Girard Council considers parks and recreation, garbage levies

May 10, 2016 at 12:00a.m.

GIRARD

Council is mulling several levies that may be placed on November’s ballot.

A proposed five-year, 0.5-mill parks and recreation levy would raise $54,800 annually and cost the owner of a $100,000 home $17.50 a year.

Council also is considering two separate five-year renewal levies for garbage collection. 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 levy would raise about $76,000 annually and cost the owner of a $100,000 home $38.50 per year.

Right now, council is reviewing resolutions to declare the necessity of these three levies. After that, resolutions would need to be approved to place the measures before voters.

In other business, council amended a grass-cutting ordinance, stating an intention to make it easier for the city to crack down on unkempt properties.

The ordinance stipulates that grass or weeds growing at 8 inches or higher between April 1 and Nov. 1 constitute a public nuisance.

An owner of property has five days to respond to a notice from the city asking for the grass to be cut. After that point, the city’s public service director has the right to have the grass cut at the property owner’s expense.

Additionally, council approved Mayor James Melfi’s appointees to the city’s Downtown Design Review Board. The appointees are Tom Borocz, Sue Ellen Davis, Robert Hanley, Peter Zeller and Bill Burke. The board is tasked with approving exterior changes to downtown buildings.