City of Lima’s finance director Steven Cleaves was honored after deciding to retire at Monday evening’s council meeting.
Precious Grundy | The Lima News
LIMA — After resting for a holiday last Monday, Lima City Council reconvened for its usual business. The council met Monday evening to address needs within the city.
Council approved an ordinance to establish the budget for 2023. In January, the finance committee met for three consecutive days to set a budget. Each department within the city shared its needs for the fiscal year. Now, the budget is complete and approved.
The City of Lima’s Finance Director Steven Cleaves said in a previous Lima News article the “cash carry over” was $14 million, accounting for 35% of the spending for 2023.
“The best practice is to have at least 25% so we beat that by another third,” said Cleaves. “There is sufficient funding to ensure that the city will remain well-funded for the next three to five years.”
In other business, the city was approved to apply for a Community Entertainment District. The city will now move forward with plans to create the district for economic development.
The City of Lima will be purchasing property through its land bank program. According to the communications letter, the City of Lima requested to ‘acquire’ 112 parcels within the city currently owned by the Allen County Land Bank program.
The Lima Police Department received a donation of two German Shepherds. City Council approved for the dogs to become a new addition to the department.
“I would like to say thank you for this donation,” said Fifth Ward Council Member Jamie Dixon. “We just had one police officer dog that had fallen. To have two more possibly join is an honor. Thank you and I do stand in support of this.”
In addition, a resolution was passed to honor the late Tom Usher. He was a sports reporter for The Lima News. City Council members shared some remarks.
“Tom was a good guy; there is no other way to describe him,” said Fourth Ward Council Member Peggy Ehora. “He moved from Cincinnati and adopted Lima as his home.”
Cleaves was honored in a resolution as well, after deciding to retire. Council members thanked Cleaves for the work he completed for the City of Lima for 21 years.
“The fiscal management you were able to apply made the life of finance chairman, council members and department heads a whole lot easier,” said Council President John Nixon. “I’m glad to call you friend and the city’s finance director. I wish you the absolute best.”
Reach Precious Grundy at 567-242-0351.
