Council prepares speed limit legislation

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Van Wert City Council moved forward on a contract with the newly formed city-county economic development group, and began the process of changing speed limits on three local thoroughfares during Monday night’s meeting.

Economic Development Committee Chair Jon Tomlinson talked about some of the things the committee would like to see from the new combined economic development group, including an annual profit-and-loss statement, an annual audit, and similar language in the city’s contract with the entity as was in the contract with the Ohio State University Extension Service.

City Auditor Martha Balyeat said she thinks the group’s fiscal officer should also be bonded, such as is required for city auditors, while Tomlinson said the group should have an errors and omissions policy — “malpractice” insurance — to provide additional financial protection for the city.

Since most of the funding for the group is public tax money, the new development group should also meet “Sunshine Law” requirements for open meetings and other mandates provided by the Ohio Revised Code.

The committee has not yet come up with a determination of how much money the city would contribute to the new economic development group, but discussed using a specific dollar amount or percentage of the Hotel-Motel Tax.

Tomlinson said that, while other entities, such as Main Street Van Wert, could receive funding from the tax fund, he feels the new economic development should be given priority for funds not specifically earmarked for the Van Wert Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.

“I think economic development is the most important entity to be using the Hotel-Motel Tax,” he told fellow Council members.

City Law Director John Hatcher will be drawing up a contract, which was ordered prepared on Monday, to be executed with the new city-county development group.

City Council also voted Monday to prepare ordinances upping the speed limit to 35 mph on a portion of Westwood Drive, from Ervin to Fox roads; to 35 mph on the 25 mph section of South Walnut Street from Ervin Road to Hospital Drive; and to 45 mph for the southbound section of North Franklin Street from Walmart to just past the U.S. 30 overpass.

The ordinances were prepared as emergency legislation, but will be read three times before passage to give local residents a chance to provide input.

Mayor Jerry Mazur said he was meeting with Safety-Service Director Jay Fleming, Police Chief Joel Hammond, and Bill Lawton of the city engineering department in an attempt to “put more teeth” in the city’s junk vehicle ordinance.

In his report, Fleming reminded Council that the next brush pick-up would be Monday, May 2, while also noting that South Washington Street, from Ervin Road to Fox Road, would be at least partially closed starting today.

“The barricades should be up by Tuesday morning,” Fleming said.

During her report to Council, Balyeat noted that income tax was up approximately $51,000 in March and noted that, while tax receipts are not fully up the 5 percent projected for the year to date, that figure was getting close.

A then-and-now certificate for more than $8,000 for the Van Wert County Engineering Department was also approved.

The next regularly scheduled meeting of Van Wert City Council will be at 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 25.