By Sarah Lehr

slehr@vindy.com

GIRARD

The city is reviewing a contract with Blue Line Solutions of Tennessee for a handheld speed-camera program.

Under the contract, the city will receive 60 percent of fine revenue, and Blue Line Solutions will receive 40 percent. The private company mails the civil speeding citations and will provide cameras and signs to the city.

Police Chief Jeffrey Palmer declined to comment on the contract’s specific terms until negotiations are finalized, but said Blue Line has agreed to reimburse the police department for overtime pay.

City council voted this week to send a resolution authorizing the safety/service director to enter into a contract with Blue Line to its second of three readings. Council approved a fee schedule for the cameras in April.

A driver will receive a $100 fine in the mail for speeding under normal circumstances. The fine will be $150 in construction zones. There also are late-payment fees of $25 or $50. Under a 2014 Ohio law regulating such cameras, the speeder must be at least 10 miles per hour over the speed limit to receive a minimum fine, which cannot be more than what court costs would have been.

Because the citations are civil, they do not count against an offender’s driving record. Drivers can appeal the citations before a hearings administrator.

In other business, council moved forward to place five-year levy renewals on November’s general-election ballot. Council approved final passage of resolutions declaring the necessity for two separate garbage levies.

Renewal of a 1-mill garbage levy would raise about $57,000 annually and cost the owner of a $100,000 home $35 per year. Renewal of a 1.1-mill garbage levy would raise about $76,000 annually and cost the owner of a $100,000 home $38.50 per year.

Council also is considering asking voters to approve a new 0.5-mill parks and recreation levy, which would raise $54,800 annually and cost the owner of a $100,000 home $17.50 a year.

Council approved the sale and issuance of $865,073 and $1,411,443 in bonds for the widening of U.S. Route 422 and an addition to city hall, respectively. Auditor Sam Zirafi said council’s actions are necessary to pay back a portion of loans the city took out in 2000 for these projects.