Fort council seeks to renew levies (05/23/07)

FORT RECOVERY - Residents here will likely continue paying taxes that council members voted to renew on Monday.

Fort Village administrator Randy Diller said Tuesday that council approved the first reading of a resolution authorizing a five-year renewal of a 2.3 mill replacement levy for the village's general expenses fund and a 2.5 mill replacement levy for the village's street improvement fund.

The current five-year levy is set to expire at the end of the year.

"Village residents are already paying these (taxes)," Diller said Tuesday.

The general expense fund is used to pay for items such as the police department and to purchase street lighting. Money from the street improvement fund are used as a match for the village to apply for grants in addition to street improvements.

Diller said that one mill equals 10 cents for each $100 of evaluation on property taxes.

For example, a resident with a house worth $100,000 would pay property tax based on 35 percent or $35,000 of their market value. They would pay taxes towards the general expense fund totaling $2.30 for every $1,000 which would be figured by multiplying $2.30 by 35 which equals $80.50 in taxes, Diller said.

Also Monday, council members:

•Heard Diller report that bids for the street reconstruction project on George Street and Hickory Circle will be opened on May 31 and the construction contract is set to be awarded in July.

Village employees are currently replacing the water lines and making adjustments to the storm drains in these areas. Council members are currently seeking bids for reconstruction of the street including curbs and sidewalks, Diller said.

•Heard Diller report that the pool will open on Monday.

•Approved a transfer of cable service to Comcast from the village's current cable company Insight.

•Approved the second reading of an ordinance prohibiting outdoor furnaces. These furnaces burn wood, which heats water in order to heat a home. Diller said at the board's May 8 meeting that other area communities have had complaints from their residents due to the smoke the furnaces create and are talking about prohibiting them.

•Approved a second reading of an ordinance establishing a fiscal officer position. This position will be filled when current clerk-treasurer Janet McCain's term expires and she retires on March 31, 2008.

•Approved the transfer of $25,000 from income tax to water capital fund, $4,500 from the water revenue fund to the water debt fund and $3,500 from the income tax fund to the industrial park debt fund.[[In-content Ad]]