Council thought $10 per hour too much for work

PROCTORVILLE — Proctorville’s village council voted to reduce the wages of those working to pay off fines with the village.

The 5-0 vote, which changed the rate from $10 to $8, came after Mayor Rick Dunfee expressed concern that the current rate was too high.

“We’re not getting $10 of work out of them,” he said of the workers.

The council discussed the matter and were advised that they are not obligated to pay an individual who does not perform the required work.

Police chief Bill Murphy, who was in attendance at the meeting, said the $8 figure would be an appropriate amount.

The council also discussed demolitions by the Lawrence County Land Bank.

Dunfee said one structure has been demolished, and more are scheduled in the coming months.

A property at 216 Susan St. is up for bids on July 26, with a demolition tentatively scheduled for Aug. 28. Two more houses are scheduled to be torn down on Aug. 30, he said.

Council member Dale Burcham praised the work in the recent demolition.

“They did a good job,” he said. “They brought in dirt, leveled it and seeded it.”

The issue of acquiring a new police cruiser was also a topic at the meeting.

Dunfee said the plan to purchase a used cruiser for $1,000 from a site near Columbus had fallen through, as, upon inspection, the vehicle required more work than anticipated.

“We didn’t want to bring something back that we would have to put more money into,” Murphy said of the vehicle.

In other business, the council:

• Discussed a weed ordinance for the village. Dunfee said he has approached property owners at problem homes and, “90 percent get cut.”

Though he said there is still an issue with out-of-town property owners not maintaining some lots.

• Approved sending a letter to a property owner of an unoccupied home, which Dunfee said is beginning to lean. He said they are discussing options for the owner, who does not qualify for the land bank, to make it safe.

• Discussed plans to put in five fire hydrants in the village by the end of August.

•Reminded the public that the $5 license fee is set to go into effect Jan. 1. Dunfee said he hopes to use some funds to put LED lights into traffic signals to save money on lighting costs.