By Martha Jacob
The Sardinia Village Council met in regular session June 10 which lasted about 45 minutes.
A former village employee, Roger Fist spoke briefly at the meeting regarding his Medicare benefits.
According to Sardinia fiscal officer, Karen Miller, Mr. Fist worked for the village between 1985 and 2001,
“When Mr. Fist was hired in 1985, Medicare was optional,” Miller explained. “Then in 1987 it became mandatory to pick up Medicare, and he was already grandfathered in and he didn’t opt to take the Medicare. So because he never paid into Medicare he is without insurance.”
Miller said she plans on pulling all the necessary paper work to give to Mr. Fist. Council took no action on the issue.
Council then spoke at length about the three new street lamps now installed in the village.
Currently the three installed lights are set up in a row, but the street light directly across from the post office needs to be moved from where it has been set because it sets too close to the curb and there is fear that it could be hit. There are still two lights to be installed.
“Council would really like to purchase at least five more of the decorative street lights for Main Street,” Miller said, “but since we purchased the first lights five years ago, the price has gone from five for $2,000 up to three for $1,900 and that’s a big jump. So we’re searching for other options and going to shop around.”
Council is looking into purchasing a new police cruiser. Two of the newer cruisers will be paid off this year, so the police department is hoping to continue upgrading its vehicles and equipment.
The department has a total of four cruisers, but two of them are extremely old and need replaced.
“We’re trying to keep our equipment where it needs to be,” Miller said. “So we’re looking into possibly getting an SUV for the department.”
Council is in the early stages of getting state bids and Sardinia Police Chief Jim Lewis is researching the best cost for the village.
Day shift officers will be using the vehicle. Chief Lewis is working with Tim Lally Chevrolet in Warrensville Heights for the purchase of a new SUV at a cost of $44,246 (state bid) which is complete with the exception of radios and radar equipment.
Council plans to get all information before approving the purchase be it by lease, loan or purchase. It will be discussed further.
During the economic development portion of the meeting council discussed re-adjusting and revising the Zoning Ordinance which was similar to the one from the Village of Georgetown. It needs to cover special issues in Sardinia.
Council has also discovered that the Old Miracle Gas Station is owned by Adams County Land Bank and the property taxes of $571 is due and the village continues to get the bill.
“Actually the Adams County Land Bank should be exempt from the property tax,” Miller said, “The property will eventually transferred back to the village, but Brown County says the village has to pay the taxes, even though they were tax exempt and so is the village.
Village solicitor Tom Mayes is working on obtaining the exemption.
Miller added that the next round of funding to have the old building torn down should be approved by July 1, 2019.
Council passed a resolution accepting rates as determined by the budget commission and a resolution to move forward on getting a 5 mill continuous street levy on the November ballot this year.
Council discussed at length how to promote the levy and help people understand just how necessary the levy is for the residents of the village. This will mark the third time the levy has appeared on the ballot.