5/3/17 – 7:21 A.M.
Seneca County residents overwhelmingly showed their support for the Seneca County Opportunity Center in the primary election. A half mill, five-year property tax that supports the facility saw 82 percent of voters cast ballots in favor of the measure.
The center helps developmentally disabled children and adults.
5/3/17 – 7:15 A.M.
An effort to pay for ambulance service in Wood County’s Henry Township passed Tuesday. The Courier reports voters in the township passed a 1.2 mill, 2-year levy that helps finance North Baltimore ambulance runs into the township. The final vote count was 34 yes votes and only one no vote.
North Baltimore had asked the Henry Township Trustees for financial support for the ambulance runs. The levy’s passage means the township can now pay the village as part of an agreement signed back in February.
MORE: The Courier
5/3/17 – 6:47 A.M.
The field of candidates in two Fostoria City Council races has narrowed. The top two vote-getters in the 1st Ward were Paula Dillon and Jonathon Puffenberger. Dillon is the incumbent in the race, while Puffenberger heads up the Seneca County Democratic Executive Committee.
The 4th Ward saw Tom Lake and Mike Spencer take the top two spots to move on to the November general election. Lake is the incumbent in the race and has served on council since 2003.
5/3/17 – 5:35 A.M.
Not too many people showed up at the polls to vote Tuesday. The Hancock County Board of Elections says a little more than 12 percent of the people who could vote ended up casting a ballot. The board says around 31,800 people in the county had something to vote on. A little more than 3,800 people voted.
Roughly a third of Hancock County residents didn’t have anything to vote on in the primary.
5/3/17 – 5:30 A.M.
Helms and Sons Excavating of Findlay is the apparent low bidder for the Dorney Plaza improvement project. The Courier reports the Hancock Regional Planning Commission opened bids last week. The company’s base bid was $456,000. That’s slightly higher than the $450,000 construction estimate from RCM Architects.
Regional planning is reviewing the plan and expects to make a recommendation to the Hancock County Commissioners soon.
Plans for Dorney Plaza include new concrete, lights and trees. Construction should start within the next two weeks. The goal is to finish by October 1.
MORE: The Courier
5/3/17 – 5:22 a.m.
Findlay City Council heard more debate over the proposed split of the service-safety director position during their Tuesday meeting. The Courier reports council decided not to slow down the process. Members voted 6-3 against a motion aimed to have a committee of-the-whole review the legislation. Councilmen Jeff Wobser and Dennis Hellman as well as Councilwoman Holly Frische voted in favor of the measure.
Several Findlay officials debated the role council should have in splitting the position. Frische and Auditor Jim Staschiak submitted letters to council arguing council needs to have a tight rein on the city’s salary ordinance. Mayor Lydia Mihalik submitted a letter that said “these are decisions specifically designed to be appointments by the mayor.”
Staschiak also outlined steps he believes the city needs to take to make the split legal. However, law director Don Rasmussen said most of the changes weren’t necessary.
Council is set for a third reading of the ordinance at their next meeting. The Courier says if it passes current Service-Safety Director Paul Schmelzer could stay on as the Safety Director. City Engineer Brian Thomas is in line for the Service Director job.
MORE: The Courier
05/02/17 – 11:23 P.M.
Findlay City Council appropriated money for the fiber loop network being spearheaded by the Findlay City School District. Service-Safety Director Paul Schmelzer said that the money serves two purposes.
The city is joining with the county in supporting the school districts program. They are matching what the county is paying for the project.
The fiber loop will provide high speed broadband capabilities to aid in communications.
05/02/17 – 11:14 P.M.
Findlay City Council passed an ordinance that restricts how companies set up their antennae’s for a wireless canopy. Service-safety director Paul Schmelzer said that this ordinance will help the city remain in control.
Schmelzer added that the city wants companies looking to set up wireless antennae’s to co-locate.
Current Ohio state law provides companies a wide range of rights. Schmelzer said that these restrictions aren’t meant to stop companies but rather to control how things go up.
5/2/17 – 9:55 P.M.
Two renewal levies in Hancock County passed during the Tuesday primary election. Voters in Arcadia approved a 2.3 mill levy for five years. 84 percent of the ballots cast were in favor of the levy. The measure pays for storm drainage in the village.
Van Buren Township residents easily passed a 2 mill, five-year levy for operating expenses. 87 percent of the ballots went in favor of the measure.
5/2/17 – 9:49 P.M.
Findlay voters overwhelmingly supported a renewal levy for the city school district. More than 73 percent of the more than 3,500 ballots cast were in favor of the 4.9 mill renewal. The levy pays for district operating expenses.
The levy’s approval means it moves from a temporary tax to a permanent tax.