Village of Greenfield, OH

Julia Wise was recognized at Tuesday's Greenfield council meeting as December's citizen of the month for her continued commitment to the community. Wise (center) is pictured with (l-r) council members Phil Clyburn, Eric Borsini, Kyle Barr, Brenda Losey, and Amie Ernst, and finance director Gary Lewis standing in for city manager Todd Wilkin who was unable to attend the meeting. (photo by Angela Shepherd)

Beautiful Chaos Boutique was recognized at Tuesday's Greenfield council meeting as the winner of the Christmas storefront decorating contest. Shop owner Ashely Karnes (center) is pictured with (l-r) council members Phil Clyburn, Eric Borsini, Kyle Barr, Brenda Losey, and Amie Ernst, and finance director Gary Lewis standing in for city manager Todd Wilkin who was unable to attend the meeting. (photo by Angela Shepherd)

The winner of the Christmas home decorating contest is Jay Post and his home at 13578 Hillcrest Dr. Post (center) is pictured with (l-r) council members Phil Clyburn, Eric Borsini, Kyle Barr, Brenda Losey, and Amie Ernst, and finance director Gary Lewis standing in for city manager Todd Wilkin who was unable to attend the meeting. (photo by Angela Shepherd)

By Angela Shepherd 
Village of Greenfield

With the end of the year comes the budget appropriations for the new year, and Greenfield council members approved the village’s more than $5 million budget for 2022 at its last regular meeting of the year on Tuesday, Dec. 21.

The total appropriations approved for the village for 2022 are $5.84 million. 

If anyone would like to see the budget in its entirety or has questions regarding the budget, you can come to the third floor of the city building during normal business hours, call the village offices at 937-981-3500, or email finance director Gary Lewis at glewis@greenfieldohio.net.

While the carryover into the new year won’t be final until the end of this year, Lewis said it looks like it will be approximately $600,000.

Council member Eric Borsini, during his report on a finance committee meeting held last week where the budget received a final review, credited departments for staying within their appropriations throughout the year, which has allowed for the “healthy” carryover. That carryover, Borsini said, is a sort of cushion, and will allow for flexibility, especially amid the uncertainties of the current economy. 

In other business, award recipients were announced, beginning with the winners from two Christmas decorating contests – one for businesses and one for homes. Comments from city manager Todd Wilkin came from a written report read by Lewis as Wilkin was unable to attend Tuesday’s meeting. 

The home winner was chosen as 13578 Hillcrest Dr., the home of Jay Post. For years, Post has helped spread Christmas cheer with his lighted display all synchronized to music, and this year was no exception. Wilkin said the village is grateful for his hard work and the efforts that bring joy to so many.

The storefront decorating contest winner is Beautiful Chaos Boutique, owned by Ashely Karnes. Wilkin noted that while the storefront is attractive on its own, the addition of the Christmas decorations adds to the beauty of downtown and is a testament to Karnes’ pride in her business and the community.

Julia Wise, executive director of Highland County Community Action Organization, is December’s citizen of the month. Wise was nominated, and is receiving the award, because of her continued commitment to the Greenfield community. Wise’s career has been one of helping others and assisting those in need. She and her husband live in the village, and have long contributed to the betterment of the community. 

December’s employee of the month is Justin Brewer who has worked many years with the village, mostly as an equipment and vehicle mechanic, but also sometimes assisting with the wastewater treatment plant. More recently, Brewer has enrolled in the police academy and has been helping the police chief manage the special work detail of individuals serving the community for their court-ordered community service, something that has lent to countless hours of cleanup around the village.

On the related matter, council chair Phil Clyburn remarked on the work of that special work detail, particularly at the cemetery, and specifically with a child’s gravestone that he said had likely been covered by brush for decades. He said the workers took the time to carefully clear the brush from the child’s stone and the care to not damage it in the process. 

Clyburn said it showed not just the care that went into the job, but was also a mark of community pride. It is something that is truly appreciated, he said. 

As Tuesday’s meeting is the last one of the year, Wilkin in his report took a moment to thank the village council for its time and commitment to the village as each member works to represent the community they serve. The city manager also thanked all village employees, all of whom have an established job and job duties, but who are all willing to step outside of those duties to assist when and where they are needed. 

Wilkin in his written report also spoke of a recent article he read that conveyed something well worth considering for the local government as it works to serve Greenfield’s citizens. The idea he read about was that all decisions made at the municipal level “should be considered through a lens of civic pride.” 

He said when considering a project or initiative to simply ask, “Will this make residents proud?”

Also, “Will it enhance appearances? Will it raise standards? Will it bolster the community’s image and identity? Will it foster a stronger sense of community? Will it increase engagement and ownership?

“If not, don’t do it,” he wrote, adding that no project is worth the time, money, or effort if it does not improve the community in the areas that matter most.

In observance of Christmas and New Year’s Day, the village offices will be closed on Friday Dec. 24 and Friday Dec. 31, respectively. 

The Greenfield Village Council meets regularly in the council chambers on the third floor of the city building. An organizational meeting is scheduled for the first week of January where the regular meeting days and times will be established for the year. The regular meeting sessions throughout the year are live-streamed when possible on the village’s Facebook page. For information and updates, go to greenfieldohio.net or the Village of Greenfield, Ohio Facebook page.

Greenfield council members (l-r) Kyle Barr, Eric Borsini, Phil Clyburn, Brenda Losey, and Amie Ernst are pictured during Tuesday's meeting. (photo by Angela Shepherd)