MARTINSBURG — When the Martinsburg Village Council met Monday evening, Tammy Cline of the Water Board proposed the village switch from paper checks to direct-deposited payments to village employees. There was much discussion about whether this would reduce expenses and mailing costs, or be inconvenient. Fiscal Officer Dedra Kidwell will begin the application process and research, and council made a resolution to set up an account at Park National Bank for the purpose of direct deposit.
Cline announced that water rates will go up in April, from $13 to $15 for the first 2,000 gallons, and to 25 cents per 100 gallons after that.
Councilwoman Matilda Neighbarger said the Parks and Recreation Fund received a $40 donation from her relatives in Fostoria, making the total $847.88. The next meeting of the Parks and Recreation Committee will be Monday at 7 p.m.
Mayor J.R. St. Clair told council that Public Entity Risk Services recently conducted its annual inspection of the village. Its recommendations were adding energy-absorbing ground cover to the playground surface, closing the S-hooks on the playground equipment and installing a fire extinguisher in the town hall. St. Clair said the inspector thanked the village for removing the old playground equipment. The mayor will research purchasing wood chips for ground cover.
Donna Johnson inquired about the status of the revised community center lease, and St. Clair and village solicitor John Ryerson replied that the lease is still in progress. Further clarification was made that those who sub-lease space from those who rent the community center must carry liability insurance, not the renters themselves.
Council discussed changes in lawn care and mowing of village property, and whether a new mower would be needed. St. Clair requested that these matters be decided before spring arrives.
There was discussion about why the Clay Township trustees are responsible for mowing the cemetery on Martinsburg Methodist Church property, but the village pays 40 percent of the cost. Council member Joe Black recalled a meeting several years ago during which that rate was decided on as a compromise between township and village.
Ryerson explained that when a graveyard is abandoned, the township is responsible for paying the maintenance. He said a cemetery association still holds title to the graveyard but has no funds, due to decreased burials there.
Of the long-ago meeting, he said, “It was a compromise just to take care of the situation. It was never intended to be permanent.”
St. Clair will speak with the trustees and see how the matter may be resolved. He added that a township can levy a tax to pay for cemetery maintenance, but a village cannot.
“The village should be out of it completely,” said Black.
St. Clair announced that the third annual National Day of the American Cowboy Parade will take place July 26. He asked that a committee be formed to organize the event.
St. Clair told council that in the November 2007 election, the matter of renewing the village’s existing 5-mill levy garnered 53 votes, 32 for and 21 against. The township-wide vote on whether to approve the Marathon beer ordinance had 362 votes, 219 for and 143 against.
St. Clair told council he will take old, stored metal signs belonging to the village to the recycling center and ask the center to issue a check to the village.
Councilwoman Ginnie Davis asked if street signs could have added notation of the house numbers in each direction; St. Clair will check into this.
Council expressed some concern about village finances and Stacy Swanson asked whether, should it became necessary, she could refuse her paycheck from the village. Ryerson said no, but that she could donate it back.
St. Clair listed some of the major one-time expenses with which the village was confronted in 2007.
“I don’t think [funding] will be a problem this year,” he said.
The next council meeting will be Monday, March 3, at 7 p.m. in town hall.
