Wednesday, November 7th, 2012

St. Henry voters drown income tax levy

By Shelley Grieshop
Photo by Mark Pummell/The Daily Standard

Mercer County Treasurer Dave Kaiser of St. Henry joins other officials as they scan election results Tuesday night at the courthouse. St. Henry's proposed 1/2 percent income tax increase was defeated by 54 percent of voters. Kaiser, who ran unopposed, will continue another term as county treasurer.

ST. HENRY - Village officials this morning axed the idea for a new swimming pool and will look elsewhere for needed operating funds after voters nixed a permanent 1/2 percent income tax increase.
"We're obviously disappointed," village administrator Ron Gelhaus said this morning. "We were trying to be proactive ... We'll continue to do the best we can."
Gelhaus said residents were told during the levy campaign that if it failed, the town would "not build a swimming pool anytime soon."
"We can't do it with the funds we have," he said.
The tax went down 778 votes (54.48 percent) to 650 votes (45.52 percent). Figures show 82.1 percent of the town's registered voters weighed in on the issue.
Gelhaus and St. Henry Mayor Jeff Mescher thanked those who supported the levy and the committee who worked hard to educate residents.
Mescher said the village's finance committee and council will "look to the future to make the improvements that are needed and find the means to fund these projects."
The proposed income tax would have raised the town's current rate to 1 1/2 percent. A resident with an annual income of $50,000 would have paid an additional $250 per year.
The new tax would have generated about $480,000 annually the first five years to replace the town's 40-year-old swimming pool with one costing $1.5 to $1.9 million. Beginning the sixth year, the levy would have collected $356,000 each year to fund operating expenses and special projects.
Ongoing reductions in local government funding and other revenues is expected to drain village funds by up to $115,000 annually, council members have said.
Officials also said that if the aging pool needs major renovations in the future and funds aren't available, it may close.
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CELINA - School district residents overwhelmingly denied a bond issue that would have built a new elementary school.
Nearly 68 percent of voters - or 5,806 people - living in the Celina school district voted against the levy, and about 32 percent - or 2,789 people - voted for it. [More]
A Fort Recovery High School teacher was arrested Tuesday afternoon on a sex-related charge involving a former student.
Christopher Alan Summers, 32, 671 Woodlawn Ave., St. Henry, faces one count of sexual battery, a third-degree felony. He remains in the Mercer County Detention Facility. [More]
Voters in Mercer and Auglaize counties came out in droves to participate in the presidential election, either casting early absentee ballots or going to the polls Tuesday. [More]
Two new faces and an incumbent will fill clerk of court and recorder positions in Mercer and Auglaize counties.
In Mercer County, recorder Tammy Barger, a Democrat, was ousted by newcomer Angie King, a Republican. Barger, of Celina, has held the post for 12 years. [More]
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Mercer County fire departments will see an increase in funding after all fire protection levies passed in Tuesday's election.
Fire departments gaining funding include Rockford, Mendon, Chattanooga, Celina, Chickasaw, Osgood and North Star.
Republican incumbents representing the Grand Lake area were victorious in their bids for re-election on Tuesday.
Ohio Sen. Keith Faber, R-Celina, and state Rep. Jim Buchy, R-Greenville, both scored huge victories over their opponents.
A 38-year-old Montezuma man, who formerly served as a part-time police officer in St. Henry, faces four counts of endangering children after he allegedly shocked them and touched them inappropriately.
Republican U.S. Congressmen Bob Latta and Jim Jordan each secured another two-year term on Tuesday after easily defeating their rivals. Democratic U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown also held onto his seat, beating out Republican Josh Mandel.
The fate of a proposed replacement tax levy in Mendon is still too close to call.
The tally unofficially was 130 to 127 in favor of the five-year,
CELINA - Mercer County Commissioners on Tuesday chose a Celina company and its exceptionally low bid to repair the storm-damaged grandstand at the fairgrounds.
WAPAKONETA - Auglaize County could see new businesses in the automotive and food processing industries through the work of the county economic development coalition.
MINSTER - Village administrator Don Harrod predicts 2013 will be quieter than the past 12 months in terms of large-scale projects.
Harrod told the
Superstorm Sandy had postponed eighth-grade event
COLDWATER - Coldwater school board members on Tuesday approved an amended contract with K&K Tours to reschedule the eighth-grade Washington, D.C., trip for Nov. 25.
MINSTER - With the new wastewater treatment plant online, demolition of old structures off First Street may start this winter.
Village administrator Don Harrod told council members Tuesday night the goal is to have everything done by spring to allow resurfacing of driveways and grass planting.
Council approves zoning change on Bridge Street for store
ROCKFORD - Residents likely will see a new Dollar General store in town by the end of 2013.
Council members on Tuesday approved changing the zoning of a portion of a vacant lot at 19 1/2 W. Bridge St. from residential to business to allow for construction of the discount store.
CELINA - Celina Merchant Association members on Tuesday discussed future downtown special events, including possible changes to the Celina Lake Festival.
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