OH - Campbell council OKs camera to catch speeders

Campbell council OKs camera to catch speeders



Published:Thursday, November 20, 2008
By William K. Alcorn
The city is seeking a grant and zero percent loan for two large infrastructure projects.
CAMPBELL — City council took the final steps to set up an automated camera system to catch speeders.
Council unanimously approved ordinances Wednesday night, setting up the appeal process for anyone cited for speeding with the camera; and allocated the revenue generated by the device, after paying expenses, 75 percent to equipment and infrastructure, and 25 percent to the employee severance payments fund.
Street resurfacing is an example of an infrastructure project. Severance pay is given to retiring employees for unused vacation or sick leave, Mayor John Dill said.
The use of automated cameras was controversial in Girard and was challenged in court. Despite an Ohio Supreme Court ruling early this year that the practice is legal, however, Girard has not reinstated the cameras.
Campbell Law Director Mark J. Kolmacic predicted that Campbell’s program would also face a court challenge.
In other action, council gave a first reading to the 2009 appropriations budget of $8.49 million, proposed by Finance Director John J. Leskovyansky Jr. The budget includes $2,444,365 for the general operating fund, nearly $1.6 million of which goes toward operating the police and fire departments. The proposed 2009 budget is about $537,416 less than the $9,034,238 which had been spent this year as of Nov. 14.
Council also approved resolutions authorizing Dill to submit applications for a grant and zero percent loan for two large projects.
Campbell is seeking $83,360 from the Ohio Public Works Commission as the city’s 20 percent share of an estimated $500,000 upgrade of Struthers-Liberty Road. Dill said the grant has been recommended for approval by the local District 6 Public Works Integrating Committee. The mayor said the only city money spent on the project will be about $10,000 in engineering fees. He expects the project to be completed in 2009.
Council also authorized the mayor to apply for an interest-free loan from the public works commission for a project to separate storm and sanitary sewers at Wilson Avenue and Third Street and at Thirteenth Street and Whipple Avenue.
The mayor said that while the city will apply for the loan, it will be paid back by the Mahoning County sanitary engineer’s office, and will cost the city nothing.
alcorn@vindy.com