Oil City Council approved the hiring of two new full-time firefighters.
Interim Oil City fire Chief Derek Long introduced firefighter and paramedic Kobe Kahle and firefighter and EMT Tim Alex to City Council at council’s meeting on Thursday evening.
Long said both firefighters have worked part time at the Oil City Fire Department for some time and they are being tapped to fill two full-time positions that opened due to two retirements.
Kahle has been a part-time firefighter with Oil City for three years and Alex has been with the city part time for two years.
“For them it has almost been an internship. This part time is working out perfectly,” City Manager Mark Schroyer said.
He added that they are anticipating as many as four retirements from the fire department next year.
“Between us and Franklin we have 15 candidates. Five have said they are interested in Oil City,” Schroyer said.
City finances
Michelle Hoovler, the city’s financial officer, updated council that Oil City’s finances were “looking good” during the first quarter.
Hoovler said the amount of real estate taxes paid this year is “up significantly” but it is too early in the year to tell if this means the total amount of real estate taxes paid by year’s end will be higher than normal.
Water and sewer revenues are down, Hoovler said. She added this may be because some outlying areas that use Oil City’s water and sewer services have been cutting back.
In the first quarter, Hoovler said the city’s revenues are looking good and on the expense side, not too many large purchases have been made out of the general fund so far this year.
One large purchase this year was a vactor truck for the city sewer department that cost over $300,000.
“We paid cash out of the sewer fund for the vactor truck. We didn’t have to take out a loan,” Hoovler said.
The city also purchased a pickup truck for the sewer department and a pickup truck for the water department, Hoovler said.
City pool
Schroyer told council everything is on track for the city pool to open June 12.
Schroyer added, “We should have a new pool cover ready by closing in late September. It cost about $45,000. We will keep the same cover on the baby pool, but we are replacing the cover on the big pool.
“Season passes are selling quickly. The pool has a reputation regionally as a well-managed pool that is inexpensive.”
Oil Heritage Festival
Schroyer announced a contract has been finalized for the Clarks, a Pittsburgh-area band, to perform at Oil Heritage Festival on Saturday July 24.
“I expect it will be well attended, people are looking forward to this. It will be good for the city,” Schroyer said.
The evening before, Lawyers, Guns and Money will perform, Schroyer said.
The concerts, he said, will be beneficial to the businesses in the downtown.
“The hotel should be open by then,” Schroyer said.
