Mount Vernon News

MARTINSBURG — When Martinsburg Village Council met Monday evening, Tammy Cline of the Water Board reported that the community hall had used 30,300 gallons of water recently and questioned the cause. Mayor J.R. St. Clair and council member Ginnie Davis said there had been a water line break and a faulty toilet at the center; both have been repaired.

Cline told council that of the 114 residents on the village water system, the bills of seven residents are 60 or more days in arrears. She asked council’s advice on how to handle the problem of renters not paying a $60 water deposit because water service had not been turned off when they move in, and said landlords prefer water not be turned off when renters vacate.

There was discussion of how to collect deposits from new renters and if landlords could collect deposits on behalf of the village. Cline will contact landlords for their feedback. She noted that water customers have noticed that the water board had tightened the reins on overdue bills and that the board is willing to shut them off, if necessary.

In answer to a question from John Ryerson, village solicitor, she said water board members are herself, Keith Glancy and Nola Veatch. They are not elected, thus they do not serve terms.

St. Clair said a committee to organize the third annual National Day of the American Cowboy Parade, scheduled for July 26, had been formed and the first meeting would be scheduled soon.

Thomas Welsh, a representative with Burnham & Flower Insurance Group of Blacklick, attended the meeting to introduce himself as the village’s new contact and to discuss its Public Entities Pool insurance policy. He explained the coverage and said the premium is due April 1. Fiscal officer Dedra Kidwell asked if it could be paid on April 7, when council next meets; Welsh agreed.

St. Clair told Welsh about two village-owned generators and a tornado siren, and asked about coverage. Welsh asked for documentation of the purchases, and St. Clair said he would research it.

As village records from 2006 and 2007 are being audited, St. Clair said he and Kidwell had spent so many hours on that project, he had been compelled to put on hold contacting the Martinsburg Methodist Church cemetery association about the village’s expenditure of $1,000 to $1,500 each month on mowing fees, and finding a contractor to snow-plow alleys. He said he will complete those tasks soon. He told council that, during the audit, 2006 records and the personnel file were found to be missing. He also noted that future audits will be easier now that computers are being used for record-keeping.

St. Clair said he is now president of the fire board and said his first concern is the safety of the firefighters.

St. Clair said a public entity risk services inspector requested that a fire extinguisher be installed in the town hall; he will research prices.

He told council he researched securing law enforcement protection for the village.

“And we can’t afford it,” he said.

However, a Knox County Sheriff’s deputy volunteered to demonstrate to interested parties how to set up a community block watch program. Council agreed and decided the meeting should be a public meeting, not part of a council meeting, and it should take place at the community center. Stacy Swanson was enlisted to make and hang fliers to announce the meeting.

Kidwell reported that the process to switch from paper checks to direct-deposited payments to village employees is in progress at the bank.

A Parks and Recreation Committee meeting was set for Monday at 7 p.m. in the town hall.