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Timberlake reviews 2025 budget, sanitary‑sewer invoices and approves $250 resident reimbursement
Summary
Council held first readings of 2025 appropriations and transfers, debated wage increases for hourly staff, discussed disputed sanitary‑sewer invoices from Eastlake and approved a $250 reimbursement to a resident for right‑of‑way tree work.
At its Oct. 15 meeting the Village of Timberlake council reviewed several budget and personnel items for 2025, discussed a multi-thousand‑dollar sanitary‑sewer billing dispute with the City of Eastlake and approved a $250 reimbursement to a resident for tree work.
Council received first readings of Resolution No. 2024-25 (2025 permanent appropriations), Resolution No. 2024-26 (transfer $15,000 from the General Fund to the Police Cruiser Fund) and Resolution No. 2024-27 (transfer $41,322 from the General Fund to the Paving Improvement OPWC Debt Service Fund). Ordinance No. 11-2024, proposing amendments to wages and salaries, also was presented for first reading.
Members debated pay increases targeted at hourly police and service workers rather than across-the-board raises. Jerry Joyce noted the Fiscal Officer estimated a $1-per-hour raise for affected hourly workers would cost roughly $10,000. Kevin Thompson and other members said pay bumps were important to retain employees and suggested exploring a part‑time paid position to handle additional workload rather than larger council stipends.
Council also addressed a set of invoices from the City of Eastlake related to improvements at the WPCC plant on Erie Road. Fiscal Officer John H. Roskos said Timberlake received invoices totaling about $346,000 covering work over several years; he said Timberlake’s Sanitary Sewer Fund currently holds roughly $118,000 and that officials question whether some billed improvements directly affect Timberlake. Village leaders said they hoped to meet with City of Eastlake representatives Oct. 24–25 to seek a resolution.
On a separate item, Kevin Thompson moved to reimburse resident Arlan Stevenson of 71 Keewaydin for $500 of tree work, rescinded that motion, then moved to reimburse $250; Nancy Marra seconded and the reimbursement passed unanimously. Council members cautioned that retroactive reimbursements should be handled narrowly to avoid setting precedent.
Fiscal Officer Roskos reported the General Fund balance through Sept. 30 was $522,653.42 and estimated a year‑end surplus of about $144,349.19 (roughly $129,349.19 if a $15,000 transfer to the Cruiser Fund is finalized). Council scheduled a Safety Committee meeting for Oct. 22 to discuss body cameras, parking and beach enforcement among other items.
