COUNCIL Betz Park contract gets OK

A replacement levy for police is being sought.
HANOVERTON -- Village council agreed to award to a contract Monday to Daley Excavating of Beloit for installation of sidewalks in Betz Park.
The $7,080 contract calls for excavation, sidewalks, seeding and mulching.
Mayor Dan Kibler said he anticipates Daley will begin work as soon as possible.
Roof repair
In a related matter, council agreed to have Syx Construction of Hanoverton repair the roof on the park gazebo at a cost not to exceed $1,000.
Both projects are part of an Ohio Department of Natural Resources grant awarded to the village. The Nature Works grant is for $11,876, with the village providing about $3,000 as its share of the project.
Council also will be contracting to move the war memorial monument and installation of a flagpole in the park. Other plans call for installation of lights at the park.
Police levy
In other matters, council gave permission to village Solicitor James Taus to research what needs to be done to seek a replacement levy for the village police department.
Councilman Dave Kiewall, finance committee chairman, said operation of the police department cost $8,252 in 2003, but the current levy generates only $2,498 annually, necessitating general fund money to subsidize the department.
Kiewall said he was told that if a replacement levy were approved by the voters, the replacement would generate about $7,400 per year. Although that still would not cover all the police operating costs, it wouldn't require as much from the general fund, thus freeing that money up for other village projects, Kiewall said.
If approved, the replacement levy would mean the owner of a home valued at $40,000 would pay an additional $12.06 per year in real estate taxes, Kiewall said.