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Lisbon council creates category for firefighters near retiring

LISBON — Older village firefighters will now have the option of remaining active with the fire department, but in a less dangerous capacity.

Village council this week approved creating two categories of village firefighters — active and inactive. Councilman Ryan Berg said the inactive category is for older firefighters who want to retire from responding to fires but still want to serve in some capacity.

In other business at the meeting:

— Council donated $250 to the group of volunteers who are again decorating the town square for Christmas. Councilwoman Dawn Thomas said the $250 represents the amount the group came up short this year to cover the cost of purchasing additional decorations.

“They’ve put in a lot of time and I think they deserve our support,” Thomas said.

— Councilman Peter Wilson announced the village may have its first applicant under the recently adopted Community Reinvestment Area program, which allows council to grant tax breaks of up to 100 percent for 15 years on future property taxes generated by new residential construction or improvements.

He said the applicant is Wayne Wallace and the property is a fire-damaged home on West Washington Street Wallace intends to convert into an apartment house.

“It’s good for the village and the people using it,” Wilson said.

— Wilson reported a North Jefferson Street resident complained to him about increased commercial truck traffic since the upper portion of the street was recently resurfaced using asphalt. Police Chief Mike Abraham there are already signs posted at the major entrances into town advising truckers they must stay on state routes.

Abraham said since it was brought to his attention the only truck he has seen on North Jefferson Street was a Pepsi truck making a delivery at the Eagles club. He said his officers will keep an eye out.

— Council agreed to formally update village ordinances, which was last done in 2012. Fiscal Officer Tracey Wonner, who also serves as council clerk, said the maximum possible cost of $10,000 is about $1,000 more than before.

The village is in the process of updating its zoning code, and Wilson wondered if it might be prudent to wait until the zoning changes are completed so they can be incorporated into the overall update. Wonner recommended they proceed anyway because of the cost, saying they can always include the zoning changes in the next update.

— Council agreed to contract with Cintas to begin providing uniforms for workers in the street, water and sewer departments and at the cemetery. She said they are currently paying $15 a month per employee (there are 10 employees), which will drop to $7 with Cintas.

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