Port Washington Council approves pay raises
At the Jan. 17 meeting of Port Washington Council, the finance committee recommended four pay raises for village employees.
Council approved the following raises:
—Tax administrator will increase from $18 to $20 per hour.
—Village Hall cleaning person wages will increase from $13 to $14 per hour.
—Fiscal officer wages will increase from $1,000 to $1,200 per month.
—Street commissioner wages will increase from $800 to $900 per month.
Council also narrowly approved the purchase of a utility vehicle for use by the street department. Mayor Tom Garner explained the difficulties of getting into the cemetery and park to perform cleanup tasks. He said the John Deere Gator also would help in maintaining other areas of the village.
The cost of $23,187 was approved by three council members, with Nate Penrod, Brandie Bourne and John Little voting no. The tie was broken by Garner’s affirmative vote.
In other business matters, council approved the purchase of two police body cameras from the Sugarcreek Police Department at a cost of $500.
Council also approved three pieces of legislation. An ordinance and a resolution were passed allowing the village to proceed with placing a levy on the May 2 ballot to increase the municipal income tax rate from 1.5% to 2%. The additional revenue will be appropriated to street paving and maintenance.
Another resolution was passed to submit the cemetery renewal levee to the board of elections for inclusion on the May ballot. The .6 mill levy generates $2,804 annually and represents no tax increase to residents. Funds from the levy are used to maintain Union Cemetery.
It was announced the next fire department breakfast will be held Feb. 11 from 8-11 a.m., weather permitting.
Public meeting
Prior to the regular meeting of council that evening, several residents attended a public meeting to discuss the proposed sidewalk projects. Erin Wright from The Thrasher Group and Kevin Buettner from Ohio Mid-East Governments Association presented details of the project including the timeline and financing.
The Thrasher Group is handling the TAP Funding through the Ohio Department of Transportation. OMEGA is assisting with funding from the Safe School Route to School that was proposed a couple of years ago in the Indian Valley School System. The total project is estimated at $1,017,000.
Once the TAP application is approved, ODOT will walk the route and determine on which side of each street the sidewalks will be installed.
The project is to be complete in 2025.
Proposed streets receiving sidewalks are as follows:
—Main Street from Glasgow Road to Salem Township Road 628, both sides.
—School Street (East Main Street to Arch Street).
—Arch Street (School Street to North St. Clairsville Road).
—North St. Clairsville Road (Arch Street to East Main Street).
—St. Clairsville Road (West Main Street to the alley behind Village Hall).
Port Washington Council meets on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. in Village Hall.