Barnesville council debates police levy, approves down payment on ladder truck

BARNESVILLE -- Village leaders last week debated placing a levy on the November ballot that would be used to fund raises for police department personnel.

Village Solicitor Adam Myser read a resolution he had prepared at the request of Police Chief Rocky Sirianni, explaining that it was the first of two resolutions that would be required to place a 1.5-mill levy on the Nov. 7 ballot.

In response to questions from Councilman Brian Yarnall, Sirianni said the five-year levy would be used for "payscale increases for police department members" that would amount to $5 an hour increases for full-time officers, $2 hourly increases for dispatchers and unspecified raises for part-time officers.

Sirianni had reminded council as recently as the June 5 council meeting that he was still short two officers and that he felt their current pay scale was not high enough to attract the limited number of cadets completing their academy training.

Councilman Steve Hill expressed concern that placement of a police levy on the ballot could be detrimental to passage of the 0.5-mill replacement fire department levy that council had just approved placing before the voters.

When Hill proposed that Warren Township should help with a police levy of its own since Barnesville officers have constable status in the township, township Trustee James Greer said that while he wasn't against the township helping, he wouldn't risk its own fire and road levies with a police levy at this time.

Sirianni said calls for service and investigations in Warren Township are handled by the Belmont County Sheriff's Department and that the village's agreement with the township is a matter of convenience.

Councilman Tim McKelvey said he didn't think the police levy would affect the fire department levy and a motion to proceed was eventually made, with Council President Les Tickhill and Councilman Terry McCort joining McKelvey with "yes" votes while Hill and Yarnall voted "no." Councilman Tony Johnson was absent from Monday's meeting.

Yarnall stressed to Sirianni that he fully supports the police department.

"But I can't see at this time, with the way the economy is, adding more expenses to the residents on their property taxes," Yarnall said.

Officials said they would expect the proposed levy to generate more than $100,000, based on other levies already in place; however, the vote to move forward will send information about the measure to the Belmont County Auditor's Office, which will certify an official amount to be generated. Council will have to vote again to place the levy on the ballot once the measure comes back from the county auditor.

Fire Chief Tim Hall told council that the department has an opportunity to purchase Wintersville's 2012 ladder truck for $600,000, noting that the price of a new one would be around $1.2 million.

"I guess what I'm asking for is for you guys to front the money and we'll pay you back like we've done in the past," Hall said. "If I didn't think we needed it, I wouldn't be in here asking. You guys have always been really good about keeping our equipment updated."

Hall said in order to get the truck, he needed council to approve a $20,000 down payment to hold the truck until Wintersville gets its new truck early next year. Fiscal Officer Jeannie Hannahs and Hall confirmed that the last truck purchases had been paid off in full before council voted unanimously to approve making the down payment.

Hall also expressed his pride and appreciation for the fire and EMS departments for their work while extricating a man from a truck accident the previous evening.

"From the time they started to the time the patient was in the back of the squad was seven minutes. They looked like a bunch of bees," Hall said.

Hall also thanked Mayor Dale Bunting and everyone who attended the service for former Fire Chief Bob Smith, who died July 3.

A resident addressed council to express his concern about speeding and reckless driving on Gardner Street.

Village Administrator Roger Deal said the arrival of the much-delayed pump house for the Slope Creek Waterline is imminent.

"It won't be long until we'll be able to flip the switch," Deal said.

Deal and Hill discussed an issue regarding why this month's water bills were late to arrive. Deal said they had been sent out prior to the July 4 holiday and he thought about half of them seemed to arrive on time, while the rest have been "filtering in" over the past few days.

McCort proposed that the village come up with a loan program for village businesses similar to the sidewalk loan program where the village would have money available to loan at low or zero interest for businesses who want to make improvements.

The idea was met with general agreement but tabled for further discussion at another time.

Hannahs informed council that the village is facing an 18% increase in rates for employee health insurance through The Health Plan and, as a result, the broker is looking for other options ahead of the Sept. 1 deadline.

The building permits for the demolition of village-owned buildings at 106, 108 and 112 N. Chestnut St. were approved by council, with Hill and Yarnall both maintaining their opposition to the project with "no" votes.

Council unanimously approved building permits for Rumer Loudin to construct a daycare center at 821 E. Main St. and for China One Chinese Restaurant to construct a new roof over the entrance.

Those present also heard a presentation from Greg Wehr, representing Lifewise Academy, seeking support for the program that seeks "to reach unchurched students in public schools with the gospel through released time religious instruction." Similar programs have been established or are forming in St. Clairsville and Shadyside, prompting mixed reactions from the public.

Barnesville's next council meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. July 31 at the Municipal Building on Arch Street.