Clermont Awards Paving Contract

(posted May 17)

The Clermont Town Council made a preliminary bid award for the town's 2009 street paving to Harco Paving at its May 14 meeting. The council directed Dick Mosier of Triad Associates to review the six bids in more detail. Harco had the winning bid at $28,013 for the 14 projects. E & B Paving's bid was the highest at $48,100.

Attorney Robert Lutz is still waiting for an official response from the city comptroller's office as to why the town no longer receives public safety local option income tax money. Lutz said an initial conversation with Comptroller David Reynolds suggested that the city does not think Clermont qualifies under the guidelines.

Lutz also said the City County Council's public policy and rules committee reviewed the 2009 budgets of all Marion County local taxing units excluding school districts. The review is required by the Department of Local Government Finance prior to releasing tax disbursements. Lutz said the review was a non-binding recommendation.

The Comptroller lowered each unit's 2009 assessed valuation by 25% of last year's, causing Clermont to lose about $1 million in assessed valuation as a result. The DLGF recommended the 25 percent reduction.

Town Councilor John Miller asked Lutz to review HB 1331 to define what an "active member" of a police department is. The law requires departments to provide body armor for officers. The town provides officers with a clothing allowance which officers use to purchase their own vests. The town is facing a potential outlay of $10,000 for vests if reserve officers are included in the department's required purchase. The town has three full time officers and 19 reserves.

"It's not mandatory that they wear them. It is mandatory that they don't have to buy it out of their own clothing allowance," Miller said.