Greenfield’s 2017 budget for nearly $5 million, which had previously been delayed due to awaiting the completion of a state audit, was approved by council members on Wednesday.
A temporary budget of $2.01 million was approved in December for the first quarter of 2017. As reported previously, the village in December had to pass a temporary budget until the state completed an audit.
At that time Greenfield Finance Director Carolyn Snodgrass told The Times-Gazette that, typically, the audits are done every two years, but because the village received more than $750,000 in federal money in 2015 for its multi-million dollar railroad project, a single audit of that year was required and was to be completed by the state before April of this year.
According to the legislation passed by council members on Wednesday, the total budget is just shy of $5 million, including the general fund total for 2017 of $1.2 million and the non-general funds of $3.8 million.
The police department falls under the general fund and is appropriated $590,258. Also out of the general fund budget is $135,133 appropriated to city manager, which includes items like salaries, utilities, insurance, and contractual services; $67,000 for the city building; $67,679 appropriated to the income tax bureau; and $78,426 for miscellaneous appropriations which includes contractual services, insurance, and unemployment. The village council is also covered by the general fund ($38,877), as is the law director ($29,000).
Budget items covered under the non-general fund include $289,940 for the street fund, which includes things like salaries, insurance, and equipment expenses; $116,434 appropriated to the cemetery fund; $84,000 appropriated to the park fund; $750,000 to the water fund; $1.5 million to the sewer fund; and $254,880 appropriated to the railroad for utilities, contractual services, and operating expenses.
In other business, council members approved a number of ordinances that will allow the village to seek bids on paving projects that include parts of North Fifth Street, North Second Street, Lafayette Street and North Street, as well as the paving of roads within Mitchell Park and the Greenfield Cemetery.
Councilman Bob Bergstrom said the passage of the ordinances didn’t mean all the locations could be paved, but once bids are received the village will assess what can be accomplished financially.
Greenfield City Manager Ron Coffey provided council with last month’s police department report. According to the document, so far this year there have been 153 arrests versus 59 this time last year. Additional year-to-date statistics, along with last year’s numbers in parentheses, include: 55 (24) jail inmates, 759 (626) calls received and handled, and 57 (51) investigated offenses.
Coffey reported that the latest meeting in regard to the upcoming Hope Over Heroin event to be held at the Highland County Fairgrounds June 16-17 was focused on the formation of committees. He said the needed committees are alter workers, church recruitment, city of resources, food and beverage, fundraising, hospitality, marketing, post event, prayer/memorial march, prayer, and venue and logistics. Anyone interested in becoming involved can contact Coffey.
The next Hope Over Heroin meeting is scheduled to be held at Friel and Associates, 1020 Jefferson St., Greenfield, at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 28.
For information and updates, go to the Hope for Highland County Facebook page.
The city manager also reported that there was a recent meeting regarding preparations for a visit from Heritage Ohio and an assessment of downtown Greenfield. It is part of ongoing grassroots efforts geared toward the overall betterment of Greenfield.
Heritage Ohio officials will be making a visit to the village April 4-5 and making a public presentation on April 4 from 6-8 p.m. at the First Baptist Church, 250 Lafayette St., Coffey said.
According to its website, heritageohio.org, Heritage Ohio is “Ohio’s official historic preservation and Main Street organization.” The organization “fosters economic development and sustainability through preservation of historic buildings, revitalization of downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts, and promotion of cultural tourism.”
Anyone interested in assisting with the downtown assessment can call Phil Clyburn at 513-600-6555 or Shari Royse-Bellar at 937-981-3956.
Also reported by Coffey on Wednesday was that the village’s required lead mapping project is done and has been submitted to the EPA. The report can be viewed at www.epa.state.oh.us.
The person that has provided mowing services for Mitchell and Felson parks can no longer do so, Coffey said. An advertisement for quotes is posted on the village’s website, www.greenfieldohio.net. Specifications for the services are available at the city offices. The deadline for quotes is noon on March 28.
On another matter, recent confusion over the spelling of Lyndon, or Linden, Avenue was resolved by legislation passed by council members keeping the spelling as Lyndon as it appears currently on street signs.
The Greenfield Village Council meets in regular session the first and third Wednesday of every month at 7:30 p.m. in the council chambers on the first floor of the City Building. The meetings are open to the public. Anyone wishing to speak to council and be put on the agenda of a council meeting can call 937-981-3500.
