Paris shows rise in retail sales tax revenue for 17th straight month

The City of Paris brought in $1,177,018 in retail sales tax revenue in June, marking the 17th straight month the city's revenues had gone up from the same month the prior year.

The increase in June was 4.58% from June 2022.

The 2022-23 fiscal year ended at the end of June with the city showing an increase of 5.05% from the previous year.

The city had several large expenses in June, including $1.2 million for asphalt used for street paving by the street department.

The city had to pay $385,000 in June for workers compensation and liability insurance, $102,000 as principal payment on the Eiffel Tower splash pad, $71,000 for equipment for patrol cars, $96,000 for a bucket truck and $59,000 for a new truck for the street department.

City Manager Kim Foster said during Thursday's Paris Commission meeting that many city employees had pitched in to help with various duties because several employees were out with COVID this week.

The city has also hired a new finance director.

Tammie Hopper started recently in that position, replacing Traci Shannon, who retired.

Hopper was county trustee in Lake County for 24 years, then worked for about a year and a half in the Hamilton County trustee's office.

In other action from the meeting Thursday:

City Attorney James Smith made a presentation to the commission regarding a dispute the city is having with local developer Wyatt Owens.

The issue involves a sidewalk along Volunteer Drive.

Smith explained that the city had received a complaint from a citizen in July 2022 who said the sidewalk did not comply with the American Disabilities Act.

The discrepancy apparently has to do with the slope of the sidewalk, which is legally supposed to be less than 2%.

Acting upon the complaint, the city discovered the slope of the sidewalk in question was actually at 8% in some spots and 11% in others, Smith said.

After months of discussion — and after Smith became the city attorney — Smith suggested the city do the work itself. The city did that in January of this year.

However, a resident of one of the houses fronted by the sidewalk said he had problems with it, indicating some vehicles that had come into and out of his driveway had been damaged.

Owens' company then replaced the sidewalk last month.

The resident said during Thursday's meeting that he was happy with the work Owens' company had done.

However, Smith indicated that the latest work by Owens put the slope back at 8%, which means it's again not compliant with the ADA.

Smith suggested three options for the city — do nothing but assume risk of non-compliance; remove the sidewalk again, which would not benefit the home owner or Owens; or hire an engineer to study the issue and figure out the curb-cuts in a way that would accommodate both sides.

A water line that is underneath the sidewalk is a factor in the issue. The sidewalk could be cut more easily to fit ADA guidelines if the water line was moved, but that would be a big expense.

Commissioners Sam Tharpe and Jackie Jones both said they felt a compromise can be reached if both sides will sit down and talk about it.

Foster said the city had failed to receive a $500,000 grant for an inclusive playground.

The city attempted to get the grant with hopes of placing the playground, which would meet guidelines and have attractions for special needs children, at Ogburn Park.

Foster said 85 applications were filed for seven available grants, and that Paris finished ninth on the list.

The city is committed to the project and has pledged to keep trying for future grants.