COAL GROVE--The Coal Grove Village Council outlined the 2003 governmental structure for the village in an organizational meeting Thursday.

"Everyone has done a great job," Mayor Tom McKnight said to Council. "I hope we can get along and continue to represent the village well. Sometimes it feels like we move like snails, but you look back and see that you did a lot of good for the residents of Coal Grove."

To the satisfaction of the village employees in attendance, Council unanimously accepted a new contract for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. In addition to some minor changes, the contract included a .30-cent per hour pay increase.

Council also approved the budget for the 2003 fiscal year.

Village Clerk Juanita Markel said that the general fund and the street fund will be tighter, despite the fact that overall the budget is larger and included projected income tax revenue receipts from construction projects like Wendy's Restaurant and the Ice Creek Boat ramp.

A majority of the shortage stemmed from the fact that the general fund did not have the $100,000 carryover balance it had the previous year, Markel said. For the most part those funds were used to cover sewer expenses and the construction of the Ice Creek Boat Ramp.

However, the village should be okay this fiscal year because no additional advances should be needed to the sewer fund, she said.

In other business, Council:

&t;Approved the promotions of Coal Grove Police officers Eric Spurlock and Jason Bloomfield to the ranks of Sergeant.

&t;Approved the current police roster of nine officers and the fire department roster of 16 firefighters.

&t;Appointed Councilman Phil Roush to the planning committee.

&t;Elected Larry McDaniel as President pro-tem.

&t;Approved a contract to keep Attorney Mark McCown as the village solicitor.

&t;Approved the assignments of council members to the village's eight committees.

&t;Agreed to continue to meet on the first and third Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. in the Village Hall.