Cadiz council considers contractor fee

Zoning Enforcement Officer and former Cadiz Council member, John Vermillion asked council to look into charging a $75 fee for all contractors doing work within the village, whether it’s private work or not. The fee would be for one year and he noted that other villages are beginning to do this as well.

“I think that’s something we need to look into,” Vermillion said, adding that they will know who is working in the village, what kind of work and for how long. A motion was made and approved to proceed further placing it in the hands of Village Solicitor Chuck Kidder to begin the paperwork.

Regarding general permits he said that the business will receive an “an actual permit approval” instead of just a permit. He said there has also been changes to the warning tags, which lists dangerous dwellings, notice to cut weeks, grass, brush and/or remove litter, as wells for expired or unlawful license plates.

“They’re more suited to what we actually go through,” Vermillion said.

Vermillion also said he went over several properties with Kidder that needed to be addressed. Those properties include three on East Market Street and one on West Warren Street. 

Also, Village Administrator Brandon Ludwig talked about equipment updates taken place over the past several years, which included some prices he provided on a one-ton dump truck. He was concerned over the 21 year-old truck in their possession now and how much it can be pushed with the snowstorm that was on the way. 

“Talking to them and they kind of want to downsize with a one-ton dump truck instead of an International 4300,” Ludwig said. “I think it’s something that’s highly needed, especially for snow removal.” 

He said by selling what they have and buying the one-ton truck, it would come to around $40,000 cheaper for the village. He said there was no timeline for when they would get the truck but they have been scoping several different lots for one. Council approved for making the move to buy a one-ton truck.

It was also noted that two police cruisers “are wrecked,” according to Council member Albert Peters. One of the vehicles is a K-9 unit but Mayor R. Kevin Jones said he wasn’t sure if the car was totaled but it has accumulated high mileage. He gave the green light to begin looking for another one but to match the same vehicle years in order to use the same equipment on the new one in hopes to save money. He said the other vehicle with damage is still being used. 

Council member Alice Barr said she would like to work with some of the high school students to look at the village’s app and website. She felt an upgrade could make it “a little more user friendly.

“I think it’s good but I feel like it could do more for us to kind of get the transparency out there to everybody,” Barr said. 

The next Cadiz council meeting is scheduled for Feb. 12 at 7 p.m.