The North Lewisburg Fiscal Officer will be receiving a pay bump, but the money comes with some added, temporary, responsibilities.
The $500 monthly stipend was one of a handful of routine issues before village council members at Tuesday night’s meeting.
Because Utility Clerk Jayne Leiter retired at the end of March, those duties are now falling to current Fiscal Officer Jennifer McCombs. Mayor Cheryl Hollingsworth said the stipend will remain in place until a permanent replacement can be found for the utility clerk position. Hollingsworth added that there is a possibility that the duties could be added permanently to McCombs’ job.
The fiscal officer’s current salary is $40,700 per year.
Village Administrator Andy Yoder told council that he was surprised to learn that North Lewisburg had the second lowest response of any municipality in Champaign County on the 2020 census. Yoder said the news is disappointing because he felt officials had stressed the importance of resident participation.
While he understood some felt the census is intrusive, the numbers are important in deciding issues such as grant funding for the village.
Yoder also said the village budget committee will be gathering before the July council meeting. He cautioned officials that when income and gas tax payments begin to be released the village will likely have some belt tightening to do.
Yoder did pass along two pieces of good news. He said the Champaign County Health Department has said all of the village’s mosquito spraying will be subsidized. The cost of the treatments is not yet known.
He also added that street lights at the town square have been repaired and replaced with new LED lights.
Village Water Superintendent Trevor Clark told council that hydrant flushing will be held next week and residents will likely notice a discoloration of their water. He said crews will be aggressively flushing the lines which will stir up sediment, but should not impact water pressure.
Village Police Chief Scott Bodey said the newly formed department continues to get up to speed and is experiencing an up-tick in cases, including a pair of death investigations, one of which is believed to be an overdose.
Bodey also urged residents who might set off legal fireworks on the Fourth of July to be courteous to their neighbors.