BELMONT — Village officials learned Wednesday that construction of a new firehouse should begin soon since the village was able to meet additional requirements to receive the federal funding for the project.

Village Solicitor T.J. Schultz did double duty during the scheduled meeting, taking the lead on financial agenda items as well as legal matters due to the absence of Fiscal Officer Ricky Burkhead.

Schultz informed council members that the village had been able to secure a letter of credit from Woodsfield Savings Bank for $405,000 to pay for possible cost overruns on the $4.5 million project, which seemed at risk just a month ago.

During the May meeting, council learned that the U.S. Department of Agriculture, through which the village was to receive $3.4 million in federal funding for the project, was not going to release those funds unless the village could show it could cover contingencies.

At that time, Village Fiscal Officer Ricky Burkhead had explained that the letter of credit was not a loan, per se, but was an official acknowledgement from a financial institution that the village was “good for it” should additional funds be needed.

It had been explained during the May meeting that the USDA funding amounted to 75% of the total project with the other 25% coming from the state.

After Schultz informed council about the letter of credit, fire Lt. Kaye Hall confirmed that the paperwork had already been submitted to and approved by the USDA, with council passing a motion to ratify the activity with Woodsfield Savings Bank since the relevant motion that had been passed during the May meeting pertained to doing business with WesBanco.

Hall explained that with the USDA’s approval, they were now in the pre-construction phase of the project, and that they would soon know when the actual construction would begin, noting that the contractor on the project was ready to move in and get started.

Meanwhile, council discussed two options for funding the police department, which members had voted to idle during the May meeting due to lack of funding.

Council previously discussed the possibility of placing a 3-mill levy on November’s ballot that would replace the current police levy that has been in place since the 1980s and brings in roughly $8,600 yearly.

Schultz said the proposed measure would bring in just over $21,000, adding that another option would be to keep the current levy in place while asking voters to approve an additional 2-mill levy, which would net the village a total of just over $22,000.

Both Councilwomen Sara Scott and Lorie Grob expressed concern about the “all or nothing” approach of the 3-mill option, with council eventually opting to table the matter until members could consult with Burkhead. Schultz noted that a special meeting might be needed to get the required resolutions passed before the August deadline.

Mayor Ron Woods said he had spoken with officials from Bethesda about their police department providing coverage in Belmont, but he had been told that was not possible at this time due to financing.

The Belmont County Sheriff’s Department provides police services in the village as needed.

Board of Public Affairs President Ken Davis informed council that village wells had produced 91% of the water used in the village last month and commended Service Director Kerry Kemp for the good work he has been doing, saying they had recently installed meters at the village wells that allow them to profile water usage and make adjustments to make the system more efficient.

Davis also said that they have been replacing customers’ water meters fairly frequently as they are reaching the end of their life expectancy.

Woods thanked everyone who made this year’s Memorial Day observance successful.

“I don’t think we could have been more proud as a village with how everything came together,” he said.

Council also approved hiring Brody McFarlane as a part-time seasonal employee for $12.50 per hour.

Belmont Village Council meets at 6 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month in the Stanley Sobel Village Offices on Brown Street.