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Local News

Saturday, August 22, 2009

County's November ballot set
Hancock Federal Credit Union
By MARY KATE MALONE

Staff Writer

For voters living in Findlay, the Nov. 3 ballot will include three major tax issues that officials say are crucial to the economic health of the city and Hancock County.

The county and city made last-minute reductions in their tax requests this week in hopes of winning voter support.

And the Findlay School District is trying for a second time to win support for a bond issue to build new schools. Voters rejected the bond issue in a special election Aug. 4.

Seven other tax issues will be on the ballot elsewhere in Hancock County: in the Cory-Rawson School District and the Appleseed Joint Ambulance District, in the villages of Arlington, Jenera and Mount Blanchard, and in Allen and Union townships.

Voters in two Findlay precincts will decide liquor issues.

The county's villages and townships also have council and trustee positions up for grabs, and in some cases, six or seven people are vying for four seats.

The filing deadline for issues and candidates to appear on the Nov. 3 ballot was Thursday.

Here are the tax issues on the November ballot in Hancock County. "Renewals" mean taxpayers are being asked to approve a tax for the same amount of money they are already paying. "Replacement" levies represent slight tax increases from what is currently being paid.

• Hancock County is asking voters to approve a 10-year, half-percent sales tax. The commissioners imposed the tax last September and it took effect in January. If voters do not approve it, the county will stop collecting it early next year.

The tax is expected to generate about $5 million annually. Half the money will support county departments and daily operations, and the rest will be saved for future flood control projects and county capital improvement projects.

• The City of Findlay is asking voters to approve a three-year, quarter-percent income tax to generate about $3.5 million annually for operating expenses. The tax would cost a person making the median income ($49,715) about $124 per year, according to city Auditor Robert Sprague.

• Findlay School District is asking voters to approve a 4.3-mill bond issue to help pay for construction of two middle schools and a career technical center. The owner of a home valued at $100,000 would pay about $132 annually.

• Allen Township is asking voters to renew a 0.9-mill, five-year levy for its fire department. It would cost the owner of a home valued at $100,000 about $28 per year.

• Appleseed Joint Ambulance District in the Arlington area is asking voters to replace a 0.6-mill, five-year levy to provide ambulance services and support operating expenses. The owner of a home valued at $100,000 would pay about $18.37 annually.

• Cory-Rawson School District is asking voters to approve a 4.95-mill, 29-year bond issue to generate $6.3 million to help pay for construction of a new pre-kindergarten through eighth-grade building.

Voters will also be asked to approve a 0.5-mill levy to pay for maintenance of the new building.

Combined, the taxes would cost the owner of a home valued at $100,000 about $165 annually.

The new building would be constructed at the high school campus at 3930 Hancock County 26, near Rawson. Cory-Rawson Elementary School, at 220 S. Main St. in Rawson, would be torn down.

• Union Township, southwest of Findlay, is asking voters to approve a renewal of a 2-mill, five-year levy for fire protection. It would cost the owner of a home valued at $100,000 about $61 annually.

• Arlington is asking voters to replace a 2.5-mill, five-year levy for fire equipment and firefighters. The owner of a home valued at $100,000 would pay about $77 annually.

• Jenera is asking voters to replace a 4-mill, five-year levy for current expenses. The owner of a home valued at $100,000 would pay $123 annually.

• Mount Blanchard is asking voters to renew a 5-mill, five-year levy for current expenses. It would cost the owner of a home valued at $100,000 about $153 annually.



Liquor issues

The Wal-Mart on Findlay's Tiffin Avenue is asking residents of the 2-F Precinct to approve the sale of wine and "mixed beverages" from 10 a.m. to midnight on Sundays.

The Wal-Mart on Trenton Avenue is asking residents of the 5-A Precinct to approve the sale of wine and "mixed beverages" from 10 a.m. to midnight on Sundays.



Candidate races

In Findlay, all councilmen seeking re-election face no competition except for K.C. Collette, in the 3rd Ward, and J. Randal Van Dyne in the 2nd Ward. Collette, a Republican, will face independent candidate James Routson. Republican Van Dyne will compete with Democrat Jeff Detmer.

Republican James D. Staschiak is running unopposed for city treasurer.

All villages in Hancock County have four council seats up for election, and all townships have two trustee positions up for grabs.

Arlington, Benton Ridge, Mount Blanchard, Mount Cory and Rawson also have one seat open on the Board of Public Affairs, which oversees the sewer system.

Benton Ridge has a crowded ballot, with six people seeking four open seats on Village Council.

Longtime Benton Ridge Mayor Marvin Kennedy said some in the village of 315 may think "it's time for change."

Council members illegally voted to increase their pay in 2004 and 2005 to $100 per regular meeting and $75 per special meeting. The state auditor's office later ordered the six council members to repay $5,075 to the village.

Seven people are running for four seats on the councils in McComb and Arcadia, but only three candidates are seeking the four council seats in Arlington.

In one of the township races, three people are seeking to unseat Allen Township Trustees Kevin Flanagan and Ed Huffman. Both voted against an 85 percent, 15-year property tax break for a Home Depot warehouse on Aug. 4, to the disappointment of county and city economic leaders.

But last week they approved a less generous, 60 percent, 10-year tax break for Home Depot.

The three vying for the posts are Stacy Bishop, Tony Hiatt and Robert Wisner.



School boards

Every school board in Hancock County, except Findlay, has three seats up for election this year.

Findlay has two seats open and three candidates. Incumbents Barbara Dysinger and Shane Pochard will be competing with E. Jeffery Stephani.

Arcadia School District has seven people seeking three board seats, and Cory-Rawson School District has six people running.

The three incumbents on Liberty-Benton school board face no competition. But five people are seeking three seats on Riverdale's school board.

On the Net:

Visit www.thecourier.com for a PDF of the Nov. 3 ballot.



Malone: 419-427-8417,

Send an e-mail to Mary Kate Malone
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2 Comments

Latest comments listed first.
J wrote:
Federal Money
“ Lets not forget how dependent the city is on Federal money that most likely will not be available in the future. How is the city going to make up this lost revenue? Job,wage and benefit cuts for government employees or more taxes on home owners and the middle class. ”
Sunday, August 23, 2009 12:46:30 AM
JimC wrote:
Unbelievable
“ So in Findlay, we will get hit with three quarter's of a percent sales tax increase AND roughly 1.1% increase in property taxes. Let's not forget that Obama's social program bills will come due soon! ”
Saturday, August 22, 2009 11:13:07 AM
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MITIGATION: Possible flood projects for Findlay were presented in a public meeting Monday at Winebrenner Seminary.

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Homeless Pets Hancock Co.
News Briefs Work scheduled on Findlay streets
Findlay's Main Street, northbound, will be reduced at times to one lane between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. for waterline connection.

Main Street will not be accessible from East Lincoln Street. Lincoln Street will be closed to through traffic from South Main Street to South Blanchard Street from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for continued improvement work. Access to local businesses and residents only will be maintained.

Recount planned in trustee's race
OTTAWA -- After certifying election results on Wednesday, the Putnam County Board of Elections has announced a recount will be required for the Union Township trustee race, according to Deputy Director Shelly Burkhart.

The recount will be completed on Wednesday at the county elections board office, 336 E. Main Street, Ottawa.

Incumbent Daniel R. Ellerbrock has secured his position on the board, earning 685 votes. However the remaining trustee spot will require a recount as Gery P. Wurth earned 598 votes and Mark J. Kahle collected 601 votes, according to official results.

An automatic recount is necessary if the margin is within one-half of 1 percent of total votes cast, according to state law.

Road to be closed
Forest Lake Drive, between Marion Township 237 and Indian Lake Drive/Forest Lane, will be closed today for a pipe installation.

The road is expected to open by 5 p.m., weather permitting.

Motorists are advised to use Township 242.