The village of Valleyview will be operating in 2009 on a $1.16 million budget, with only $124,300 of that amount coming from taxes.
The village council adopted the plan at its July 7 meeting at which time Police Chief Ti Myers and fiscal officer Barb Schwartz were granted pay raises.
In a budget hearing that preceded the meeting, Schwartz presented a copy of the budget that shows an anticipated carryover of $156,500 to start the new year. After the village receives the aniticapted tax revenue of $124,300, the remainder of the village funds will be from other sources, such as grants and income from mayor’s court.
The budget also calls for spending nearly $469,900.
As of May 31, the village had a cash balance of $392,400. With the year half over, the village has spent about 38 percent of its available funds, according to Schwartz.
Mayor Tom Watkins also delivered some good news from the state auditor’s office. He said he had been advised the village had its second straight clean audit.
Watkins advised that the information he had was only a drafted letter and that he expects the final report to be published by the middle of July.
Schwartz, a part-time officer who also works in Sharon Township, received a raise of $1,500 retroactive to July 1 of this year. She had not had an increase in pay since she started working for the village.
“This was her audit,” Watkins said of the financial status. “She deserves it.”
Also getting a raise was Police Chief Myers. Council approved a raise of $2,000 for him.
“He has stepped up the police force,” the mayor said. “I’m glad we can give him a raise. It keeps him here, keeps him from going elsewhere.”
The few residents in the audience agreed with Watkins and council and broke out in applause when the resolution was approved.
“He deserves it,” said resident Barb Winkler.
Council also approved a resolution to spend $195 for the next six months to store village records until a new garage is built with a storage area in a loft. Currently the records are in boxes and plastic storage bins stacked in the council chambers of the administration building. They were hauled out of the garage when flooding occurred from heavy rains in June.
Replacing the wall
Also approved was a resolution to contract with Meticulous Landscaping of Hilliard on a $15,900 project to replace a decorative wall along Hague Avenue just north of Valleyview. Work is to begin in July and should take about 18 days to finish.
The wall has been crumbling in recent years.
“I remember when we were kids running on it and it was falling then,” Watkins said.
Council has discussed replacing this wall for several months and sought bids on the work. Meticulous Landscaping presented the best bid, Watkins said.
Work will also continue on installing street signs in the village. The first one has been installed at the corner of Elliott and Harris.
Changing faces
Council will be taking the month of August off and resume regular monthly meetings in September.
Council members will be busy with committee meetings during their down-time, specifically interviewing candidates for two positions in the village, those of village solicitor/prosecutor and clerk for the mayor’s court.
Watkins said he hopes to able to fill both positions at the September meeting.
Village solicitor Don Wolery will be leaving this fall and Watkins is working to add the duties of prosecutor to the position. At the mayor’s court, Karen Ryan will be leaving the middle of August to become a full-time special education teacher.
Hog roast
Village residents are being invited to the community’s annual hog roast that will be held at Rogers Park on Saturday, July 26. Games, music an food are among the attractions for the event that starts at 3 p.m.
Councilman Marzia Helton said she hopes to get the village newsletter in the hands of residents prior to the activity and let that serve as an invitation.
