Highlights of the Westlake City Council meeting included news about trash pickup, the city’s new street sweeper and the addition of a new officer to the Westlake Police Department. Lindsey Francis brings 25 years of experience, according to Chief of Police Chris Wilrye.

The council approved the city entering into an agreement with Horseshoe Casino for a three-car electric car-charging station. The Casino and the city will split profits. The city will use monies from a grant it received in 2018.

City staff, department heads and administration met with the Waste Management District manager this week, according to Mayor Hal McMillin. Residents will be seeing improvements regarding cans and trash that has, in the past, been left in the streets. Residents are responsible for moving trash cans from street to house after trash is picked up on Friday. Failure to do so could result in “tagged” cans.

WM district manager said the company will pick up limbs, freon-drained appliances, appliances that don’t use freon, mattresses and furniture on Fridays.

“That doesn’t mean you can put a whole house full of trash on the street. We’re talking one piece,” the mayor said. “If residents have any questions about Waste Management and trash pick-up, they should contact City Hall.”

After the meeting, Public Works Director Damon Hardesty said appliances and furniture should be put out on the day of pickup. It is especially important to put out upholstered items and mattresses on the day of pick up. These items absorb water making them too heavy to safely lift and dispose of.

The inaugural run of the street sweeper stirred up quite the dust, according to the Mayor. That’s because the streets haven’t been cleaned in some time and it’s been very dry. The street sweeper does use water, and it vacuums up debris. This will help the city’s drainage system work properly, and will be especially advantageous when the city starts to edge streets.

The mayor said water bills that are not paid by July 28 will result in a disconnect. That’s ten days after the bill is due. Once the cut offs go out, there will be a $50 reconnect fee.

Incentives for opportunity zone investors

In a separate meeting, the Westlake Economic Development Board approved a new tax in the Westlake Opportunity District Monday.

It will add two percent sales and use tax upon the sale at retail, the lease, the use, or the consumption of tangible personal property and on sales of services and hotel occupancy in the district located from Horseshoe Casino down Miller Avenue in old downtown Westlake, starting in October 2023.

Mayor Hal McMillin said the new tax will impact new business, not residential property.  “In that area, the tax would go from 10.25 to 12.25 percent,” he said, “with the two percent directly benefiting the developers.”