Trending
BELLAIRE -- Bellaire Village Council members want to create a business plan to improve the community.
Mike Doyle, councilman at large, said during a meeting Thursday that village officials need to put together an official, written business plan to draw in new businesses, help grow existing businesses and improve residential areas.
"What's our business plan? We need to get a plan of what we're going to do and how we're going to do it," he said.
Mayor Edward Marling said the village is working with the Belmont County Community Improvement Corp. and is looking to rehabilitate several properties in Bellaire.
"That's their plan. What's our plan? We're the ones wearing the boot. We can't wait on everyone else. What do we want? What are our goals?" Doyle said.
Councilman Robert "Bubba" Kapral said the village needs to get a group together to make a plan.
Marling suggested that council members and village officials could walk around the village and look for ideas on how to improve the village.
Clerk Mary Haglioizou suggested asking business owners and residents for their input when making a business plan.
She said she hopes economic improvements in the village would make the community friendlier.
"It can help us bring people that we want in the village instead of low-income people that cause trouble," she said.
Councilman Bill Schmitt said the village needs a variety of different businesses and activities for both residents and visitors.
"We need to create reasons to come here," Schmitt said.
Councilwoman Janet Richardson said the village needs funding to complete any major projects, and any business plan may be limited due to a lack of funding.
"We need to get investors interested," she said.
Marling said officials will sit down to form a business plan.
Richardson noted that she received information from Barnes and Thornburg, a business law firm based in Columbus, Ohio, with information about forming an alliance with other municipalities in Belmont County to bring economic growth into the county. She said the dues to join the alliance cost 25 cents per resident per month.
"That's $940 per month, and $11,400 a year. Of course we want to be involved in economic development, but the dues are pretty steep," she said.
"There's no guarantee that we'll get that money back," Marla Krupnik, fiscal officer, noted.
Richardson said she would like to meet with representatives from the law firm to see what other municipalities are participating and find out if the fees are negotiable.
Schmitt said he would like to hear what Barnes and Thornburg's plan is before paying the fees.
Richardson said she plans to get more information about the alliance before council makes a decision about whether to join.
In other news, Marling said the village is ready for the expected snowfall this weekend.
"Everything's ready for winter. We have two plows, and we're loaded and ready to go," he said.
He noted that road crews have run into some problems on West 23rd Street on top of the hill. He said a natural spring is causing water to run down the road, and the road has been icy on colder days recently.
He said crews plan to dig a ditch to redirect the water this coming spring, but until then, crews will put extra salt on the road.
Councilwoman Elizabeth Dugmore noted that the Bellaire Fire Department is a warming center. She said it is not included on the Belmont County Emergency Management Agency's list.
Haglioizou said she will contact the EMA to get the location added to the official list.
Police Chief J.J. Watson said the Bellaire Police Department assisted the Belmont County Drug Task Force with a search warrant on Jan. 12 at 1869 Belmont Street.
"We found drugs and cash, and one guy went to jail," Watson said.
Haglioizou also said that the new village employee handbook is about 95% done, and she will try to have it finished by the next meeting at 6 p.m. Feb. 1 in council chambers at the municipal building.
"I just want to make sure everything is up to date," she said.
Once the handbook is completed, she plans to let council members review it.
Village officials plan to hold a utility meeting at 10 a.m. Feb. 7. Village officials will also hold a personnel committee meeting at 10 a.m. Jan. 30.