Hartville Village Council discusses 10-year road repair plan and how to pay for it

The Repository
·2 min read

Hartville Village Council

Monday meeting

KEY ACTION: Discussed a 10-year plan for road repair and paving.

DISCUSSION: Village Engineer Sam Awadallah estimated it will cost between $7 million and $10 million to repair the entire 17 miles of roads in the village over the 10-year period. Councilman Jim Sullivan noted that since the average lifespan of a road is 10 years, the process would begin again at that time. Awadallah said the estimates are based on current costs and the outline is preliminary. “We had to start with something to figure out what are the numbers,” Awadallah said.

Councilman Frank Gant asked about options to finance such a plan, including a property tax, income tax or loan. Mayor Cynthia Billings said taking out a loan for roadwork is not advisable due to the temporary nature of the repairs, and Fiscal Officer Scott Varney said a property tax would not be possible since “over 10 mills” would be needed. Varney said a 0.5% income tax increase – including those who live in Hartville and work outside the township and are thereby exempted from paying the 1% village income tax – would generate just over $1 million per year.

OTHER ACTION:

  • Elected Jim Sullivan council president for 2023.

  • Sullivan named 2023 committee assignments with Frank Gant, Shari Chambers and Tim Hayden on the commerce committee; Bev Green, Hayden and Jim Sullivan on the finance committee; Chambers, Gant and Steve Reisch on the personnel committee; Gant, Green and Reisch on the parks and recreation committee; and Hayden, Reisch and Sullivan on the safety committee, with the planning and sewer rates committees still to be filled.

  • Amended the village salary and wage ordinance to change the police chief wage to a range instead of a set amount and adding a section related to overtime pay and a required quarterly review.

UP NEXT: Meets for its next regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 23 at Village Hall, 202 W. Maple St. and online at www.facebook.com/VillageofHartville.

Brian Lisik

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Hartville Village Council discusses 10-year road-repair plan