Connellsville City Council opens new accounts
CONNELLSVILLE — City Council took steps Tuesday to get more bang from city bucks.
Council voted to close one bank account and opened two new accounts to take advantage of higher interest rates.
A savings account at Scottdale Bank and Trust was closed and the money was transferred to a new account at Somerset Trust Co.
Councilman Ethan Keedy, the director of accounts and finance, said Somerset Trust’s interest rate of 0.5 percent was higher than Scottdale Bank’s interest rate.
In addition, $100,000 was transferred from a new Somerset Trust account to a Pennsylvania Local Government Investment Trust investment account for six months at an interest rate of 1.25 percent.
In unrelated business, council unanimously voted to adopt an ordinance banning the use of all tobacco products at city parks and playgrounds.
City workers will install 50 signs explaining the ban at the parks, said Councilwoman Melissa Tzan, director of buildings and grounds.
The ordinance allows tobacco use in designated areas in Yough Park and East Park if a $25 park permit has been obtained.
In other business, council:
n Approved advertising for bids to stone and concrete to replace the boat ramp at Yough Park and for bids to rent an excavator to do the work.
n Adopted a flood plain ordinance.
n Approved a lease with Laurel Mountain Leasing for a 2017 Ford Explorer for the police department for $748 a month for four years.
n Rescheduled the next council meeting to July 13 at 6 p.m.
n Approved a refund of $1,519 in real estate taxes to more than a dozen flood victims who paid their taxes before the Aug. 28 flood.
n Appointed Cassandra Calkins as health board secretary at $65 a month.