EATON — Retiring police officer Dale Haney was honored during Eaton City Council’s meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 17. Haney has worked with the Eaton Police Division since 1970.

He started in July 1970 as a dispatcher.

“We’ll miss having Dale around, but if anyone deserves time to themselves and time to enjoy their life it’s Dale Haney,” Eaton Police Chief Chad DePew said.

Mayor Dave Kirsch presented Haney with a proclamation thanking him for his years of service.

Executive Director Bill Hutton gave a presentation on the HIT Foundation’s successes in 2016. Throughout the year, the foundation provided services to 185 individuals in Preble County. A total of 89 of those individuals had a 45320 zip code, but 15 of those 89 were outside of the Eaton area, according to Hutton.

Hutton also spoke on the housing gap which exists in Eaton and Preble County. Home renters should only be paying 30 percent of their income toward housing, but in Eaton 47.9 percent of citizens are paying above 30 percent, he pointed out.

Preble County as a whole sees 42.6 percent of citizens paying above 30 percent of their income toward housing.

On Tuesday, Jan. 24, the HIT Foundation was to complete the annual Point in Time Count, riding along with EPD officers to find homeless individuals in Preble County.

In other business, City Manager Brad Collins informed council Darlene Koontz has moved out of the city and had resigned from Appeals Board. Staff reached out to an interested citizen, Robin Worley, who agreed to be considered for the open position. Council approved Resolution 17-02, accepting the resignation of Koontz and appointing Worley to the position.

Public Maintenance Supervisor Greg Frost updated council on several projects the Public Maintenance Division assisted on in 2016, including:

•The pool project in the spring of 2016.

•Park preparation in the spring of 2016, including, tree clean up at Fort St. Clair.

•The steel bridge project; the bridge is now open to traffic.

•The painting of Roberts Bridge.

Under new business, Mayor Kirsch mentioned the H&R Block signs downtown and his fear they clutter the area and do not look good.

In other business:

•Ordinance 17-01 revising the city’s Codified Ordinances was approved.

•Resolution 17-01 approving the transfer of funds from the general fund to the special revenue fund was approved.

The next city council meeting will be on Monday, Feb. 20, at 7 p.m., in council chambers in the Eaton City Building.