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St. Bernard CIC approves mowing contract, tax-appeal funding and other routine business
Summary
At its meeting the CIC awarded the 2025 mowing contract to JMS Landscaping, authorized legal and appraisal spending for a property tax appeal, approved up to $600 for garden-club plantings, and voted to enter executive session on a property sale.
The St. Bernard Community Improvement Corporation approved several routine contracts and authorizations at its meeting, including a groundskeeping contract, legal-pay authorizations for a tax appeal, a small beautification appropriation, and an executive-session vote on a property sale.
The board voted unanimously to award the 2025 mowing contract to JMS Landscaping, the lowest of five bidders at $440 per mowing cycle. The roll-call vote recorded all members present voting yes.
On property taxes, Meredith Hughes recommended appealing the auditor’s valuation of the shopping center for tax year 2024, noting the auditor’s valuation was roughly $2.1 million and the parcel generated about $60,000 in tax bills last year. Hughes presented three attorney fee proposals (Strauss Troy at roughly $3,000; a contingent-fee proposal from Gibbs at 25% of savings; and Dresman Benzinger for approximately $2,000) and estimated an appraisal would cost about $3,000–$4,000. The board authorized up to $3,000 for legal fees and up to $4,000 for appraisal work and empowered Meredith Hughes to sign any engagement letters on the CIC’s behalf.
The board also approved a motion to close the small First State Bank account and move funds into its Fifth Third account after noting the local First State branch has closed. Separately, the Garden Club offered to plant and water flowers at the shopping-center frontage; the board approved appropriating up to $600 to cover planting costs, with the village assisting with mulch and watering.
The board voted to enter executive session to discuss the possible sale of property; members later voted to reconvene and exit executive session. Staff said the village now holds title to a vacated property at 4416 Greenley Avenue and will coordinate with village council on whether to route that parcel through the CIC’s sale process or the village’s sale procedures.
Votes at a glance: JMS Landscaping mowing contract — approved (unanimous roll-call); Authorization of up to $3,000 legal and $4,000 appraisal for tax-appeal — approved; Close First State Bank account — approved; Up to $600 for Garden Club plantings — approved; Enter executive session on property sale — approved.
The board set its next meeting for April 22 at 6 p.m. unless a special meeting is called and then moved to adjourn.
