Mayor’s Corner by Mayor Michael Wheeler

Hopefully, Punxsutawney Phil will not see his shadow on the second, so winter will end early and spring will begin soon. I wish everyone a Happy Valentine’s Day.

I congratulate Officer Michael Testa and Officer Thomas (Bart) Randolph II for their promotion to the rank of sergeant in our police department. I also welcome Cynthia Kilgore as our newest full-time police officer.

 2024 starts our 90th year as a fire department. We will be planning some special celebrations throughout the year to celebrate our history.

We have a few new projects that are in the bidding process. They are the new tennis/pickleball courts, the timber frame structure on the green, repair of Fellowship Hall and a new Fairview Cemetery columbarium.

As a reminder, we have a lock box program and we have a wellness check program. If you would like more information, please contact the fire department at 330-659-9400.

The Senior Center purchased 100 new chairs, which were sorely needed. The old chairs were 25 years old and have served us well.

 We closed the 2023 financial books on Jan. 5. In 2023, we collected $33,170,267 of the $34,314,474 budgeted for all funds revenue, or 96.6% of the budget. In 2022, we collected $33,529,586 in total. On the expenditure side, $34,863,396 was expended overall by the village through 2023, or 89.7% of the $38,861,533 budgeted for expenditures. In 2022, we expended $34,787,367. Looking only at the general fund, 99.8% of the revenues have been collected and 95.8% of the budget was expended.

If you have questions, concerns or comments, please contact me, or my executive assistant, at 330-659-9201, ext. 234, or email me at mwheeler@richfieldvillageohio.org. ∞