Stevensville eliminates code enforcement officer job
Village is looking for ways to save money to deal with deficit left by former village manager's alleged embezzlement and financial mismanagement
By WILLIAM F. AST III - H-P Staff Writer
Published: Friday, May 14, 2010 2:21 PM EDT
STEVENSVILLE - The Stevensville Village Council on Thursday tightened the village's belt a little more.
The council voted unanimously to eliminate the position of code enforcement officer, thereby saving some $10,000 a year.
"This is strictly budgetary," council President Lori Gibson said, saying the action is no reflection on enforcement officer Chris Nearpass. "...This position is just a luxury we can no longer afford."
Trustee Pat Arter said the village may look at trying to share the services of an enforcement officer with another municipality. In the meantime, "everyone has to keep their eyes open a little more" and let village Manager Derek Perry know if they see any code violations, she said.
"It is part of our duty to note things as we drive through town," Trustee Don Meyer said.
Gibson further told Perry to take a look at the village's inspector positions, to see were else the village could save money.
Stevensville has been in a financial bind, with a former village manager accused of embezzling some $297,000 from the village. The council has been limited to paying no more than $35,000 a month in bills until a big arrearage is paid off.
Former manager Todd Gardner's trial on the charges in U.S. District Court in Grand Rapids is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. July 13.
Gardner remains free on $25,000 bond. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison, three years' probation and a $50,000 fine and other costs.
If found guilty, Gardner also would have to pay restitution of the money he allegedly took. If he can't pay, the government could make him forfeit property, the charges against him said.
Former Trustee Carl Steinberger asked Gibson what the village is doing to get its money back. At this point, "We're just waiting for the courts," she told him.
Once the village's financial catastrophe came to light, the state stepped in to perform an audit of the village's past two fiscal years ending March 3, 2009. The audit confirmed the missing money, and the audit directed the village to enact a number of policies to help make sure it won't happen again.
The council took action on one of those policies Thursday, enacting a credit card policy, which it had never had before. Gibson said the village has only one credit card, which is used to buy gasoline.
Gibson said the village hopes to be able to pay its debts to the IRS sooner than expected. Original projections said that debt would be paid off by January 2012, but it may be paid off by June 2011 and the village can use the extra funds to pay vendor bills, she said.
"It's a plan," Perry said. "Like all plans, it may change."
wast@TheH-P.com