Work continues on South Shaffer Park Drive
By Melissa Topey, mtopey@advertiser-tribune.comWork is continuing on South Shaffer Park Drive.
Council members authorized the mayor at Tuesday night's Tiffin City Council meeting to accept easements of land on both sides of the road. Lowe's and US Properties group gave the city a portion of their lands to construct the road, curbs, sidewalks, storm drainage and to store dirt and materials during construction.
The road is expected to be complete by Nov. 1, with Lowe's to coordinate its opening to the completion of the road, City Engineer Curt Eagle said.
The project was held up while negotiations between Monroe Muffler and Lowe's were conducted over a portion of the auto repair's property,
Mayor Jim Boroff said. If negotiations had not been successful, city officials were prepared to start eminent domain proceedings.
Also Tuesday, council members also passed an ordinance that allows for self-employed Tiffin residents to be able to take another deduction from their taxable income. Council members passed an ordinance that will allow these individuals to deduct the amount of their contributions to a health savings account and for costs of medical care insurance premiums from their taxable income when figuring out their city income tax.
Tiffin resident Michelle Kramer, a self-employed technical writer, fought for this legislation to close an oversight in the tax code. She talked to local representatives, even addressing members of the House Ways and Means Committee in March 2007, to have House Bill 24 drafted and passed. This legislation provides to self-employed workers the same tax benefits that other workers have been receiving for almost four years.
In other matters council members:
* Heard an ordinance to obtain the use of land from Heidelberg College and Tiffin Community YMCA for the construction of the Lupton Bridge in Hedges-Boyer Park.
Boroff told council members the project will be bid out Sept. 15, and while not definite, could be closed as soon as Sept. 22. The bridge is scheduled to be done by May 1, 2009, he said.
* Heard and approved a resolution to sell Tiffin's 1992 Ford Braun ambulance, which city officials say is unfit for public use as a part of the purchase of a new ambulance.
Fire Chief William Ennis said a trade-in could result in a higher selling price than the public auction the city normally does. He said the trade-in request would allow the city to reject the trade-in bid if it is to low.
* Heard an ordinance introduced to amend entrance requirements regarding schooling and eliminating age restrictions for new officers applying for a job with the Tiffin Police Department.
* Heard Boroff announce leaf compost pickup will be available free to residents on weekdays, from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. starting Thursday at the Water Pollution Control Center. These hours are for compost pickup only and not brush drop off, Boroff said.
