VW Council hears economic information

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Van Wert City Council heard some positive employment news and also approved legislation that would amend pre-tax pension payments for police and firefighters during a brief meeting held Monday in Council Chambers.

Mayor Don Farmer talked about the recent unemployment numbers, noting that, along with the county’s low 4.5 percent unemployment, workforce estimates had also increased to 14,400 people, bringing the workforce to within a few hundred people of where it was prior to the 2008 recession.

“So it is very encouraging news,” the mayor noted.

Safety-Service Director Jay Fleming noted that the city’s first brush pick-up of the summer would be this coming Monday, May 4. In addition, the safety-service director said barriers are up for the second phase of the West Main Street reconstruction project, which would run from Orchard Tree restaurant to the west city limits, with work likely beginning today.

In addition to approving resolutions related to pre-tax payments made by police and firefighters to the Police and Fire Pension Fund, City Council also approved a then-and-now certificate for $5,590.05 to pay for legal services contracted by the city.

Council President Ken Mengerink said he had received a copy of the pre-annexation agreement with Ridge Township related to acreage at the Jobs Ready Site north of Van Wert, and also received information on city liquor licensing.

The meeting, one of City Council’s briefest, lasted just under 16 minutes. The next meeting of Van Wert City Council will be at 7:30 p.m. Monday, May 11.