By CECILIA?FOX
Record Herald Writer
Courtesy of the Record Herald; Printed 9.23.12
TIPP CITY – Because of several construction projects beginning next year as well as unexpected costs and retirements, Tipp City Council members approved an ordinance rearranging the 2012 operating budget Monday night.
Due to mid-year wage and benefit increases, unexpected retirements in the street and finance departments, unanticipated fuel cost fluctuations, higher than expected costs for the fire station renovation, and capital improvement projects, the estimated revenue and appropriations have changed.
“Essentially we’re moving some money around in our budget for the fiscal year,” Councilman Mike McDermott said. “The list is pretty lengthy because we really did attempt to undertake a significant amount of capital improvement projects this year.”
Overall, both revenue and appropriation estimates are down approximately $3 million, mainly due to planned capital improvement projects. Since projects like the Downtown Utility Replacement project and the Main Street Lift Station Improvement project will not begin until next year, the grants and loans for those projects will not be received until 2013, and those expenses will not occur this year.
For example, the revenue estimate will increase $110,000 to account for higher than anticipated income tax revenue and Exit 69 project match monies, while decreasing by $1 million dollars in the Sewer Fund because the Main Street Lift Station Improvement project begins next year and the grants and loans for the project will be received when the project starts.
Estimated appropriations in the general fund have increased $87,500 due to wage increases, unanticipated retirements, and fuel costs, but decreased because money budgeted for construction projects beginning this year will not be spent this year.
Council also approved a new, more streamlined version of the city’s peddlers and solicitors ordinance. Whole sections have been removed, while two new sections have been added.
Following on the heels of a recent court case out of Englewood, Law Director David Caldwell excised portions of the ordinance that have been declared unconstitutional. Earlier this year, the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that an Englewood ordinance that put a curfew on door-to-door solicitors is unconstitutional.
Caldwell eliminated 10 sections of code dealing with licensing and permitted soliciting hours and added sections detailing where soliciting is prohibited and the penalties for violating the ordinance. At the Aug. 6 study session, Caldwell said the new ordinance is vastly different from the original.
The new section, though it never uses the word, deals with panhandlers by prohibiting soliciting on the highway. Soliciting is also prohibited in the right-of-way, which includes the roadway, shoulders, berm and median. A solicitor cannot impede vehicle or pedestrian traffic. It is also illegal for a solicitor to misrepresent their identity and for a peddler to “cry his or her wares” in a loud voice.
Council had previously discussed creating a Do-Not-Solicit list, but decided against it. Instead, residents can put up “No Solicitors” signs on their property. Ignoring “No Solicitors” signs, or violating the ordinance in any way, is a fourth degree misdemeanor.
The council also accepted a $1,000 donation from the Tipp City Rotary Club. The money will be used to plant four sycamore trees honoring four past presidents of the club. The trees will be planted along the new bikeway from Kyle Park north to Main Street. Mayor Dee Gillis accepted the check at the meeting from Rotary Club President Elect Andrew Venters on behalf of the city.
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