Council discusses ways to address budget shortfall

Council discusses ways to address budget shortfall
Lori Feeney

Mineral City Mayor Laurie Green, left, and fiscal officer Becky Carpenter brief council on an upcoming budget shortfall and need to increase revenue.

                        

Mineral City Mayor Laurie Green and members of village council discussed a $24,000 shortfall the village will have to face in the 2025 carryover amount. Fiscal officer Becky Carpenter told council that next year the budget will be tight.

Green explained to council there is no need to panic. “We’re talking about the carryover amount from last year, and it will be $24,000 less than we usually have in carryover funds. We’re not doing anything wrong. This is a trend that’s affecting everyone.”

Green said other municipalities in the county are facing the same situation. “The economy has crushed us, but we can’t do anything about the economy. Our biggest issue is figuring out how to increase revenue. We also need to figure out ways to decrease spending without harming our community.”

Green also said council needs to brainstorm ways to make up the loss of tax revenue now that the Mineral City Primary School has been torn down.

Green said when she attends the Ohio Municipal League conference next month, she intends to meet with representatives of the Mayor’s Partnership for Progress meeting in Cambridge to learn what grants are available and how they can be used.

“We’re going in the right direction, and we don’t want to do anything to reverse that,” Green said.

Green also thanked Carpenter and Darissa Lute, the previous fiscal officer, for the many hours they dedicated to develop the budget.

Green asked zoning inspector Sam Moore to explain what happened with the steps at the old school. Moore said when the sewer line was cut off, the sewer lateral line was dead center of the steps. Approval was given to remove the steps, which the village had hoped to keep, along with the pavement and sidewalk. The only thing that will not be removed is the playground equipment.

Reports to council

Carpenter said she paid the total bill for repairs to the digital library sign but said Friends of the Library had offered to pay half the cost. The invoiced amount was $4,000. The village owns the sign but shares it with the library.

Moore reported for the street committee that stop signs have been placed on Grant and Miners streets, where they intersect with High Street. Yellow and red flashing lights have been installed at the Grant Street intersection, but the flasher unit for the Miners Street intersection will not be delivered for about three weeks.

As fire chief, Moore reported on a house fire the week of Sept. 16 at the Josh and Jessica Dallas property on North High Street. According to Moore, the cause of the fire was electrical. Green said a fundraiser will be held at Vaughan’s Pub and Grill in Bolivar on Sunday, Oct. 27 from 1-6 p.m.

According to Green, the family had homeowner’s insurance, but it will take six months to a year until they receive help. In the meantime Green said what the family needs most is money. Cash donations can be made at GoFundMe by searching for Mineral City Fire Josh and Jess Dallas Family.

Moore also said the fire department’s food auction will take place Oct. 12. Doors will open at 2 p.m. with the auction beginning at 3 p.m.

In zoning Moore said cleanup notices were sent to three property owners on North Street and First Street, where one residence has a pile of trash outside. Green said she believes council needs to do a better job of promoting the next cleanup date, which will occur in the spring. Moore suggested going door to door and posting flyers.

Discussion took place on the following topics:

—Need to fill vacant seat on council left by Roy Burnham by mayoral appointment.

—Possibly asking Tusky Valley or Jackson art students to paint murals on local business and organization buildings.

Mineral City Council meets the second and fourth Thursday of each month at 5 p.m. at Village Hall. All meetings are open to the public.


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