I MAY be in the minority, but I would have no problem paying $6 a month to help Bellaire escape its financial plight.

Village council’s latest attempt to generate much-needed revenue for the All-American Town came in the form of a proposal to invoke a monthly safety fee.

Bellaire is starved for operating funds. Should such a fee come to fruition and be imposed as said — that being to all village units — some $140,000 a year would be realized.

You can do a lot of things with $140,000, and Bellaire needs many things be done.

Of that amount, $70,000 would go to pay the annual fire service fee. That works for me.

That still leaves a large amount of money to alleviate other issues.

The main thrust of that money should be the police department. If council is not going to push for a 5-mill police levy, then such funding must be channeled to help an understaffed and overworked police force.

Hopefully, some additional funding would be left to be utilized for downtown beautification. Bellaire is a village in desperate need of revitalizing its business district.

Storefronts are lacking and a fresh facelift is needed. While a safety fee may not directly yield new downtown businesses, it could create money to brighten up Belmont and Guernsey streets.

But again, I have my doubts that a majority of Bellaire residents would sign off on such a fee.

FERRY WARNING

DOROTHY POWELL takes her job as Martins Ferry Chamber of Commerce executive director very seriously. It is a job she does very well, with assistance from trusted assistant Marian Klier.

Powell was looking to safeguard city businesses and residents when she contacted us Thursday afternoon, enlightening us on a company looking to sell tote bags in Martins Ferry with no benefit to the city.

While the deal was not illegal, it served no purpose for Ferrians to get on board. Powell exemplifies what chambers of commerce are all about.

BUBBA’S BITS

THE TEEPEE ice cream shop has been granted a permit from the state to serve alcohol by the glass. It is a decision not embraced by much of the West Bellaire community, including myself. West Bellaire is no place for a bar.

THE STATE Library of Ohio has OK’d $48,057 in Library Services and Technology Act funds for the Switzerland of Ohio School District. The grant runs now though Sept. 30, 2011. The funding will be used to automate the eight school library media centers in the district using SIRSI and link them to the INFOhio union catalog.

I COMMEND the Martins Ferry Lions Club for launching a Leos Club. It will serve as a great character enhancer for teens while also providing assistance to the city of Martins Ferry.

I FIND the regular season in Major League Baseball rather ho-hum, but very riveting once the playoffs kick in. Having a tripleheader on the television menu is a tasty treat, especially on a rainy Wednesday.

THE ELECTION is a little more than three weeks away. Unless you have already cast an early ballot, I stress that all voters need to educate themselves as much as possible.

They can do so, in part, by attending A Meet the Candidate Night on Tuesday, Oct. 19. from 6-8 p.m. at the Lansing Community Center, the former Lansing Elementary School, or one on Oct. 13 at the North Center of Belmont Technical College in Cadiz from 6-8 p.m.

THE UNIVERSITY of Rochester football team will be holding a reunion of its stellar 1970 football season this coming Saturday.

The 40-year get-together will pay tribute to the school’s outstanding 8-1 campaign. One of the standouts on that 1970 Rochester team was former Belmont County Assistant Prosecutor Bob Quirk.

The St. Clairsville resident was a standout junior wideout on that team. The Yellow Jackets’ lone blemish came at the hands of Mount Union. Mount’s quarterback was current head coach Larry Kehres while Dom Capers was the Purple Raiders’ defensive captain.

Quirk, whose son Adam was an all-state quarteback at?St.?Clairsville for Mark Bonar, was a Willoughby South High grid star.

THE?SHADYSIDE and Bridgeport Week 9 showdown is looming as the game of the year in the OVAC. Both unbeaten grid squads are just torturing their foes and have their respective sights set on a successful post-season, where they will likely meet again, with a regional title possibly on the line.

JOSE?DAVIS has done a brilliant job of resurrecting the Bellaire High grid fortunes. To be 5-2 after an opening-night beatdown at the hands of Wheeling Central is remarkable.

Kapral may be reached at bkapral@timesleader online.com