NEW POLICE VEHICLES … Delta Police Chief Robert Austin shows off one of two new Chevrolet Suburbans obtained by the department. The vehicles have upgraded light systems, sirens that turn off automatically when the vehicle is put in park, and a new seatbelt setup to make placing arrestees in the back safer for officers. They also now have bars over the rear windows so they can be rolled down for the comfort and safety of arrestees while still keeping them secure.
By: Jesse Davis
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
The Delta Village Council passed a trio of financial housekeeping resolutions during its most recent meeting.
A pair of annual resolutions were passed on an emergency basis – meaning they only required a single hearing instead of three – due to their scheduled due date of October 1.
The first resolution provided the village’s agreement to its annual apportionment of the county’s Undivided Local Government Fund, at $88,900.26.
The second resolution accepted the amounts and rates of a general fund tax levy outside the 10 mill limit as well as tax levies for the park, police, and pool funds. According to state law, any levies in excess of 10 mills ($10 for each $1,000 of assessed property value) require a vote.
A general fund levy of 2.8 mills was accepted, expecting to raise $155,353. Park fund levies of 1 and 0.5 mills were accepted and expected to raise $67,671. A police fund levy of 5 mills was accepted and expected to raise $234,440.
The pool fund levy – recently turned contentious among some residents due to the expected demolition of and potential rebuilding at another location of the Delta Pool facility – was approved at 1.25 mills, expected to raise $58,610. It was noted that if the council chooses to stop collecting the levy, it can still be removed despite passage of this resolution.
The council also voted on third reading to clear its books of certain unpaid income tax amounts, listing them as uncollectable.
OTHER BUSINESS
Council members voted to set Halloween Trick-or-Treating hours for 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, October 29. Police Chief Robert Austin agreed to reschedule his department’s Trunk-or-Treat event to the same day, from the hours of 5 to 7 p.m.
Delta resident Mark McQuillin raised a series of concerns related to what he called the “public image” of the village during the public comment period.
Among his concerns were what he called dangerously unmaintained sidewalks, uncontrolled posting of signs, and the failure of the village to plant two trees for every one tree taken down.
The next regular meeting of the Delta Village Council will be held at 5:30 p.m. on October 16.
Jesse can be reached at jesse@thevillagereporter.com