City Beat

CITY BEAT

By George Murin
The Weekly Recorder
March 14, 2008

BY George Murin

Washington- City tax notices are now in the hands of the landowners of Washington. The few I’ve talked to are shocked as to the amount of increase. They did not realize that a hike of 30 mils on the full assessed value of their land was to raise that tax nearly 60%. (The old rate was 240 mils and the new rate is 82 mils. This means that 240 mils under the old assessment are equal only to 52 new mils and a raise of 30 mils under the new, is equal to a raise of 138 mils under the old rate.) The city is to explain this change in assessment value at a meeting on the 13 of March; I’ll cover this meeting next week.

The regular monthly council meeting held on March 6th lasted 25 minutes. The highlights of this meeting were as follows:

Council took action to allow the demolition of the buildings at 735 ½ Broad Street, 126 Poplar Avenue and 443-445 Donnan Avenue,

Approved the purchase of 25 pagers and new boots for the fire department,

Approved payment for the city solicitor in the amount of $4,179.75 for February,

Approve payment for much needed road salt and enter into a contract for the winter of 2008-2009 with
Costars,

Approve the purchase of 10 new wireless fire alarm boxes to be re-sold to businesses throughout the area. Council agreed that this has been a huge success and in the first year of operation 1/3 of the start up cost has been recouped. It should be paid off in three years, become a money maker for the city and provide a superior alarm system for local businesses.

Appoint Michael Behrens as interim Emergency Liaison with the county,

Held the first reading of Bill Number 8 of 2008, providing for the inspection and licensing of all rental units in the city. Mayor Spossey stated that the city has over 2,400 of these units in the city.

The mayor also reminded everyone of the fast approaching bi-centennial celebration of the city. “We are going to hold a press conference soon…asking for all those individuals who are interested…to make it work.”

The next agenda meeting will be held on March 27th at 9:30 a.m. and next regular council meeting will be held on April 3rd at Noon.