JACKSON CENTER — The Jackson Center Village Council met Sept. 28. In the meeting, they discussed past and future finances and future levies.

Council Member Larry Wahrer reported the month to date revenues exceeded expenditures by over $166,000 and part of that amount is due to the check received from Plastipak Packaging for a little over $70,000 and that puts both the water and sewer funds in the black. The August income tax deposit topped $100,000 dollars and the cash balance is running a little over ten percent of last year at $372,000. Wahrer reported it was another good month.

The council approved the August financial report.

The council adopted a resolution accepting the amounts and rates as determined by the budget commission and authorizing the necessary tax levies and certifying them to the county auditor.

Each year the County Budget Commission certifies along with an estimate from the County Auditor’s Office the rate of each tax necessary to be levied by the council. This certification and estimate includes the amount inside the ten mill limitation and the amount outside the ten mill limitation.

By passing this resolution, the council shows that it accepts the amounts certified and authorizes the levying of said tax on the tax duplicate for the village. The estimated amount for the levy inside the ten mill limitation is $44,296 and the estimated amount for the levy outside the ten mill limitation is $43,395. Because property values have increased in the residential/ag classification, the state has applied a reduction factor to the outside ten mill limitation levy. The actual rate that will be applied for this levy is 1.9473 mills.

The council discussed the upcoming Rescue Levy that will be on the ballot in November. They also discussed several different ways to advertise to make people aware of the levy and what the levy proceeds will be used for.

Administrator Bruce Metz introduced Nathan Hensley to the mayor and council members. Hensley was hired by the Village of Jackson Center and began working on Aug. 31. He has completed a nine-month lineman certification program at the Warren County Career Center and passed it with flying colors.

Mayor Scott Klopfenstein read a proclamation that recognizes the week of Oct. 4 through Oct. 10 as Public Power Week. This will be a weeklong celebration of Jackson Center Municipal Electric’s year round service to the Village of Jackson Center.

The Village of Jackson Center operates a community owned, locally controlled, not-for-profit electric utility. This proclamation recognizes the valuable community asset that contributes to the well-being of local citizens through energy efficiency, customer service, environmental protection, economic development and safety awareness. The proclamation recognizes that the locally owned utility is dependable and trustworthy and provides many consumer protections and continues to make the community a better place to live and work, and contributes to protecting the global environment.

Hendley will be taking his journeyman/lineman schooling through the village. He is a 2013 graduate of Jackson Center High School. Klopfenstein welcomed Hensley and stated that he got to know him through seventh grade basketball. Klopfenstein went on to say that, it is rewarding to see people like Hensley come back to the community and contribute as he is going to contribute.

Klopfenstein and council members congratulated Chief Joe Cotterman on his certification as a K-9 Handler.

Superintendent Bill Reichert was present at the council meeting to discuss the status of the school building project. Reichert stated that he wanted to thank the village for their cooperation thus far in the planning of this project.

Reichert went on to say that plans have not been finalized yet, but they are getting close to moving to the next phase. Reichert informed council that they are projecting that they will begin the building project in April, 2016.

The Village of Jackson Center received a notice regarding a request to transfer a liquor license from Madge J. Brown DBA Café Verandah to Lori Huffer. The purpose of this notice is to give the legislative body a chance to either request a hearing on the advisability of issuing the permit and request, or the legislative body may decide not to request a hearing.

The council decided to not request a hearing.

Council members discussed and decided to move the 2nd November regular council meeting to Monday, Nov. 30 at 7 p.m.

The next council meeting will be Oct. 12 at 7 p.m.