Valley View council approves 2026 tax budget, six ordinances and several contracts; resident raises enforcement concerns

VALLEY VIEW, Ohio — The Valley View Village Council met July 8 and approved the proposed 2026 tax budget, approved six ordinances—including an incentive grant agreement with Valley Truck and Transportation Group Management LLC and a change order for the Alexander Road reconstruction—and approved several finance items for local projects.

During the meeting’s public-comment portion, resident Paul Johnson told the council that after a carcass was thrown on a private property and later removed by service crews, a second carcass was subsequently stolen and the dog/wildlife situation continued. Johnson said an ordinance passed last December had prohibited horses on the property but that three horses were still present. "Why pass the ordinance who can't afford it or won't force it?" Johnson asked, adding that the property had been vacant for more than two years and that the alleged offender was “thumb[ing] his nose at you.”

Council responded that citations had been issued and that the matter is now before Garfield Court; an active warrant remains until the person is arrested or turns himself in. The mayor also said the property owner’s father is acting as caretaker and that council discussed other possibilities with the owner’s family.

The council opened a public hearing on the proposed 2026 tax budget, then moved to send the proposal to the county fiscal officer "as received." Council recorded unanimous votes to approve that motion.

On ordinances, council suspended the rules to place several on third and final reading and then moved to adopt them. Key items adopted included:

- Ordinance 2025-7-1: Authorize payment of specified claims for June 2025 (passed on third and final reading). - Ordinance 2025-7-2: Adoption of updates into the codified ordinances (passed on third and final reading after council discussed the emergency clause). - Ordinance 2025-7-3: Authorize the mayor to enter an incentive-grant agreement with Valley Truck and Transportation Group Management LLC; council noted negotiations had been ongoing since January 2024 and passed the ordinance. - Ordinance 2025-7-4: Update village employee mileage allowance to follow IRS standard mileage rates, repeal the prior mileage ordinance and declare an emergency; staff stated Mary will update rates when the IRS issues circulars. - Ordinance 2025-7-5: Authorize agreement with the Kyahaka County Planning Commission to assist with updating the village master plan; the county will undertake much of the work and council members may be asked to assist with focus groups. - Ordinance 2025-7-6: Approval of a change order for the 2025 Alexander Road reconstruction project (passed on third and final reading).

Finance committee presented three motions that passed on recorded votes: accept Castle Construction and Repair’s proposal to build a masonry monument sign at West Hub Parkway for $24,000; approve a $25,000 change order for Shriber Road partial-depth pavement repairs; and hire the Gford company to replace two HVAC controls at the community center for $23,628.

Department reports included thanks from the police chief to Fire Chief Hish, Service Director Harter and First Energy for prompt response during recent weather-related outages; the police chief reported improved responsiveness from the new First Energy district supervisor. Service staff discussed repeated complaints about motorists and standing water near Canal Road and described the village’s on-truck collection measures for hazardous liquids placed in household garbage.

Recreation Director Bonville thanked other departments for support of a community "touch truck" event and said Drug Mart will sponsor an October vaccination clinic at the community center billed to participants’ insurance with no fee to the village.

Late in the meeting council moved into executive session to discuss personnel matters, including the sergeants exam. After returning from executive session the council adjourned at 7:05 p.m.

Votes at a glance: the meeting record shows unanimous recorded 'yes' votes for the minutes approval, the tax budget transmittal, Ordinances 2025-7-1 through 2025-7-6, and the three finance committee motions described above. Specific mover/second combinations and recorded 'yes' votes appear in the meeting minutes.