In looking back at what was accomplished in 2004 the biggest accomplishment was the restablishment of a Police Department. The Village went from no Police Officers and the cruiser sitting idle to 10 officers and a new police cruiser.

Those ten officers worked without pay for the entire year to help the Village. The Village Council also purchased a new Police Cruiser to replace the one totaled in the flood of 2003. The Police Department made great strides in 2004 and there are bigger plans for 2005. The Police Department will become a paid department and coverage will increase.

The roads and alleys have been repaired and crack sealing will follow once the weather cooperates.

The IRS debt has been paid. The court cases involving the IRS have not been settled yet and continue their way through the court system. It is hoped that the cases will be completed in 2005 and the Village can move forward.

The Village Council has put in place many policies to protect the Village from some of the problems that have happened in the past. There are policies now covering the use of Village computers and mail handling. The Council is working on a cell phone use policy and will put in place other policies as needed. The Council's job is protect the property and resources of the Village and see that they are used for thier intended purpose and not abused.

In 2005 there will be some major needs of the Village that will have to be addressed. The Contract for Fire Protection expires in 2005 and the operating levy also expires in 2005. The residents are encouraged to take an active part in the Village and to keep informed. It is hoped that 2005 will be an even better year for the Village.

Come Back to Haunt You!

It appears there is still a problem of what mail belongs to whom.

Mr. Parrish stated on the Village web site, there will be no tax increase with new mayor. Does this still apply?

Tax Increase or Tax Renewal

Ms. White,

On the mail resolution that was passed it was put in place so that the Mayor and Council can see to the better operation of Village business. As a for instance, I received a notice from COTA announcing that a public hearing was going to be held. I try and check my mailbox once a week and when I received this notice I had two days advance notice to the hearing. I checked the postmark on the notice and had been mailed over a week before. The question that remained was when did the Village recieve the notice? Was it my fault for not checking my mail more often or did the post office delay its delivery. Now when mail arrives at the Village Hall it is stamped with the date of receiving it and the envelope is maintained with the letter. It makes things run more smoothly and helps the Village meet the timely needs of notices and invoices. But as I have stated before, the Council acted to prevent problems now and in the future unlike past councils that only complained about problems and did nothing about it.

On the tax increase, I do not believe that I stated that there would not be a tax increase. I may have stated that no new taxes would be introduced.

Currently there are three levys in place in Valleyview.

There are levies for Fire Protection and Police Protection. Those are both permanent levies.

The third is an operating levy that supports such things as the Village operating expenses and police department. That levy is set to expire at the end of 2005. I believe that it should be renewed. It is not a new tax, just the renewal of an existing tax.

I do not believe that any additional taxes need to be put in place. So, there will be no new taxes that I know under the current administration. I would not vote to place on the ballot any new taxes. I would vote to place on the ballot a renewal of the operating levy that is currently in place as I believe that it is in the best of interests of the Village to have those additional funds to meet the expenses of the Village.