There are some fascinating things happening in the real estate business in Fairfield and Wayne County. A check with the Supervisor of Assessments’ office last week revealed there were 56 transfer declarations (property sales) in the county for June, the most in ten years. Further, the 309 sales that have been filed so far this year puts the county on a record pace.
The Fairfield Police Department has purchased an electronic data collector for analyzing traffic patterns in the City of Fairfield. The device monitors traffic volume and speed, which will allow more effective traffic enforcement by officers. Recently, a 24-hour monitor of the 400 block of East Main Street indicated a 75% compliance rate. The software analyzes data and provides suggested time periods for directed traffic enforcement. The Police Department will be using the device for both citizen complaints and improving traffic safety.
I have instructed legal counsel to notify several landlords of former businesses that the city will be pursuing condemnation of their properties. The buildings are eyesores, and their restoration would cost more than the current value of the building. Once they are notified, we will be bringing each to the council for condemnation action.
My examination of city ordinances finds we do not have one specifically dealing with conflict of interest. That is a problem since almost every federal and state grant application requires such an ordinance. I have asked legal counsel to research this issue, so the city does not miss out on current and future grant opportunities.
I also will be asking the Gas Committee to meet with me and representatives of the IMEA to discuss fixing (or hedging) a price on our volume. Historically, the city has not hedged. It is my belief we should strongly consider this practice to protect ourselves from upward swings in the market price for natural gas. We are currently “unhedged” with zero volumes covered by “fixed prices.”
And…This afternoon’s Municipal Court proceedings resulted in $2450 in fines for inoperable motor vehicles, weeds, dogs running at large and nuisances on private properties. It was the highest amount of levied fines in the brief existence of the city court.
