Nichols will be Chesapeake fiscal officer

CHESAPEAKE — Chesapeake council member Kenny Wolfe has been named as the village’s mayor pro tempore.

The council voted Wolfe to the position again at Monday’s meeting in a 3-0 vote.
Wolfe passed on voting and council members Danny Burd and Richard Stover were not present.

The council also voted to appoint Christine Nichols to the position of fiscal officer in a 4-0 vote.

Nichols has been serving in the position since January and the vote was retroactive.

The council voted last year to eliminate the elected position of clerk-treasurer and replace it with an appointed fiscal officer, following the retirement of longtime Clerk Treasurer Peggy Houston in late 2017.

In other business, the council:

• Heard from several residents of North Huntington Heights, who voiced concerns about dumping and other matters in their neighborhood. Mayor Tommy Templeton said clean-up of trash would be possible when the village hires a new worker for the street department. The position has been vacant for two months. Templeton said he anticipates a hire soon.

• Voted to request an estimate of property tax revenue from the auditor’s office for the purpose of putting a renewal of the 1.5 mill fire levy on the fall ballot.

The council also heard from the fire department, who had requested an update of the levy, which they said was based on old data. Templeton said he opposed to asking for more tax funds from “cash-strapped” residents and council members also voiced objections. However, they discussed the possibility of meeting with County Auditor Jason Stephens to learn more about the option.

Templeton also said the village needs to focus more on the police department, which he said has greater financial need.

• Heard from the fire department. Secretary Cheryl Crum said they had a “pretty busy” January and had responded to 35 calls, including an illegal burn and an attempted arson. She said the department had also installed security cameras at the station, paid for “out of pocket” and that they will present a receipt to the village for reimbursement. The cameras and other equipment were damaged in a lightning strike last year and have been covered by insurance. Crum said the cameras came in “under budget.”

• Heard from interim police chief Randy Thompson, who said the department had received a donation of facial recognition software,valued at $600, from local company Crosscutting Concepts.

• Met in executive session, with no action taken.