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WINTERSVILLE -- Wintersville Council heard Thursday from a resident who supports a new levy for the village's police department and learned of penalties water customers could face if they fail to cooperate with efforts to replace their meters.
Resident Tom Simone approached council to voice his support for a continuous 5-mill levy on ballots in the upcoming general election.
Simone told council he believes in limited government and low taxes but encourages other residents to vote for the levy because it will help to maintain the standard of public safety they have come to expect.
He said the Wintersville Police Department often has served as a "feeder" to other local law enforcement agencies, with its officers leaving for higher pay.
He noted village officials have said the levy will help to retain its officers.
If approved, the levy would allow the village to collect 5 mills for each $1, amounting to $175 for each $100,000 of appraised property value.
As a continuous levy, it would not require renewals through future elections and would generate $437,000 per year in its first year.
Melanie Smith, a visiting auditor serving the village, earlier acknowledged three existing levies generate revenue for the department's operations and officers' pensions, but said collectively they provide just $186,766 of the department's $866,121 budget.
Simone applauded council for unanimously supporting the levy's placement on ballots and was thanked for his support by council members.
Simone also raised the issue of council declaring an emergency to pass many resolutions in recent months for budgetary revisions.
The emergency declarations allow council to pass the resolutions without a second or third reading at subsequent meetings.
But Simone voiced support for the practice, saying he believes it allows the board to act more efficiently.
Councilman Jason Mattern said the practice allows changes that reflect new revenue or expenses not envisioned when the village's annual budget wasn't approved.
As an example, he cited a state loan that was secured for a new police cruiser and the car's purchase that were among budget revisions approved on Thursday.
In other business, Village Administrator Jesse Kosegi said there remain about 180 radio read water meters to be installed.
He said while some of them are larger meters needed for local businesses, the Village Building and the Wintersville fire station, about 140 are for residential customers.
Because many of the old meters are inside homes, crews have required access to exchange them.
Residents may call (740) 266-3175 to schedule an appointment.
Kosegi and Village Solicitor Jake Linn said in the future, council will be asked to consider a $100 penalty for each month a customer has failed to have their meter changed, with the possibility of their service being cut off after three months.
Linn said if approved, the penalties could be waived "for good cause."
Kosegi said 1,850 meters will be replaced through the $985,000 project, which has been funded by a $341,000 grant and a $535,000 10-year, no-interest loan from the Ohio Public Works Commission and local funds.
Expected to provide more accurate readings, the new meters will transmit them using an antenna on a water tower, reducing manpower for manual readings.
They also will allow customers to pay their water bills online, something many have requested, said Kosegi, with that option to be available before the end of this year.
He added customers also will be able to pay by mail, in person through a drop box at the Village Building or by phone using a credit card.
Also on Thursday:
• Kosegi said he will order 600 tons of road salt this winter, at a rate of $61.08 per ton, based on salt remaining from last year.
He said about 358 tons purchased for last winter has been stored in Cross Creek Township with the cooperation of its trustees. He added the amount of salt needed in recent winters has dropped, with 1,500 tons ordered for the 2022-23 winter and 900 ordered for the most recent winter.
• Kosegi said a 20-by-20 foot section of the Village Building's roof, located above the conference room used for council's executive sessions, is leaking.
He said crews with Gombar Heating and Cooling will apply a silicone sealant to the area in hopes of correcting the problem.
He said if not, a crane will be needed to remove an air conditioning unit on the section and he will need to apply for federal capital improvement funds for it.
• Mayor Mike Petrella noted council has set 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 31 as trick-or-treat hours.
He also announced village crews will collect leaves, using vacuum equipment, from the curbs or ditches of residents on Nov. 4, 12 and 18. He said the leaves should not be raked into the streets.
Petrella also expressed thanks to Team Ford of Steubenville for donating $7,013 in equipment and labor for the vehicle used by the police department's K-9 unit.
Council's next regular meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Oct. 17 at the Village Building.