GIRARD — City officials are prepared for an increase in the cost to process speed camera tickets in Girard Municipal Court, with the cost to go from $10 to $20 per ticket effective April 1.

The court handles speed camera tickets from Girard, and Liberty and Vienna townships.

Girard Auditor Julie Coggins said at Monday’s city council meeting that speed camera collections were at $77,324 for January and February, with 46% placed in the general fund ($35,569) 19% in the street fund ($19,331) and 3% in the Wellman Theater fund ($2,319).

She said with the ticket processing fee increasing from $10 to $20, the city will be paying more.

The city paid $33,950 for January and February for the ticket processing, which included $16,975 directly to the court and the remainder to help offset operational expenses.

Liberty and Vienna also contribute funds for the court costs.

Coggins said Liberty paid $19,370 in two months, with Girard receiving $9,685 for ticket processing costs and Vienna paid $19,020 for the two months with Girard receiving $9,510 to help cover costs.

Coggins said the city speed cameras are handled by Blue Line.

Councilman Keith Schubert, D-1st Ward, said there are concerns at the state level of townships being unable to continue using speed cameras. He said there will be a large loss to the courts if Vienna and Liberty can’t continue.

Mayor Mark Zuppo said Girard still will be able to use the speed cameras but there has been legislation proposed about whether townships and counties will be able to do so.

“I have been in contact with state representatives on how to help ease the costs and burden on Girard Municipal Court,” Zuppo said.

Coggins also reported gross income tax collections are at $357,334 as of the end of February.

In other business, fire Chief Jim Petruzzi said a firefighter will need to be off for six months for National Guard duty and will use vacation and sick time during this period.

Petruzzi said during this six-month absence, 52 shifts will need to be covered, with expected overtime.

Coggins and Petruzzi explained one option being proposed is to hire a full-time firefighter to eliminate the overtime and when the other firefighter returns, make the newer firefighter into a floating-type position to fill voids when others are off for vacation or illness.

“We are discussing ideas to try and make this work,” Petruzzi said.

He said with another full-time person, the department would have 14 full-time staff.

Councilman Thomas Grumley, D-4th Ward, chairman of the health / safety committee, will set up a meeting with city officials to discuss the request.