Washington Court House City Council members had the honor at a recent meeting of acknowledging Jim Heath for his 31 years of service with the City of Washington Court House.
Heath will retire at the end of December. Council chairman Dale Lynch presented Heath with a plaque and a clock, which Heath good-naturedly questioned the reason for since he is retiring. City Manager Joe Denen shared that “when Heath was hired there was no phone in his office. Someone from the administration office had to go next door and knock on the window to let Jim know he was wanted on the phone.”
Heath shared that when he started with the city, Summit Station was just being built. “Everybody tried to do what was supposed to be done. I am proud of what I did,” said Heath.
With all council members present, the minutes from the Nov. 9 council meeting and the minutes from the Nov. 16 budget work session were both approved.
Ted Hawk, chairman of the Safety, Service and Recreation Committee, read the minutes from the Nov. 16 meeting. Highlights of the committee meeting were: reports from the fire and police Departments; a review of the service department projects: the Washington Avenue project, the brush list for the street department and the continuation of the walking trail. These minutes were approved by council.
Denen reported on the Christmas Parade scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 27 starting at 3 p.m., moving from Washington Middle and High Schools right on Elm Street, left on Columbus Avenue, moving straight onto Court Street and turning left on Circle Drive ending at McHenry field. According to Police Chief Hottinger, “The Christmas Parade route is about five blocks longer this year.”
The bulk of Denen’s report to council was the summary of the 2017 budget. Monies invested in water will be modest and sewer monies will be maintained or increased in various key areas. The increases are important in order to resolve the long term needs of the treatment plant.
The 2017 budget also will support the Economic Development Director’s position and fund strategic economic actions such as the certification exercises for the Industrial Park, which will be completed shortly. The budget will also support projects like Washington Avenue and various other street needs as well as commitments to the Cemetery and the Joint Recreation District.
City Director of Finance, Tom Riley, reported that the October numbers show that the city is in “good shape financially. The water and sewer incomes are up for October as is the gas tax. These higher revenue numbers may be due to the warmer weather we experienced in October. People were still out working in their yards.”
The next meeting of city council will be on Dec. 14 in council chambers on the second floor of the Administration Building, 105 North Main St.
