mayor Ron Woods asked about making the levy for 3.5 mills, saying he thought it would be better to make sure they had enough and not have to ask for more later. Burkhead later estimated that would bring in about $23,500, while the 3-mill levy would bring in just over $20,000 annually after fees.
Councilwoman Sara Scott noted the importance of informing people in the village about how to find out exactly what the tax would cost them.
According to the certificate from the Belmont County Auditor’s Office, the tax would amount to $124 per $100,000 of the taxable value of a property as determined by the county auditor.
Village Solicitor T.J. Schultz said that once the ballot language is approved, property owners can go to the auditor’s website to see exactly what their cost would be.
Councilwoman Lorie Grob said officials should also find a way to inform those who do not use the internet.
Burkhead said he believed it would be best to make it a continuing levy. He said that if it does not pass, they could try again with limitations.
After some further discussion, Council President Derek Cain made a motion to place the 3.5-mill continuing general expenses levy on the ballot. The motion passed with five “yes” votes. Councilwoman Peggy Patterson was absent from Wednesday’s meeting.
Officials also discussed an incident during the village’s Memorial Day observances in which a number of people were attacked by a loose dog.
Scott said several people had since inquired about the village’s relevant ordinances and that other issues with owners not picking up their dog’s waste while on walks had been brought up as well.
Schultz read from the codified ordinances, confirming that owners are required to keep dogs confined or restrained at their owner’s or keeper’s residence or under “reasonable control of some person.”
Council discussed holding a committee meeting in order to go over those ordinances to see if there are any changes that could be made to make them more effective. Grob pointed out that there is a downloadable pdf file with all village ordinances on the website villageofbelmont.org.
Council also discussed a number of citations that had been issued for violations of the village property codes, while a resident addressed council about a property on Gordon Street where she said there is garbage piled up along the street.
She said the garbage has been piling up for months and that some of the bags have been torn open by the many cats that live on the property.
Woods said he believed the resident of the property in question had been sent a letter and that their 30 days to remedy the problem expires this week.
Board of Public Affairs President Ken Davis informed council that he had ordered a replacement pump for the No. 6 well for $2,000 and that village wells had produced 61% of the water used in the village during May. The village water supply is supplemented with water purchased from the Belmont County Water & Sewer District.
In other business, council approved having work done to the roofs of the firehouse and the Belmont Gymnasium for a total of $1,325 and held the second reading of an ordinance limiting the use of heavy trucks on village alleys.
Council also met in executive session for nearly an hour concerning personnel, but no further discussion of the matter was held during the open meeting.
Belmont Village Council meets at 6 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month in the Stanley Sobel Village Offices on Brown Street.
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