By: Jesse Davis
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jesse@thevillagereporter.com
The Village of Delta could be declared in a state of fiscal distress following the completion of an audit by the office of the Ohio Auditor of State, according to Delta Finance Director Joanne Clapp.
Clapp told members of the Delta Village Council during their most recent meeting that she had heard from the office that they “may go into fiscal distress when the audit is complete.”
“There is no money missing that we are aware of, it’s just been misappropriated into the funds,” Clapp said, later adding “that’s all I can disclose at this time.”
The Ohio auditor’s website states that “Fiscal distress is a legislative tool used to identify financial problems early and provide support to entities in need.
Ohio’s fiscal distress system began in 1979 with the passage of the original municipal fiscal emergency law, created in response to a financial crisis in the city of Cleveland.
Since then, financial planning and supervision commissions have helped more than 50 Ohio local governments that were declared to be in fiscal emergency.”
According to the website, there are three levels of fiscal distress — fiscal caution, fiscal watch and fiscal emergency. A caution is triggered when there are general issues caught early and requires them to be corrected before they worsen, a watch is triggered when accounts payable are more than 30 days past due or there are significant deficits, and an emergency is triggered by significant deficits, unpaid bills and defaults on debt or payroll/benefit payments.
SEWER RATE INCREASE
Council members approved on second reading an ordinance reorganizing and increasing sewer fees. Included among the rate changes are inside minimum fees peaking at $31.88 for residential users, $71.73 for commercial users and $191.27 for industrial users, and outside fees peaking at $35.86 for residential users, $131.71 for commercial users and $351.24 for industrial users.
Law Director Kevin Heban responded to a question posed by Councilman Kyle Comers at the prior meeting, confirming council can set an additional, higher industrial rate for the heaviest users so long as they could provide a legitimate justification for the rate. Comers also cast the sole dissenting vote on the ordinance’s passage.
OTHER BUSINESS
Council members approved on an emergency basis the village’s participation in the Ohio Department of Transportation’s road salt contract.
Council members approved on second reading an ordinance authorizing the mayor to sign an agreement for the Regional Income Tax Agency — which is a governmental agency and not a private business — to administer the village’s income tax program. Comers cast the sole dissenting vote.
Council members approved on second reading an ordinance authorizing the sale as surplus of unneeded village property.
Clapp reported 2027 capital improvement project plans needed to be submitted to her by May 4 to be able to make submissions required under state law.
Interim Village Administrator Samuel Chappell reported soil samples will be taken at the park to test for lead on April 23.
Chappell reported a ribbon cutting will be held at the new Love’s Travel Stop on May 12.
Chappell reported the village had been denied a grant for which it had applied in order to cover bulk trash pickup program costs. Council members gave their support to continue with this year’s pickup and then again every other year moving forward.
Chappell reported the village has applied for a grant to cover the cost of a new generator for the administration building and that the quote received for repair of the existing generator to make it usable in the meantime came in at just over $4,500.
The council ended regular business by going into executive session to discuss “disputes involving the public body.” No action was anticipated as a result of the session.
The next regular meeting of the Delta Village Council will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, May 4 at 401 Main St. in Delta.
