COUNCIL MEETING Mayor's Court to begin

Taxes collected this year are $127,651, compared with $141,948 last year.
By MARALINE KUBIK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
LOWELLVILLE -- Mayor's Court will hold its first session June 8, and then every other Tuesday thereafter.
Under provisions of the court, Mayor Jim Iudiciani will hear uncontested cases for minor traffic offenses and first-time offenders charged with driving under the influence, the mayor told council during a regular meeting Wednesday evening.
Iudiciani said his goal is to funnel more of the money offenders pay in fines and court cost into village coffers, rather than to Struthers, where cases are currently heard.
In a previous interview, Iudiciani said he expects the mayor's court to bring in $25,000 a year, less operating expenses. Under the current arrangement with Struthers Municipal Court, which hears cases resulting from citations issued by Lowellville police, the village receives between $4,500 and $5,000 a year.
Operating expenses for the court will include salaries for the prosecutor, James E. Lanzo, and the clerk of courts, Carol Flora. Lanzo will be paid $250 per month; Flora $100 per month.
Court costs charged offenders will be $50, with $40 going toward operating costs for the court and the general fund, and $10 going toward a court fund, the mayor said. Court costs in Struthers are $79.
Tax collection
Income tax collections are down more than $14,000 from the same time last year, Iudiciani continued. Taxes collected through April are $127,651 compared to $141,948 for the first four months of 2003. As a result, the city will issue letters by the end of this month to residents who have failed to pay what they owe or have failed to file the required village income tax return. "We're going to start going after them for what they owe," the mayor said.
On the up side, several property owners who were notified that their real estate would be assessed if they did not pay their delinquent sewer bills have paid a collective $2,037; some $3,700 is still delinquent, the mayor said.
Police grant
According to Police Chief William H. Vance, the Lowellville Police Department is applying for a $125,000 grant that would be spread over three years and provide for a full-time school resource officer who would implement youth programs, anti-drug and anti-alcohol programs, and anti-truancy programs in the schools. The resource officer would also address school security issues and serve as a resource for pupils, teachers and parents.
If Lowellville receives the grant, provided by the U.S. Department of Justice, the village would be responsible for $687 in matching funds the first year, $4,980 the second year, $12,186 the third year, and would be required to retain the officer for a fourth year.
The officer would work year-round -- in the schools during the school year, and as a patrolman during the summer, Iudiciani added.
The next regularly scheduled council meeting will be at 7 p.m. June 9.
kubik@vindy.com