The Cassopolis Village Council continues to work on ways to streamline its budget analysis for its members.

At its monthly workshop meeting Monday night, the council was presented with another way to view the budget numbers.

“That is something that Tonia (Betty) and I, along with Cynthia Ash-Jackson have been working on,” said Cassopolis Village Manager Emilie Sarratore. “It is just another way to present the numbers and make them easier to understand. So every time there is a question about whether or not we have the money for that or how it will affect our budget this makes it a little easier for them to see what type of budget amendments we will need to make at the end of the year.

“They will also be able to see where we will fall at the end of the year, so will we fall on the plus side? Or will we be digging into our general budget.”

This new way of viewing the budget was made easier by the BSA software the village purchased earlier in the year.

“It does help us because we can generate information much easier and faster utilizing the new software,” Sarratore said.

The village will once again begin the process of attempting to tear down a building on 306 S. State Street that is has been trying to have demolished for more than a year now.

Sarratore said that a meeting with the Land Bank was positive and they have agreed to help with completing the process of demolition.

“We went to the Land Bank meeting and they are willing to work with us on the demo of that,” she said. “The village had gone out for bids for that before property ended up being turned over to the county. They (the Land Bank) feel they will be able to get better bids so we are going to putting it back out for bid.”

Sarratore said there will be another meeting with the Land Bank in December to open those bids and see where we are at and talk about numbers then.

At its last regular meeting on Nov. 15, the council approved establishing a dollar amount for fines in regards to non-compliance with rental inspections.

The village sent out approximately 40 letters to rental property landlords and tenants and began the inspections last Saturday.

Sarratore also spoke with council members about returning a grant for $5,000 that was earmarked of a skate park.

Since the Parks and Recreations Board do not seem interested in pursuing a skate park at this time, it is Sarratore’s suggestion that the money be returned.

In other actions:

• Trustee Frank Williams brought to the council’s attention another tree that needs to be removed. While the village is already spent its allotted money on tree removal, the council will need to find a way to have the tree cut down.
• Received an update on the USDA loan for sewer work in the village.
• Sarratore discussed cancelling the December workshop meeting, which is scheduled to be held Dec. 26.
• Discussed with council members the annual state holiday party.

The next regular village council meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Dec.12.