News cheers Girard mayor

Girard's fiscal supervisor will seek an opinion on use of future logging money.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
GIRARD -- Mayor James J. Melfi says he's encouraged by the information he's receiving about the possible revenue from logging on city-owned property.
Although not being specific, the mayor told members of the city's fiscal oversight commission Monday that a portion of the revenue will be applied to the general fund deficit.
The Girard Financial Planning and Supervision Commission has been meeting since the city was placed in state-imposed fiscal emergency in August 2001.
City council has given its approval for the administration to solicit proposals for select harvesting of trees on city property, including Girard Lakes. It is known Melfi has talked with one timber buyer.
Report on deficit
Nita Hendryx, city fiscal supervisor appointed by the state auditor's office, reported to the commission the general fund deficit is $1,245,149.
This does not include the capital improvement building fund that is $460,595 in the red and the $42,000 deficit in the agency reimbursement fund, Hendryx said.
Hendryx told the commission that she thinks the revenue from the timber sales can be deposited in the general fund after first being placed in a capital fund.
Joe Gray, commission chairman appointed by the state's Office of Budget and Management, cautioned Hendryx to be sure the money can be deposited in the general fund.
Hendryx said she will first get an opinions from the state auditor to determine where the money can be channeled.
Dam's fate
In another matter, Melfi told the commission he was to meet today with a representative of the Ohio's attorney general's office about the fate of Lower Girard Lake dam.
City council had asked the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to give it until Dec. 31 to come up with a schedule to either breach or repair the structure it has reported as being unsafe.
But the attorney general's office has informed the city that the end-of-the-year deadline is not acceptable and set a May 24 deadline.
Melfi, who has said he favors breaching the aged structure, pointed out that the dam remains a hazard. Although water is being drained out of the lake, rain refills it.
yovich@vindy.com