This photo of the backside of the old Phillipsburg Elementary shows the damage to windows inflicted by vandals.
Kay Dawson | The Register-Herald
PHILLIPSBURG — The old Phillipsburg Elementary School, empty for years and a target for vandals, was sold at a sheriff’s auction on May 17.
At the June 18 meeting, council members said it had been bought by a Dayton company for a third party, so they were not sure of its future use. But the village has notified the company of the zoning violations, and the company had not objected to having the village mow the grass around the building at the owner’s expense.
Mayor Shawna Newsom asked the council members to consider putting a general fund operating levy on the ballot in November. Council member Brandon Myers passed out a copy of the county tax distribution to municipalities and a sheet explaining millage.
In addition to county taxes, Phillipsburg residents currently have a park levy, a street levy, and two police levies. The money from these cannot be used for anything else, and Newsom said a costly emergency could leave the village in financial trouble.
“We’ve never had an operating levy to add money to the general fund, and towns are not allowed to operate in the red,” she told members.
A decision on the levy has to be sent to the county by mid-August to be on the November ballot.
Newsom and Police Chief Mark Wysong, Sr., also reminded the public that golf carts on the streets have to meet the requirements of autos, with lights and licenses and a licensed driver. Violations can draw a citation the same as any other violation.
Newsom publicly thanked Nate Davis for donating the new flatbed on the fire department’s brush truck, replacing one that had rusted out. Fire Chief Justin Saunders said department members had done the work.
Saunders gave his letter of resignation as full-time chief, effective July 30, but said he is open to remaining on the force part-time if he and village reached an agreement on hourly wages.
The enlargement of the State Street Food Mart gas station to a more extensive convenience store has progressed. As Zoning Officer, Wysong met with the owner and the architect.
The owner will ask the county to combine the two parcels he owns into one. His plan would add parking spaces and a designated space for trucks and trailers, which now block access to the gas pumps, and move the entrances to eliminate the driveway immediately south of the intersection of State Route 49 and Phillipsburg-Union Road.
Following up on the last meeting, Wysong said the village code apparently contains nothing about keeping bees.
Member Heather Hoard is searching for grants to help the park board paint, strip and wax the floor at the Hunt Club and move the playground closer to the community building.
Fiscal Officer Shelley Phillips said increasing the renewal of the village’s insurance policy was $1,200 less than last year because the deductible had been increased.
The next regular council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, July 16, at 7 p.m. in the municipal building at 10868 Brookville Phillipsburg Rd.
