EATON — Eaton City Manager Brad Collins presented his monthly report during a council meeting on Monday, Aug. 20. During the report, Collins shared updates on several events held throughout the month, as well as upcoming projects.
According to Collins, the Preble County Fair was well attended and an overall success. There was a great turn out for the National Night Out event which was held within 15 areas in the city. SAY Soccer held its opening day ceremony on Saturday, Aug. 11. A softball game between law enforcement and fire personnel — Guns-n-Hoses — was held on Saturday, Aug. 18.
A grand opening and ribbon cutting was held on Saturday, Aug. 25, for Charles Family Hearth and Hot Tub on East Main Street. The Preble County Courthouse re-dedication will be held on Sept. 9, and the Pork Festival will be held on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 15-16.
The Fire and EMS report for July shows a combined response of 218 calls: 153 EMS responses, including 16 second medic responses; and 65 fire/rescue responses, including 17 general alarms. The division received mutual aid five times and provided mutual aid six times. This is an average of 7.03 calls per day for the month.
Council approved a resolution authorizing the City Manager to purchase a vehicle for public maintenance. The department needs to replace a 1996 Chevrolet truck. The city will purchase a new 2018 GMC 2500HD truck with a service body from Larkin Cobb Chevrolet Buick GMC, Eaton, in the purchase amount of $42,765.
Council approved a resolution urging the investment of state budget surplus back to municipalities. The resolution noted, “Whereas, the Mayor and Council have been advised by Ohio Governor John Kasich’s proposal to use the projected State of Ohio budget surplus of $147 million at the end of the biennium to fund an income tax withholding reduction and bring the State’s rainy day fund to its maximum legal limit; and, whereas, the Ohio General Assembly has repeatedly decreased funding and revenue sharing in recent years by way of significantly reducing the Local Government Fund, eliminating the Estate Tax, and phasing out the Tangible Personal Property Tax; and, whereas, these reductions have resulted in a loss of revenue of $445,000 per year; and, whereas, this sudden revenue loss has made it increasingly difficult to provide basic services, rebuild infrastructure and bolster public safety services to fight the opioid epidemic; and, whereas, when municipalities experience success in fostering safe communities, building sound infrastructure, and increasing economic development, the State of Ohio reaps the benefits as well.”
The resolution further states, the Ohio General Assembly should distribute the budget surplus revenue to Ohio’s municipalities.
The next council meeting will be held on Monday, Sept. 17, at 6 p.m. in the council chambers of the Eaton Municipal Building.
