It's been said desperate times call for desperate measures. As Vienna Township tries to navigate some of the most desperate financial times it's ever known, the latest desperate measure will likely take the form of manned speed cameras.

"This is finances that will help both the police department and the fire department," said trustee Phil Pegg.

The three year contract with vendor Blue Line is still being ironed out.
Trustees will vote on it at next month's meeting.
Despite people's protests, trustees say the cameras are one of few band-aids they have to work with.
A $250,000 loan to help keep salaries and other bills paid provided a small glimmer of hope.
For a while.

"Doubtful," replied Pegg to our question about the status of that loan.

Hot on the heels of crippling cuts and several resignations came another Wednesday.
Fiscal officer Rhonda Root stepped down after six weeks on the job. Her letter said she simply was no longer able to devote the necessary time and attention to the position.
She tells 21 News the township currently has about $220,000 in the bank until September.
That's when roughly a half million in property tax revenue will come in.
Meanwhile, the state auditor's office is digging deeper on its investigation into how more than a million township dollars went missing. Trustees say former fiscal officer Linda McCullough moved money out of the township's money market account without their knowledge or permission, and stopped presenting reports.

Root said that $1.3 million deficit is likely to grow. Interviews are being conducted, and trustee Rich Dascenzo says he'll be the next one.

It's up to the state auditor to say whether the township can go into fiscal emergency.
21 News has been asking them for progress reports, but to no avail.
Trustees tell us they're waiting on the same answers everyone else is.

"They can demand what they want," said Pegg. "I feel sorry that I can't give them the information but I don't have it."

Root also says an audit on fiscal year 2023 will be done after a similar one on 2021-22 is finished. 

As for who will replace township trustee Robert Root, a special meeting is set for Tuesday May 14 at 5:30pm to pick from one of five applicants. Those applicants are Kim Ellis, Joe Hray, Tarin Brown, Douglas Gollan, Sr., and Michael Haddle.

The township is also accepting applications for Rhonda Root's replacement as fiscal officer.