By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com

The Crestline Village Council grew by one at Monday’s meeting as Allen Moore was officially sworn in.

Moore replaces Ryan Mahek who announced his resignation on Jan.14. Crestline Council still has to fill the seat vacated by Mike Blaising who announced his resignation on Jan. 26.

For the first time since 2012 Crestline will have a police captain. Bret Ruhe was appointed to that position. With the appointment of Benjamin M. Petrie as a police officer for a six-month probationary period as well Monday evening, Crestline’s police force now numbers eight.

There were questions by council members prior to Ruhe’s appointment. Council member Buckner asked Village Administrator Marc Milliron if the village was financially able to afford the appointment of a police captain. Milliron responded that the appointment plus the approval of Petrie would cost the village an extra $10,000.

Council member Clayton Herold asked Milliron if it would save the village money to get enough police to go from a 12-hour shift to an eight-hour shift. Milliron responded that it would still cost the village an extra $10,000.

Council member Gene Toy asked Chief Joseph Butler if Ruhe had experience as a police captain elsewhere. Butler responded by saying that Ruhe has supervisor experience but not in law enforcement. Toy mentioned that the financial side of appointing a police captain worried him as the current expenditures forecast the police department are to spend $495,000 instead of the budgeted $425,000. Milliron responded that the numbers should even out to reflect the budgeted amount after February is finished.

Also approved was the appointment of Roger Chambers as a full-time probationary firefighter.

The village of Crestline will be saving $6,000 from by using Bastin & Company LLC of Cincinnati to audit the village from 2014-2016. Crestline previously used Julian and Grub.

Council approved Ordinance 3112 unanimously Monday night. The ordinance sets 2-percent income tax revenue aside with 25 percent of the fund going towards the Police and Fire Department funds. The other 75 percent is divvied up with the General Fund currently receiving 89 percent of the leftover revenue, the Capital Fund receiving 9 percent, and the Street Fund receiving 5 percent in the past.

The General Fund, Capital Fund, and Street Fund were left blank on the ordinance. Council member Buckner motioned that the Finance Committee meet at 7 p.m. on March 3 to decide the rates for the three Funds.

Council member Toy mentioned that when the ordinance was first established in 1990 that the Numbers were originally 75 percent for the General Fund, 9 percent for the Capital Fund, and 16 percent in the Street Fund.

Council authorized Milliron to accept or enter into a Water Pollution Control Loan Fund Agreement.

Council had its first reading of a resolution to enter into a Property Sales Agreement with the Crestline Exempted School District the old Hutson Stadium.