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Council closes West Bank police accounts, rejects new Desco accounts after debate
Summary
South Point council amended and adopted Resolution 2608 to close West Bank accounts used by the police department and transfer funds to the village fiscal officer; a companion proposal to open accounts at Desco Federal Credit Union (Resolution 2609) failed after council members argued funds should be handled through the general fund and UAN.
The Village of South Point council voted to amend and adopt Resolution 2608 to close several bank accounts held at West Bank on behalf of the South Point Police Department and consolidate control under the fiscal officer.
The action followed council concern that the accounts had been opened without council approval. "The auditor's office calls them off-book accounts," a staff member said during the discussion, and the amended resolution directs cashier's checks from the closed accounts be deposited into US Bank and for the fiscal officer to ensure a zero balance before closure.
Councilmember Mr. Classing moved the amendment to Resolution 2608; Mrs. Daniel seconded. The roll call on the amended motion and on adoption of Resolution 2608 recorded unanimous 'yes' votes from members present.
A linked proposal, Resolution 2609, would have authorized opening new accounts at Desco Federal Credit Union for the South Point Police Department. Staff and council members questioned the need for new, individualized accounts when the village can use one general bank account and fund accounting under UAN. One council member noted that under the approach in 2608, "those monies be deposited into the village general account" and therefore separate accounts were unnecessary.
Council approved amendments to 2609 but then voted against adopting the resolution as amended. The roll-call tally on the final adoption vote recorded multiple 'no' votes and the measure failed.
Separately, the council approved the opening of a new UAN fund, 5725, to manage payments for the Phase 3 waterline replacement loan. Mr. Payne moved to open the fund and Mr. Classing seconded; the roll call vote passed.
The council also suspended the three-reading rule and adopted Ordinance 2616 to amend appropriation ordinance 2519 for fiscal year 2026, and adopted Resolution 2610, a comprehensive cybersecurity and ransomware payment policy adopted per Ohio Revised Code section 9.64. Both measures passed on roll-call votes.
The meeting record shows the council acted to consolidate police-department banking under village control, rejected creating new decentralized accounts at a credit union, and took multiple budget and cybersecurity steps at the meeting. The council also approved monthly fund transfers and accepted the clerk-treasurer's financial report for May 31, 2026.
The council planned follow-up on the administration of police receipts and any remaining procedural cleanup at future meetings.
