BARNESVILLE — Village Council passed an ordinance allowing the Regional Income Tax Agency to administer the communityás income tax beginning in 2018.

Village Solicitor Marlin Harper introduced the legislation, saying it would allow the mayor and fiscal officer to enter an agreement with the Regional Council of Governments, which effectively caused the village to join RITA. He added that there was a complex formula to calculate the final cost of the service to the village, but that the agency would retain up to 5 percent of what it collects and then reconcile the final cost with the village at the end of the year.

Councilman Terry McCort asked what the village would be gaining to justify paying for the service.

Community Development Director Bill Knox answered that with the cost came an expectation that the service will âmore than pay for itself, as they have proven themselves over and over again with almost 300 communities in the state of Ohio.ã Knox added that it was important to get the ordinance passed immediately due to the âinordinate amount of work involved in the conversion,ã which would allow the agency to take tax records for the previous three years from the village to better enable it to begin administering the tax.

Council President Tim McKelvey asked if there would be any cost this year to the village for joining the service now; Knox assured him there would not. Council voted 5-1 to adopt the ordinance with McCort voting against it.

In other matters, Mayor Dale Bunting made a proclamation recognizing the 100th anniversary of the Barnesville B&O Depot and citing its status as one of the last remaining train stations on the B&Oás Pittsburgh-to-Columbus main line. He pointed to its historical significance as the âfront doorã of Barnesville and surrounding communities.

He also cited the private-public partnership that supports the depot. When it was abandoned in 1986, Barnesville residents began a campaign to save the structure, raising more than $110,000 to purchase and begin restoration of the building and its grounds. Efforts eventually led to the addition of a caboose, the Roby Cigar Museum and the Depot Pavilion, where a weekly farmersá market is held each summer along with other events and attractions.

Village Administrator Roger Deal expressed appreciation to the Barnesville Memorial Park staff, Bunting and council for efforts that made the Independence Day weekend festivities a success again this year. Deal noted collections supporting the fireworks display were up this year and extended thanks to local businesses and the community for their support.

Bunting agreed, saying, âItás always a nice event. Youáve got the Beast of the East, youáve got the chamber of commerce doing all they do out there, and the park employees always work hard that weekend. A lot of people take a lot of pride in the park and it shows.ã

Bunting announced that the park had received a donation of $31,881.55 from the estate of Jo Ann Mott and said the village was thankful and would be looking for a way to honor her and her commitment to the park.

Deal announced that long-time water department employee Rick Truax retired effective June 30 after 28 years of service.

âHe was just invaluable. He took great pride in knowing the system and knowing about water treatment,ã Deal said.

Truax has been battling cancer recently, and fellow employees had donated their sick days to help him get to his retirement date despite his illness keeping him from working.

McKelvey asked about the status of three properties whose owners had been sent letters for being in violation of village ordinances and where the village stood legally regarding those properties.

Village Solicitor Marlin Harper said those had been turned over to him for legal action and that of all the alternatives, going through Belmont County Western Division Court was the most practical since it has the authority to enforce village ordinances.

McKelvey asked if there was a point at which the village could take over those properties, since he had seen no indication that progress would be made to improve them and they continue to deteriorate.

âI think itás a shame that we donát get after these people,ã he said.

Harper answered that filing liens and then foreclosing on the liens or declaring an emergency situation would be required, adding that the problem was widespread.

Councilman Tony Johnson agreed, citing an example of a property on East Main Street that took two years to see action.

In other business, council approved paying bills in the amount of $51,364.49 and approved the 2018 budget to be submitted to Belmont County. Members also approved building permits for Matthew and Melissa Schultz to build a new garage at 601 N. Chestnut St., Scott Whitacre to demolish a trailer at 397 Park St., Paul Tisher to demolish a house at 204 North St., Angie Heskett to demolish a house at 520 S. Highland Ave., Denny Starr to demolish a garage at 309 S. Gardner St., and Home Pizza to change its porch roof from asphalt to metal.