Levy for police to be on ballot

The levy would bring in $92,000 a year to help fund the department.

By MARY GRZEBIENIAK

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

NEW MIDDLETOWN — A 4-mill replacement levy for the police department will appear on the November ballot.

New Middletown Village Council voted unanimously Monday to put on the replacement levy instead of a renewal. This means the levy will net $92,000 instead of the $82,000 it currently brings in.

Fiscal Officer Carl Flitcraft Jr. said the 4-mill levy currently brings in only 3.49 mills because the levy has only been renewed in the past and renewals cannot bring in more than they did when first passed. Increases in property values have thus lowered the millage imposed on each property.

The financially struggling police department is supported with two 4-mill levies that are not covering costs, and council has been making up the shortfall for several years from the village general fund. The other 4-mill levy is not up for renewal.

Total millage

Mayor Robert Carson said the replacement levy will only maintain the police department at its current level, but said council was unwilling to ask residents for more millage at this time. However, he said that council might consider an increase in millage in the next few years as requested by Police Chief William Morvay.

As an example of increasing costs, he pointed out that the cost of providing hospitalization insurance to the village’s three full-time officers has more than doubled since four years ago, the last time the levy was renewed.

Carson pointed out that village residents pay only 65.4 mills total in property taxes, which is one of the lowest tax burdens in the county. This figure includes school and county taxes, as well as those for the village. The village levies only the base 10 mills that all jurisdictions get as well as 8.5 additional mills for the police and fire departments.

Other village income sources are gas and license plates taxes. The village has no income tax.

Other business

Also Monday, council unanimously passed an ordinance outlawing truck engine retardants commonly known as jake brakes on Calla Road because of early morning noise that disturbs residents. The law is effective immediately.

Police Sgt. Ken Goist reported July was a very busy month with 12 juvenile criminal arrests. He said the department is looking into an ordinance change that would allow the village to cite parents who do not supervise their children.

Council agreed to reconsider the village’s ordinance on licensing fees for business owners who install coin-operated amusement devices. Council member Jack Novicky questioned the fairness of the current ordinance, which imposes annual fees of $100 for the first game, $200 each for the second and third, and $500 for a fourth and subsequent games. The law was passed in 1981, prior to any current council member’s tenure.

Council opened bids for Phase III of the Stacy Drive Storm drainage project and referred them to village engineers Thomas Fok & Assoc. for study. Bidders were: Foust Construction, Springfield Township, $45,911; Matt Morjock Excavating, Springfield Township, $57,539; and Schimley’s Excavating, Niles, $61,096.

Flitcraft announced a new state law will require the village to form a records retention committee to oversee handling of village records. One citizen must sit on the committee. Carson asked any resident interested in the position to contact him at village offices. The resident would have to take some training and attend a few meetings.

Council hired Simone Ugolini of Springfield Township as a new part-time probationary police officer. His wage was not available Monday night. He replaces Dan Moser who resigned to take another job. Council also approved Samantha Bright of New Middletown as a probationary volunteer firefighter.