City Council reviews new capital requests

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Van Wert City Council had a quick, and largely uneventful, meeting on Monday evening.

Council President Ken Mengerink provided an update on Mayor Don Farmer, who had open-heart surgery last week, noting he was doing well, but adding that the mayor won’t be released from Lima Memorial Hospital until Wednesday.

Safety-Service Director Jay Fleming also noted that the mayor was doing well, while also updating Council on the various activities of city departments.

Fleming provided an update on the street paving project, and also noted that leaf pick-up would begin Monday, November 3. Leaves must be placed in a not-more-than 40-gallon bag and must not be raked into the street.

The safety-service director also noted that the dock at the third city reservoir has been removed for the winter.

Also Monday, Mengerink provided Council with an update on the hiring of an economic development program director to replace Darlene Myers. Mengerink said Ohio State University-Extension received 24 applications for the position, but has now culled the number to the five finalists who will be interviewed here in Van Wert next week.

City Law Director John Hatcher also reported on enforcement efforts against those who either did not file a city income tax return for 2013, or failed to pay income taxes owed, noting that a number of people have settled with the city.

Council’s one piece of completed legislation was a measure that provides information on what services the city would provide to a 1.766-acre plot of land owned by Van Wert Farming LLC, which is seeking to have it annexed into the city.

Prior to the regular Council meeting, the Finance Committee met with Fire Chief Jim Steele and Police Chief Joel Hammond to discuss capital purchases the two plan to make for the coming year. The biggest purchase is a $600,000 ladder truck that will replace a vehicle that is 25 years old, while the police chief is requesting replacement of three cruisers.

Council members had no objections to the purchases, and the city’s temporary appropriations legislation was also given a first reading on Monday.

First Ward Councilman John Marshall, who is recovering from treatment for cancer, was excused from the meeting.