St. Bernard council adopts tax and transfer measures, swears in new police and fire officers

The St. Bernard Village Council, meeting Aug. 28, 2025, adopted a tax-levy resolution and an ordinance to transfer and appropriate municipal funds, unanimously approved scheduling changes and briefly went into executive session, and held a ceremonial swearing-in for new police and fire officers.

Auditor Brickway asked the council to place Resolution 11‑2025 on the table “to accept the amounts and rates as determined by the budget commission and authorize the necessary tax levies and certifying them to the county auditor,” and the council moved to suspend the second and third readings and adopt the resolution. The motion to adopt carried 7–0. "The first thing on my agenda is asking council to please place resolution number 11‑2025 on the table for tonight's vote," Brickway said.

Council also moved to suspend the second and third readings of Ordinance 23‑2025 and to adopt it. The ordinance authorizes an $800,000 transfer out of the general fund with $400,000 to a general bond cash account and $400,000 to the employee health plan cash account; it also includes additional appropriations to phone services ($25,000), computer upgrades ($50,000), seasonal service employees ($30,000), a new city‑hall air conditioner ($35,000) and a code assistant officer position ($30,000), and $30,000 for accumulated employee retirement payouts. The ordinance was adopted by a 7–0 roll call vote.

Earlier in the meeting Mayor Jonathan Stutchell administered ceremonial oaths to newly promoted public-safety officers. The mayor asked residents to join him in thanking the officers: "Let's give one round of applause for these gentlemen who serve our community so well," he said.

Council handled other routine business and committee reports. Council member Edwards summarized a Public Improvements Committee meeting on Aug. 21 about speed bumps on the 4200 block of Sullivan Avenue, saying the committee’s compromise is to install wider, less extreme speed bumps designed to slow traffic to about 10 mph and to add a third bump; the mayor will check specifications and whether a stop sign at Greenlee and Del Mar is advisable. Edwards said resident feedback was mixed but many reported that the bumps reduced vehicle speed.

The tax administrator reported July 2025 collections of $592,956 (up 0.73% from July 2024) and requested two items for the next Committee of the Whole: legislation for mandatory resident and business registrations and an amendment to §182.17 of the tax code to remove state‑specific language not applicable to the village.

Director of Safety Miss Hausfeldt presented police and fire monthly reports, noting the police handled 657 calls for service and the fire department recorded 74 incidents in July 2025; she also reminded residents about the police and fire benevolent steak fry on Sept. 12.

Director Van Volkenberg said she will withdraw Resolution 10‑2025 and table it indefinitely while she double‑checks plat and easement documents; she also asked the council to enter a brief executive session later in the meeting to discuss ongoing litigation, which the council approved.

During public comment resident Don Middendorf of 5117 Foreman congratulated the officers promoted that evening: "I would like to congratulate all the officers of the police and fire department who were promoted this evening," he said.

Council approved moving the September council meeting from Sept. 25 to Sept. 18 and set the Committee of the Whole for Sept. 11. The meeting adjourned after the executive session.

Votes at a glance: Resolution 11‑2025 (accept amounts/rates and authorize levies) — adopted, 7–0; Ordinance 23‑2025 (transfers and appropriations) — adopted, 7–0; Resolution 10‑2025 — tabled, 7–0.

What’s next: Committee and council scheduling updates include a Finance Committee meeting Sept. 17 (final Revive Home Repair Program presentation) and a Committee of the Whole on Sept. 11.