Wintersville village administrator reports on water line break, back taxes
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WINTERSVILLE -- At Thursday's Wintersville Council meeting, Village Administrator Jessie Kosegi advised the municipality's delinquent back taxes have been paid off as well as detailing the village's response to a water line break affecting residents of the Meridian Greene senior housing complex.
Kosegi said a check for about $138,368 in taxes owed for 26 of 72 parcels owned by the village has been delivered to the county auditor's office.
He added Melanie Smith, a visiting clerk from the state auditor's office assisting the village, has filed for exemptions for most of the property.
He said the village must pay tax for the structures on some, ranging from the Municipal Building to lift stations serving its wastewater treatment system, but it will be no more than $2.06 per parcel.
Kosegi and Mayor Mike Petrella reported earlier that notices for delinquent taxes, some dating to 1968, were discovered in a locked drawer at the municipal building.
They said the village, as a government entity, could have sought an exemption for most of the property but for reasons that aren't known, did not.
Asked about the debt's impact on the village's financial picture, Kosegi said, "We took a hit but we're not bankrupt, though we could have used it (the money) for something."
In related business, Kosegi said a certificate of deposit, in the amount of $250,000, that also was discovered in recent months, will mature in August and can be transferred to another bank where the village maintains its funds.
He told council members they will need to determine how that money will be used.
Petrella said while the village would lose hundreds of dollars in penalties by withdrawing the money at this time, it could gain hundreds more in interest in a new account.
A motion was made to transfer the funds, but Village Solicitor Jake Linn recommended an ordinance be drawn up for that purpose.
In other business, Kosegi told council of actions taken by himself and Petrella to help 16 residents of Meridian Greene who were left without water for more than a week when a water line broke on May 5.
He said village crews initially shut off the line to prevent the property from flooding, noting water was pumped from a manhole at the site.
Kosegi stressed the break was to a line on private property for which the owner is responsible, but he and the mayor provided the complex's manager with a list of potential contractors and helped locate parts needed by the one who was contacted by Meridian Greene.
Kosegi added Petrella arranged for bottled water to be delivered to the residents.
The village administrator said the contractor made a temporary fix until the parts arrived and has since repaired the line.
"Everybody worked together. We came together to get this taken care of because the elderly were involved," he said.
Also on Thursday:
— Council approved a road use management agreement with Ascent Energy through which the natural gas company has committed to repairing damages to roadways left by heavy trucks traveling roadways leading to its well pad.
The trucks are slated to take County Road 33 to Fernwood Road to the westbound lane of Main Street to Canton Road north.
— Councilman Jason Mattern said the Island Creek Township Trustees will hold a meeting at 6 p.m. June 13 to accept comment on the proposed inclusion of Two Ridge Road, areas of County Road 43 and the Overlook neighborhood in the service areas for the village's police department and Wintersville Fire and Rescue.
— Wintersville Police Chief Lou Vandeborne advised James Harris, the village's newest police officer, has completed his training and has been scheduled to a regular shift, resulting in each shift being worked by at least two officers.
— Petrella announced the village's summer parks program will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 5 through July 28 at the Walnut Street Park and include activities coordinated by an Indian Creek schoolteacher and free lunches supplied by the Indian Creek school district.
The free program is open to children ages 5-13 and parents or guardians should register their children at the Municipal Building on Grove Street.
— Robert Laukert, council's representative to the Steel Valley Regional Transit Authority, reported the public transportation service has hired separate independent consultants to update its website and develop an app to spread word of its services.
He said the SVRTA's ridership has increased 36 percent from last year, much of it because of an increase of 128 percent, from last year, of passengers seeking transport to Robinson Township.
Laukert said Wintersville continues to be a major service area for the transportation service, with ridership from the village up about 52 percent from last year.
Council's next meeting will be at 7 p.m. June 1 at the Municipal Building. During the summer months, council will reduce its two monthly meetings to one on the first Thursday of each month.