T—L Photo/JOSIE BURKHART Bellaire Volunteer Fire Department Assistant Fire Chief T.J. Bell discusses a levy that would keep the department operating while speaking to council.

BELLAIRE — Bellaire Village Council is considering a levy that would help keep the Bellaire Volunteer Fire Department operating and bring in more personal protective equipment.

The only resolution council discussed Thursday, 25–1118, requests that the Belmont County auditor certify the village’s total current tax valuation and the amount of revenue that would be generated by a 2–mill levy.

The levy would be intended to maintain fire apparatus, fire trucks, buildings and sites, appliances and maintenance of the lines of fire alarm systems and other related costs.

Councilwoman Janet Richardson asked, “So, what does this resolution do?”

Solicitor Paul Stecker explained the village will send the request to the auditor, who will determine how much money the village would generate through a 2–mill levy based on its current tax valuation. When the village gets that information back, then council members will vote on another resolution asking the Belmont County Board of Elections to put the additional levy on the ballot in November.

Bellaire VFD Assistant Chief T.J. Bell along with Capt. John Richards told council the details of the levy. Its purpose would be to help the village further support the fire department with spending on fire gear, personal protective equipment and to keep the department operating.

“It’s just to give us more of a cushion. It’s not like we’re trying to take more money from our taxpayers, but it’s more to protect and serve and help us better do that,” Bell said.

Estimates indicate the levy would generate $90,000 annually.

Council, including members Richardson, Mike Doyle, Elizabeth Dugmore, Bill Scmitt, Robert “Bubba” Kapral and Jerry Olack, approved the resolution.

Council also talked about a parking lot in the village where people have been getting ticketed and complaining about it.

Bellaire residents have been bringing concerns to council about receiving parking tickets at a lot near Union and 32nd streets, where people must pay to park. In recent years, the village didn’t enforce the paid parking, so residents got used to parking there for free.

Up until recently, the parking lot never had free spaces available. The village changed its layout to now allow at least 25 free spaces on the side of the lot closest to Ohio 7 to help with the need for additional parking in Bellaire, Richardson said.

Additional signs have been ordered, and the village is waiting for a date from the mayor about when the line and number painting for each permitted parking space will take place.

Richardson added the issues happened when the village didn’t appropriately notify the public.

“Once the parking lot is updated, signs posted, and lines and numbers painted, the village will provide a detailed announcement about the updates and management changes for the parking lot,” she said.

Police Chief J.J. Watson said the police department started enforcing parking tickets at the lot March 1. However, residents have been complaining they were not notified of the enforcement.

Watson said council had plenty of time to put the notice out on the village’s Facebook page and to let people know, and Doyle said the police department has been doing its job.

Watson then discussed his department report, stating the police department had two gun calls in March: the first, a replica gun taken from an 11–year–old child, and the second a 12–gauge shotgun taken from a 16–year–old from Indian Run Learning School.

The police department is also receiving a new cruiser, with Watson saying the 2024 Dodge Durango was ordered through Statewide.

Village Administrator Jay Binger told council he is waiting on bids for the Jefferson Street project, where there is a vacant lot that residents would like to see paved.

Council then discussed the problem of drivers in the village continually making U–turns, which could cause accidents. Dugmore emphasized no U–turns are allowed anywhere in the village, and people need to stop doing it. Watson said police cruisers are always out, and because it is illegal to do so, people do and will get pulled over and cited if caught doing a U–turn.

Council also emphasized there is a burn ban right now in Ohio, and people cannot burn from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. until May. This law is in place during the spring because there usually is an abundance of dry grass, weeds and leaves on the ground with low humidity at this time of year.

If someone causes a fire in the village from burning, they can be criminally charged with a fine of up to $1,000 and up to 60 days in jail, according to a village ordinance.

The Bellaire Business Alliance Group asked the village to look into diagonal parking on Belmont Street. Richardson said the BBA wants the parking from Crescent Street in the next block north of Belmont Street and 34th and 35th streets. Richardson said she and her team went to Chadan Engineering in St. Clairsville to get an estimate of what it would cost and made calculations and design drawings for the diagonal parking and appropriate siting of Americans with Disabilities Act handicapped parking. The quote came back at $15,500. Richardson said Olack suggested the village remove diagonal parking for 34th and 35th streets and to just do Belmont Street.

Richardson wanted people to know what the quote came in at and that the village is working on it.

“Because we always get this notion that we’re not working on anything,” she said. “But we are working.”

Council discussed whether the village should stick to just Belmont Street or add the others for the diagonal parking. Many members thought it was best to keep the diagonal parking limited to Belmont Street.

The personnel committee will meet at 10 a.m. today in the council chambers at the municipal building, located at 3197 Belmont St.

Council entered into a closed–door session for litigation purposes.