Contains $18,000 for police from property tax levy

CHESAPEAKE — The village council approved the annual budget for 2018 for Chesapeake, in a 5-0 vote, at its meeting on Monday.

Mayor Tommy Templeton said the budget included $18,000 for the police department, which would come from the property tax levy approved by voters in this year’s general election.

Templeton said the village would receive half of the funds in March, with the remaining half coming in the fall.

Templeton said the police funds could be used for salaries, maintenance, gas and other costs for the department.

“This also frees up money that can be spread to other funds,” clerk-treasurer Peggy Houston said.

Templeton also asked the council to vote to approve setting up the international control policy for the law enforcement trust fund.

“This has to be set up for us to receive money from the prosecutor’s office for any drug bust in the village,” Templeton said.

He said the village would be required to set aside 10 percent of seized and forfeited funds to be used for drug prevention education.

The council also discussed the ongoing effort to replace the roof at the Chesapeake-Union Fire Department.

Templeton said he has been discussing the matter with Union Township’s trustees. The village and township have a partnership for the fire department. He said he would next meet with the trustees on Thursday.

Council member Paul Hart promised he would get a quote on construction costs before Templeton had the meeting.

“And if I don’t get it, I’ll resign,” Hart, who retired as a council member at Monday’s meeting, joked.

In other business, the council:

• Voted for a one-time pay raise to pay for Christmas bonuses for police and village workers.

• Approved an invoice of $7,200 for an audit of the village. Templeton said the amount was lower than expected.

• Hired Matthew Chinn as a part-time officer for the police department.

• The council met in executive session to discuss personnel matters, with no action taken.

• Swore in Danny Burd as a member of council. Burd was elected in November and will fill the seat vacated by Hart.

• The next meeting of council is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 2 at 7 p.m., as the regular first Monday meeting day falls on New Year’s Day.