By Martha Jacob

During the May 28 Ripley Village Council meeting, council briefly discussed the possibility of running a levy on the November ballot to raise money for badly needed infrastructure repairs and upgrades.

In order to discuss the issue at length, council called a special meeting for June 4th, where it was decided unanimously that the village would place a five mill levy on the November ballot for Ripley residents to vote on.

Councilwoman Nowana Bingaman was first to speak and she said that she had spoken with Marty Regenstein, Matt Layford and Kerry Burns (village employees) on whether they thought a three mill levy would be enough to make infrastructure repairs and improvements and they told her they though it would be enough.

However Councilman Travis Arnett mentioned that the funds would run out when the levy ended, to which Councilman Charles Poole commented that the village could stop the levy at any time, but recommended a continuous levy.

Poole said that he felt like the village needed the levy to pass and that there should also be an increase in utility rates, which would only affect property owners.

He also noted that the levy was only a short term solution, and he said the village could also buy water from the Brown County Rural Water Association.

Bingaman called village solicitor Tom Mayes who was unable to attend the meeting, to answer some questions.

By way of speakerphone, Mayes said that this was not a permanent improvement levy.

Mayor Tom Leonard commented that this levy will be a “not to exceed” levy. Poole said the state gives the village up to 10 mills that it is not voted upon and that perhaps 6 mills is unused. He added that it is called inside millage.

Poole and Councilman Alvin Wallace briefly discussed millage and Wallace finished the conversation by saying that $113,000 was not enough for all the work that is needed in the village. Mr. Poole noted that there should be local tax on top of a sales tax in the village.

Solicitor Mayes said that he had already checked into the inside/outside millage and that the village had already exceeded ten mills.

During the discussions, Councilman Poole stated that the village utility rates still needed to be increased.

The previous Village Administrator, Charles Ashmore had recommended to council that annually the rates needed to be increased incrementally.

Mayor Leonard stated that an increase in taxes in the village could be difficult for some families to afford.

Bingaman said that the Brown County Auditor Jill Hall stated that the village could go to 5 mills but could not exceed five mills.

Bingaman said she understood that the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had grants that could be available to the Village of Ripley. Mayor Leonard recommended a 5 mill levy and give people options.

Again, Poole asked about the cost of possibly purchasing water from the Brown County Rural Water Association. He recommended doing what was the most economical for residents.

It was agreed that the proposed levy would be for five mills with a continuous status and that hopefully passing the levy would hold down the village rate increases.

Poole said that if the levy failed the utility rates would be significantly increased. Council unanimously agreed to placing the levy on the ballot in November.

At it’s regular May 28 meeting council discussed the hiring of a new employee for the village to be responsible for picking up the trash. Daniel Webb, has his Class A CDL and will be paid $15 an hour for doing the job.

The next scheduled Ripley Council meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 11 and residents are encouraged to attend.

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