Mingo Junction income tax levy proceeding
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MINGO JUNCTION -- Village council passed two pieces of legislation Tuesday advancing its new income tax levy toward ultimately being listed on residents' ballots in the Nov. 5 general election.
Ordinance 2024-9 amends Section 183.09 and 183.14 of the village's codified ordinances to enact an additional 1 percent increase in the village wage and profit tax, bringing it up to 2 percent, for five years, effective Jan. 1.
Resolution 2024-10 specifies Nov. 5 as the date on which the question of an additional 1 percent income tax will be put before village voters and directs the Jefferson County Board of Elections to place the question on the ballot for residents.
All three were passed as emergency legislation, which allows a resolution or ordinance to have all of its three required readings by title only done during a single meeting, as opposed to three separate meetings, as is normally required.
Working to get the new income tax levy placed on the ballot comes following last month's discovery that the previous 1 percent income tax had expired and was never renewed, resulting in the village continuing to collect the tax through the Regional Income Tax Agency.
The village is now hustling to have the levy placed on the ballot as Mayor Judy Ruckman calls for residents to pass it, thereby ensuring the village can continue to collect about $1 million per year that benefits major funding arteries, including the village's general fund and funds for garbage and rubbish, street repair, recreation, senior citizens, community development, fire equipment maintenance and repair and police and drug enforcement.
Also passed was Resolution 2024-8, which approves the village to proceed with renewing a 6-mill levy on each dollar of the tax valuation of taxable property in the village's limits -- proceeds funding garbage, refuse and waste collection and disposal for five years, effective Jan. 1 -- by putting the levy up for a vote in the November election.
Separately, council heard from village Administrator Darrin Corrigan about a sinkhole discovered under six inches of asphalt on Ravine Street. The hole resulted from a 34-inch stormwater drain that broke and washed out the material around it.
The job is "too big for (the village) to do," Corrigan said, adding that individuals have been called to take a look at the job. Currently, the Jefferson County Water and Sewer District is lending the village steel plates to cover the sinkhole so it doesn't pose a threat to passersby.
Kyle Moffat, chief operator of the Mingo Junction Wastewater Department, said he would look at the plates to fix an issue brought up by Councilwoman Patti Mannarino, who had a concerned resident reach out to her for fear that a small space between the plates was large enough to allow a pet to fall inside the hole.
In other business:
• Corrigan said a Steubenville Township and Mingo Junction tire drive organized by the Jefferson-Belmont Regional Solid Waste Authority has been opened up to village residents. Taking place Thursday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., the drive will allow residents to drop off used tires at a trailer by the Route 7 exit onto Commercial Street. At the same time, furniture can be dropped off at the Steubenville Township garage, located by the state Route 7 and state Route 151 interchange. No electronics will be accepted.
• Ruckman reported that resident John Murphy has volunteered to serve as the village's part-time code enforcement officer free of charge. Murphy will now issue about 10 warnings for high grass, weeds and junk cars per week, following up the next week to ensure positive action has been taken and issuing citations if warranted.
• Corrigan said the village has been fielding lots of calls about an error on residents' water bills, which have swapped information -- the current usage number is actually the previous usage number and vice versa.
• Councilwoman Jodilynn Fitzgerald said a June 3 safety meeting regarding traffic problems at Indian Creek Middle and Hills Elementary schools did not occur because individuals with the schools were not able to attend. Another meeting will be scheduled to discuss the issue before the school season begins, she said.
• Representing the Mingo Junction Senior Center, Judi Keenan said new chairs have been ordered for the center using the first disbursement of Health Aging Grant funds. The new chairs were $97 each, though she was able to work the price down to $45.
• Corrigan reported that the pool is awaiting the stand for its second diving board, which is set to ship on June 21.
• Murphy reported that a sign posted by the village on Montgomery Lane utility pole must be moved to its own metal post, according to Ohio Revised Code.