Vermilion City Council Finance Committee discussed potential expenditures Feb. 10 for the 2024 general fund carry-over totaling $4.8 million.
Vermilion Mayor Jim Forthofer proposed three major items four the Finance Committee, including major road repairs, Service Department equipment and transferring to a sewer capital fund for wastewater needs.
“Let’s define where we recommend for your consideration the sum of where this $5 million carry over can go,” Forthofer said during the meeting.
The administration suggested allotting $2 million for a major road repair of either the entirety of Pineview Drive or a section of Brownhelm Station Road from Vermilion Road to Highbridge Road, according to Forthofer.
While noting there are many streets in Vermilion worthy of repairs, the two roads in discussion see high traffic during the year and have been long-considered for repair, he said.
Vermilion Service Director Tony Valerius said projects sometimes will not receive grant money due to scoring low on a grant scale.
However, Fifth Ward Councilman Brian Holmes wanted to see at least one road repaired.
“I would recommend Brownhelm Station Road if we’re going to go the road route,” Holmes said.
Forthofer said an estimated $750,000 from property tax growth could be invested into the sewer capital fund, while another $570,000 would go toward the Service Department’s purchase of a new snowplow truck and dump truck.
“We already have on the books a sewer and a water capital fund,” said Finance Director Amy Hendricks. “Transferring the funds into that area would reserve those to be used for anything related to capital expenditure for wastewater around the city.”
According to Valerius, the existing single-axel dump truck is not only too small for various projects, but has had various rust spots needing patched in the bed over the years.
“We know that we are going to run short of streets money,” Forthofer said. “We know that the equipment is going to wear out and we’re going to have to find it somewhere.
“There was absolutely a proliferation of placement to put sewer funds — whether it be for an existing mandate — a revised mandate.”
Among further discussion, Second Ward Councilman Greg Drew recognized the suggestions were valid and needed, but was displeased to hear there were no suggestions regarding programming to help seniors in Vermilion.
Drew said there has been a great deal of discussion about how to help seniors in Vermilion, notably during the Feb. 3 Council meeting where Serving Our Seniors Executive Director Sue Daugherty asked members what they might do to reduce barriers with more affordable, small dwellings in the city.
“There’s been no thought about allocating any money for any kind of programs for our seniors, and I’m a little disappointed,” he said. “I would really ask you guys to go back to the drawing table and think about something we could do for our seniors.”
Third Ward Councilman Drew Werley confirmed none of the items would affect water rates, and echoed that these decisions should be made with consideration and thought.
“What we’re doing is suggesting we do something about it,” Forthofer said. “It’s not for the administration; it’s for the people.
“That’s what we’re here for, all of us. These are some of the things that people need.”
The next Finance Committee meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. March 10 at Vermilion Municipal Court, 687 Decatur St.
