City Council hears victims agency request

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Van Wert City Council welcomed a new mayor and three new Council members during its first meeting of 2020 on Monday evening.

Prior to the meeting, Van Wert Municipal Court Judge Jill Straley administered the oath of office to the three new members — At-Large Councilman Jeff Kallas, Fourth Ward Councilman Andrew Davis, and Third Ward Councilman Steve Hellman. Mayor Ken Markward had already been given the oath by City Auditor Martha Balyeat.

Stacy Adam, executive director of the Van Wert Area Economic Development Corporation (VWAEDC), provided a summary of 2019’s economic development activity, noting that the community added a net of 180 jobs (723 jobs added over the last five years). She also noted that the county’s May unemployment rate (2.5 percent) was the lowest in nearly four decades.

Adam said the county also saw an increase in the labor force participation rate, which measures those ages 16-64 that are working or seeking work. The local participation rate increased from 64 percent in 2014 to 68 percent last year. That compares to the national participation rate of 62.7 percent, she noted.

Adam also said that city income tax gross receipts were up $184,000 in 2019 over the prior year, although December showed a decline in tax collections over 2018. She noted that the increase was in addition to a year-over-year increase of $351,000 in 2018 and a $325,000 YOY increase in 2017, and added that the city has collected an additional $1.86 million in gross income tax receipts since 2016 (which translates to an extra $108 million in earnings growth during that period).

And, although the county’s population is still shrinking, that decrease slowed over the last five years to 92 fewer people, versus 202 fewer people a year ago.

The Revolving Loan Fund has grown 45 percent, to $1.3 million, with more than $300,000 loaned out to local businesses in 2019. The county land bank has acquired 70 properties and completed 60 demolitions, while Adam said the program should reach a total of 80 properties by the time it ends in December of this year.

The economic development director also cited a number of positives from local companies, as well as establishment of a Property Accessed Clean Energy (PACE) district, which provides tax incentives for energy efficiency projects. As was noted earlier in the independent, houses are also starting to be built in The Landing at Dickinson Farms subdivision.

“I appreciate the opportunity to serve as the director, thank the Council for your financial and legislative support, and commit to continue to work together with business and our economic development partners to increase the economic potential of our community and improve quality of life in Van Wert,” Adam concluded.

Also attending Council was local Crimes Victims Services Director Christine Eversole, along with David Voth, director of the Allen-Putnam County crime victims’ agency, and Abby Hefflinger, an attorney in his office.

Voth noted that Van Wert’s victims’ program was understaffed, and also underfunded, adding that Van Wert’s Crime Victim Services agency had just half the staff of Putnam County, a similar-sized county, while making $4-6 an hour less than their counterparts in that county, with no benefits.

He also noted that, because of Marsy’s Law, an amendment to the Ohio Constitution, counties are required to provide victims their rights, which can be provided by the county prosecutor’s office or a non-profit organization.

Voth noted that, currently, only 80 of Ohio’s 88 counties provide rights to victims, but with the passage of Marsy’s Law, that will become a constitutional mandate for every county.

Noting that Van Wert County’s victims program, which is currently funded through the United Way and Van Wert County Foundation, is struggling to provide mandated victim rights, Voth added the local agency seeks funding from both the city and county that would allow it to be able to meet its victim rights duties, which it is unable to do at the present time.

City Council took the request under advisement.

Also Monday, Health-Service-Safety Committee Chair Bill Marshall noted that local trash haulers must renew their registration with the city to be able to provide trash collection services in Van Wert. That registration, which includes inspection of vehicles used to collect trash, must be completed by January 31.

Council also adopted an ordinance to take an age specification out of the city’s junk vehicle regulations.

A “then and now” certificate was also approved to pay for gasoline that was purchased by the city.

Council President Jon Tomlinson also reminded city dog owners that dogs must have leashes on them when outside, other than when in the local dog park. The reminder came after a report of a dog running loose in a city park.

The next meeting of Van Wert City Council will be at 6:30 p.m. Monday, January 27, in Council Chambers on the second floor of the Municipal Building, 515 E. Main St.