by Lisa Schauer
In a public meeting held on Tuesday, January 6, Town of Bath council members unanimously approved investing $2,870 from opioid settlement money for town police equipment.
The investment includes electronic speed signs and LIDAR detectors, a device that uses laser light to calculate speed, to help enforce the town’s speed limits.
In his public safety report, police officer Josh Stangle thanked council for the new detectors and reminded motorists to stop at crosswalks in town.
“Let people cross if they look like they’re thinking about it, and let them pass,” said Officer Stangle.
Combined with steady streetscape improvements and planned façade renovations, traffic enforcement is a vital part of becoming a pedestrian-friendly town, council agreed.
Local sales tax windfall
A new one-percent retail sales tax that went into effect last year in the Town of Bath has yielded unexpected returns.
Projected to bring in $60,000 in its first year of implementation, the tax brought $165,000 to the town in its first six months in effect.
Revenue for the fourth quarter, which includes Apple Butter Festival and Winterfest, will be announced at the end of January, to provide an annual total for 2025, according to Mayor Greg Schene.
Accordingly, council passed a resolution to modify the town’s budget with an additional $137,000, primarily from the sales tax.
Sales tax revenue will be invested in the West Virginia money market fund, as well as streetscape projects and police protection, said town officials.
Schene said another budget resolution would be likely after the fourth quarter tax payment is received from the state at the end of the month.
The initial budget resolution now goes to the state auditor for approval.
Vacant structure ordinance
Councilman Ryan Kessel read a proposed vacant structure ordinance requiring owners of uninspected and unmonitored vacant buildings to register such vacant buildings with the town, make payment of a fee for the registration thereof, and otherwise conform to the stated vacant building regulations.
Cascading fees will start at $400 and go up to $4,000 each year, until the owner can satisfactorily prove the structure is in process of demolition, rehabilitation, or actively attempting to be sold or leased. Owners of vacant structures will have 30 days to appeal.
The vacant structure registry ordinance is posted on the town’s website under proposed ordinances.
The ordinance committee will meet next on Thursday, January 15 at 3:30 p.m. in town hall.
