At the February meeting of Zoar Village Council, Mayor Tom Klingaman told council members he had met with Tuscarawas County Auditor Larry Lindberg to have the levy certified for the August ballot. In December council approved putting a replacement levy on the ballot but had not decided whether to place it on the May or August ballot.
Klingaman said Lindberg recommended placing the levy on the August ballot. Since 2003 funding for village operations has been coming from a 2.3 mill general levy renewable every five years. Rather than renewing that levy, the village will place a continuing replacement levy on the August ballot that will collect at the same millage.
According to Klingaman, the replacement levy will generate about $5,000 more than the previous levy, which was generating about $32,000.
Fire contract presented
Ann Ackerman, fiscal officer for Lawrence Township, presented an annual contract for fire and EMS service with the Bolivar Fire Department through the township. Council asked for time to review the contract before signing.
Reports to council
David Irwin, street commissioner, said six street lights that were out have been replaced with LED lights. He also said the shoes for the snowplow are being repaired at Buckeye Career Center.
Irwin asked Village Solicitor Doug Frautschy for an update on village efforts to detach the section of Dover-Zoar Road that runs along the top of the Zoar Levee. Frautschy said there has been a change in personnel at the Army Corps of Engineers that is holding up progress, as is the fact the county maps and the Army Corps maps did not match.
David Gannon, safety committee chair, asked if the planning commission had moved forward with adapting a building code to address abandoned properties after meeting with representatives from Pittsburgh.
Klingaman said he learned the methods used in Pennsylvania cannot be applied to Zoar because Pennsylvania is a commonwealth and Ohio is a state. Frautschy said the zoning ordinances already in place are enough to allow action against owners who have abandoned property; they simply need to be enforced.
Council learned it will cost $6,200 to repair or replace the damaged guard rail where Dover-Zoar Road meets state Route 212.
Legislation
Council voted on the following measures:
—To renew a contract with Patrick Eddy for mowing in the village at a cost of $950 per month during the mowing season.
—To extend the contract with the Bolivar Police Department for police protection through 2025 at a new rate of $40 per hour.
—To renew the appointment of Frautschy as village solicitor for a period of two years, from March 1, 2025, to Feb. 28, 2027.
Zoar Village Council meets the second Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. in the Zoar Village Hall and Event Center meeting room at 190 Fifth St. All council sessions are open to the public.
