POWHATAN POINT — Village Council acted to fill a vacancy in the police department and to formalize pay rates for emergency medical personnel this week and also approved the 2018 revenue budget.

The budget was approved showing $401,427 in the general fund and $135,327 in the fire and emergency fund.

Police Chief Rob Rea reported that Patrolman Chase Matthews recently resigned. On recommendation of Mayor Jeff Haught, part-time Officer Tristan Clegg was promoted to full-time pending a physical examination, as recommended by Rea.

Chase resigned because he is moving out of the Ohio Valley area.

Josh Cooper, assistant fire chief, submitted an application from Pamela Ferrell to join the fire and emergency staff. According to Cooper she is a paramedic and has passed her mandatory physical examination. Council looked over the application and, on a motion by Council President Pro-tem Brady Dierkes, she was hired on a 6-0 vote. Ferrell is a resident of Martins Ferry.

Councilman Jerry Binni noted that official action should be taken on the rate of pay for EMS personnel. Following a short discussion and a motion by Councilman Rob Caldwell, council set the rate for drivers at $9 per hour and for EMTs and paramedics at $10.50 per hour.

In another matter concerning emergency medical calls, members of the OR&W Fire District Board attended the meeting to discuss billing matters in general and a number of unpaid bills in particular. Attending the session were Gregg Warren, board chairman; John Shaver, assistant chief; board member Bill Shepherd and attorney Gerald P. Duff.

Warren noted the board’s position on the billing issue. Each run is subject to a charge, whether or not the person calling for an emergency vehicle is transported.

Council’s position is that a non-transport should not be billed to the village but to the caller/village resident. Several bills have been sent to the village and remain unpaid. Councilman Jerry Binni noted he has not seen an agreement saying the village would pay for non-transports.

Shaver said the Shadyside squad (OR&W) is spending a lot of time coming to Powhatan.

“People from our area are coming to help your area. That’s what we do …” said Shaver. “I feel a moral obligation to come down.”

According to Shaver there has always been a billing for EMT and paramedic services. Binni agreed, but said he’d never seen, until recently, a bill for a non-transport.

Following discussion, Solicitor Charlie Bean said he would draft an ordinance concerning transports with medic-assist per past practices.

Clerk-Treasurer Lisa Armann-Blue reported she received a new state computer. She said the old computer has been wiped clean of information and asked what council wanted to do with it. She suggested it be donated to another department. It was agreed the computer and associated printer will be donated to the fire department. A VFD representative mentioned that “a ton of training” is available via computer classes.

Dierkes reported he spoke with Katherine Kelich of the Belmont County land bank program and said Powhatan is on the list to be granted funding through that program. He suggested the village update its information on blighted properties.

The Belmont County Land Reutilization Corp. is referred to as a “land bank.” Since its inception in 2014, the goal of the organization has been to acquire, rehabilitate and demolish structures on real property in an effort to foster economic development and neighborhood revitalization. Kelich, long-time board member and Belmont County treasurer, is chairwoman.

Powhatan officials will add the burned-out First Naitonal Bank building to the list of structures within the village to be razed.