Sabina’s fund-transfer request clears a hurdle

0

SABINA — The village government is a step closer to being able to access $200,000 for general operations.

Even before an earnings tax issue was turned down at the ballot box earlier this month, Sabina Village Council passed legislation that proposed a transfer of $200,000 from the Sabina Sewer Fund to general operations, including police.

In order for the move to occur, the Ohio tax commissioner needs to approve the proposed transfer, and then the Clinton County Court of Common Pleas must grant approval, too.

At the village council meeting this week Mayor Dean Hawk reported that the Ohio Department of Taxation attorney who is handling the request has prepared a journal entry approving the fund transfer, and has sent it on to the tax commissioner for the authorizing signature.

So, according to Hawk, it seems likely the proposal has gotten past the first “bump in the road” of the two-part process.

“It’s critical for us that we get that [fund transfer],” Hawk said after the Tuesday night council meeting.

At the session, the mayor also reported that the Friendship Trail is “nearly completed.” The 6.9-miles multi-use trail will stretch from Melvin Road east of Wilmington to Borum Road in Clinton County, via Sabina.

More fundraising will be undertaken later to pave the portion from the center of Sabina to Borum Road, Hawk said.

The Clinton County Park District plans to dedicate the trail on April 22, 2017, the mayor announced.

The village has received a “Safe Routes to School” non-infrastructure grant of $2,000. The dollars will go toward an adult school crossing guard program for Sabina Elementary School children.

The plan is to station crossing guards at three locations, said Sabina Village Councilman Jim Mongold. Startup costs will go for safety vests, hats, two-way radios and the slow-and-stop hand held signs.

A problem at this point is securing citizen volunteers, Mongold said, elaborating that no one responded to an earlier request for volunteer crossing guards.

Now, recruitment plans call for contacting local churches, the school personnel and organizations.

At one point, Sabina Village Councilman Bob Storer said, “I still can’t understand why we can’t have any police officers up there. I mean, you talk about one time in the morning and one time in the afternoon. Ought to be able to make it there.”

Due to the General Fund shortfall, Police Chief Keynon Young is no longer expected to sit in when council meets. Hawk read a report submitted by Young summarizing incidents and activities from Nov. 1-19. Among other things, there were two breaking-and-enterings, three possessions of a controlled substance, four domestic violence reports, one stalking, and two taser deployments in that time period.

Councilman Bill Lewis said that despite a potential of there being some times when no Sabina officer is on duty, it needed to be clarified that Sabina does not go without law enforcement coverage. The Clinton County Sheriff’s Office is advised ahead of time when that situation will arise, and moreover, if police protection were needed during the time gap, sheriff’s deputies will be dispatched, the councilman said.

Mongold said having a village emblem or symbol would be a nice addition for the village. He presented an image he created as one candidate for an official emblem.

His proposed Seal of Sabina is gold in color, and consists of a shield, a dove, the village motto “The Eden of Ohio” on an inner ring, and inside the ring is the Great Seal of the State of Ohio.

Mongold said he checked with a Sabina Historical Society member and others, and nobody seems to recall a prior village emblem.

A symbol or town emblem, he feels, can help bring people together.

Lewis complimented the proposed Seal of Sabina, but added, “I believe substantial cooperation is much more important than symbolisms.” Mongold said he agreed.

Reach Gary Huffenberger at 937-556-5768.

Sabina Village Councilman Jim Mongold, left, says there are plans to station crossing guards at three locations to assist Sabina Elementary School children. So far, however, no one has volunteered for the positions. Sabina Village Councilman Bob Storer, right, listens to his colleague.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2016/11/web1_mongold_p_f.jpgSabina Village Councilman Jim Mongold, left, says there are plans to station crossing guards at three locations to assist Sabina Elementary School children. So far, however, no one has volunteered for the positions. Sabina Village Councilman Bob Storer, right, listens to his colleague. Gary Huffenberger | News Journal

Sabina Village Councilman Jim Mongold’s proposed Seal of Sabina.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2016/11/web1_emblem_p_f.jpgSabina Village Councilman Jim Mongold’s proposed Seal of Sabina. Gary Huffenberger | News Journal

By Gary Huffenberger

[email protected]

No posts to display