By GEORGE NUNNEMACHER | May 17, 2023

The Linn Valley City Council held its bi-monthly meeting at 7 p.m. on Monday, May 8, 2023, with Mayor Cindy Smith presiding and all council members present.   

Smith announced a change in the format for City Council meetings.  The agenda will now include “Citizen Participation” allowing residents to make a statement or share information with the council.  Each speaker will be allowed three minutes to make comments at the podium.  With this change, citizens will no longer have to wait until the end of meetings to offer comments; however, there will be no back-and-forth discussion and the council will not respond to questions or comments from citizens. 

In a unanimous vote, the council approved a motion by Council President Robert Suppenbach to pass Resolution #122 authorizing the sale of $5,010,000 General Obligation Temporary Renewal and Improvement Notes.  The sale of these bonds will fund ongoing expenses being incurred during the city’s water project.  

Codes Enforcement Officer Don Hastings reported that 35 building permits were issued in April, including three for new residences.   

Public Safety Director Corey Murrison reported on Police Department activity in the city during the past month, including one arrest for Driving While Suspended, one arrest for Domestic Violence Battery, and one arrest for Aggravated Battery Domestic Violence.   There was also a report of a Protection from Abuse Order and an investigation opened into Sexual Abuse of a Child.   Murrison announced the hiring of Allison Fox as a full-time police officer.  Fox will be paid at a rate of $21 per hour with a full benefit package.  The department now employs two full-time officers and two part-time officers.

The Fire Department responded to four medical calls and one grass fire in Linn Valley, as well as three fire calls and three medical calls and three in Miami County.   The fire department will once again hold its annual 4th of July fireworks sale to raise funds for department needs.  

Siffring presented the April 2023 Financial Report which included General Fund income of $11,793 and total expenses of $47,386.  The council voted to approve the payment of expense vouchers totaling $204,082 for the month of April.   

Mayor Smith announced a proposal to establish a “Linn Valley Economic Development Commission” to improve the economic status of the city and act in an advisory role to the City Council.   The objectives of the commission would be to increase revenue and decrease reliance on ad valorum taxes, to increase economic activity and to make it easier for small businesses and entrepreneurs to operate in the city.  The commission would consist of five to seven members and would include both full-time and part-time residents.  

Also being proposed by Smith is the formation of a “Linn Valley Building Advisory Board” to improve the consistency and safety of building construction within the city.  This would be a three member board which would report to the City Building Inspector, and their objective would be to review and recommend building code amendments and increase codes compliance. 

Service on either of these new organizations would be voluntary and will exclude elected city officials, city employees, POA elected officials and POA employees.  Following this discussion, the council went into a 10-minute executive session on contractual matters and returned with no action taken.