Proposed sales tax increase put on hold
Commissioners unable to put issue on ballot as planned
County Commissioners (from left) Bill Hutson, Adam Friedrick and Pat Geissman discuss the need for more money to operate county government. File photo
MEDINA – An issue to raise the sales tax in Medina County to 7 percent will not be placed before voters in the November election as expected.
County commissioners had recently agreed to place the issue on the ballot but learned July 25 that is not possible because of a technical error in the way public hearings on the issue had been advertised.
The county is generally empowered to levy a sales tax under two sections of the Ohio Revised Code. County Administrator Scott Miller said it came to light July 24 public hearings held on a proposed sales tax increase cited ORC Section 5739.021. However, taxing capacity requires the county to levy additional sales taxes under ORC Section 5739.026.
Consequently, the public hearings on the proposed sales tax increase are invalid and it is too late to hold new hearings prior to the filing deadline for the November election.
Miller said the next opportunity to place the proposed 0.25 percent sales tax increase on the ballot will be the primary election scheduled in May 2018.
Citizens’ forum requested
Westfield Township resident James Simonelli appealed to county commissioners July 25 to establish a standing committee of citizens to provide a better forum for people to air their grievances and discuss issues before county officials act on those issues.
“Recently, at all levels of government and within our society, we have had discord, disregard and distance between elected and appointed officials and the citizens in general,” Simonelli said. “What we need more is conversation and not conflict. We need venues and officials who will enable the voice and views of the people to be expressed and discussed.”
According to Simonelli, a decision by the Board of Elections to reject petitions signed by 6,400 county residents to place a charter issue on the ballot is an example of citizens having their voices silenced.
Labor contract
County commissioners approved three-year contracts between the Medina County Sheriff and Ohio Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association covering 55 communication technicians, sergeants, deputies and deputy detectives. The agreements are retroactive to Jan. 1 and call for employees to receive 2.5 percent pay raises in each of the three years covered by the contract.
Bridge replacement
Cuyahoga Bridge and Road Inc. won a bid to replace the bridge on Repp Road in Harrisville Township at a cost of $388,000.
Outstanding seniors
County commissioners issued commendations to nine students who have been named 4-H Medina County Outstanding High School Seniors. Those seniors were selected for the honor based on their participation, dedication and service to 4-H at the local and state levels. This year’s outstanding seniors are Hannah Barco, Suzy Berry, Spencer Dillinger, Savannah Lewis, Amelia Mainzer, Jonathan Meredith, Savannah Mileti, Trevor Thompson and Lydia Winkler.
Personnel expenses
County commissioners authorized the expenses for several county employees to attend a series of out-of-town meetings and training seminars. Among those expenses are $600 for four employees of the Juvenile Court to attend a one-day seminar on teenage homicides, $340 for two members of the Sanitary Engineer’s staff to take a certification exam offered by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, and $340 for one employee in the Sheriff’s Department to take a three-day course on emergency medical dispatch.
County commissioners had recently agreed to place the issue on the ballot but learned July 25 that is not possible because of a technical error in the way public hearings on the issue had been advertised.
The county is generally empowered to levy a sales tax under two sections of the Ohio Revised Code. County Administrator Scott Miller said it came to light July 24 public hearings held on a proposed sales tax increase cited ORC Section 5739.021. However, taxing capacity requires the county to levy additional sales taxes under ORC Section 5739.026.
Consequently, the public hearings on the proposed sales tax increase are invalid and it is too late to hold new hearings prior to the filing deadline for the November election.
Miller said the next opportunity to place the proposed 0.25 percent sales tax increase on the ballot will be the primary election scheduled in May 2018.
Citizens’ forum requested
Westfield Township resident James Simonelli appealed to county commissioners July 25 to establish a standing committee of citizens to provide a better forum for people to air their grievances and discuss issues before county officials act on those issues.
“Recently, at all levels of government and within our society, we have had discord, disregard and distance between elected and appointed officials and the citizens in general,” Simonelli said. “What we need more is conversation and not conflict. We need venues and officials who will enable the voice and views of the people to be expressed and discussed.”
According to Simonelli, a decision by the Board of Elections to reject petitions signed by 6,400 county residents to place a charter issue on the ballot is an example of citizens having their voices silenced.
Labor contract
County commissioners approved three-year contracts between the Medina County Sheriff and Ohio Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association covering 55 communication technicians, sergeants, deputies and deputy detectives. The agreements are retroactive to Jan. 1 and call for employees to receive 2.5 percent pay raises in each of the three years covered by the contract.
Bridge replacement
Cuyahoga Bridge and Road Inc. won a bid to replace the bridge on Repp Road in Harrisville Township at a cost of $388,000.
Outstanding seniors
County commissioners issued commendations to nine students who have been named 4-H Medina County Outstanding High School Seniors. Those seniors were selected for the honor based on their participation, dedication and service to 4-H at the local and state levels. This year’s outstanding seniors are Hannah Barco, Suzy Berry, Spencer Dillinger, Savannah Lewis, Amelia Mainzer, Jonathan Meredith, Savannah Mileti, Trevor Thompson and Lydia Winkler.
Personnel expenses
County commissioners authorized the expenses for several county employees to attend a series of out-of-town meetings and training seminars. Among those expenses are $600 for four employees of the Juvenile Court to attend a one-day seminar on teenage homicides, $340 for two members of the Sanitary Engineer’s staff to take a certification exam offered by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, and $340 for one employee in the Sheriff’s Department to take a three-day course on emergency medical dispatch.