By Carol McIntire
Editor
August 19, 2008
The times, they are a changing.
Due to increasing demands on the county budget and a lack of anticipated income, county commissioners took a big step Monday, but not without some questions.
Commissioners agreed, for the first time in history, to ask Carroll County voters to support the Carroll County Sheriff’s Department by passing a tax levy at the Nov. 4 general election.
Sheriff Dale Williams told commissioners he understood the county’s budget “was going to be tight” next year and said he and Commissioner President Larry Garner had worked on putting together a resolution to ask voters to approve a half mill levy in November.
“It’s my understanding from the county auditor it would cost the owner of a $150,000 home about $15 per year,” Williams said. The levy would be for five years, starting in tax year 2009, and be collected beginning in 2010.
The levy would generate approximately $275,000 per year.
When reviewing the resolution, Commissioner Tom Wheaton asked about the wording which stated the levy would be for the “criminal justice system” in Carroll County and operation of the Sheriff’s Department.
“”I would like to have an explanation on the words criminal justice system,” Wheaton said. “If we have a request for the money, what can it be used for? Can the courts issue an order or entry and get the money? Don’t get me wrong, I’m not against opening the front doors of the courthouse, but I don’t want this money to be used to open them. I want the money to be used wisely and the people to know what they’re voting on.”
Garner said the resolution was drawn up with the assistance of Prosecutor Donald Burns.
“It is my understanding commissioners have control of the money and how it is used,” Garner stated.
Commissioners placed a phone call to Burns’ office for clarification, and the prosecutor obliged with a visit to the meeting room.
“There is no way the resolution can state the levy is only for the sheriff’s department according to Ohio Revised Code,” Burns explained. “The language must state criminal justice system which includes common pleas courts, prosecuting attorney and sheriff. As commissioners, you are the taxing authority and you can specify the money goes to the sheriff’s department.”
Burns noted the law also says commissioners must finance common pleas courts.
Wheaton noted the levy would basically be a relief source for the general fund, and if necessary, commissioners could then finance the courts from the general fund.
The Sheriff’s Department budget totaled nearly $1.5 million for 2008. Williams said he has to deal with a union contract that expires in June 2009 and repairs to the jail.
In an unrelated matter, Richard Cramblett approached commissioners regarding Franklin St. in Harlem Springs. Cramblett presented a petition from township trustees stating their intentions to close Franklin St. According to Cramblett, trustees then voted to place it on a “non-maintained” status. Cramblett would like the issue resolved because he wants to build a line fence on his property but before he can, the property needs to be surveyed. Garner spoke with the county highway department about doing a survey and the engineer said he did not want to get involved in surveying a state highway right of way.
If the street was placed on a non-maintained status, the trustees do not have to present it to commissioners. However, if trustees elected to close it, the issue has to be brought before commissioners and there would be a public hearing and a petition of at least 12 residents in the area. Commissioners stated they have no jurisdiction over trustees but if trustees voted to close it, they need to follow through.
Cramblett then discussed a possible junkyard in Harlem Springs. He told commissioners he observed a puddle of gas on the ground as well as antifreeze from where Robert Bennett had removed the exhaust system from a Ford Pinto. Cramblett feels this is “kind of contamination.” Commissioner Wheaton told Cramblett they will have Tom Cottis, director of the Emergency Management Agency, contact him and Cottis would decide whether to get the Environmental Protection Agency involved.
Cramblett also brought up the issue of safety, as Bennett is loading cars onto a roll on a public highway and he wondered if something would happen who would be responsible. Garner told Cramblett he will follow up on both issues and get back with him.
In other business, commissioners:
-LEARNED from Emergency Management Agency (EMA) Director Tom Cottis the county expects to have $773.00 worth of MARC radio equipment (received through a grant) operating within the next two to three weeks.
- LEARNED from Wayne Chunat, Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development director, those two groups and the Carroll County District Library have been awarded a $2,500 grant from American Electric Power (AEP) to create a Small Business Resource Center at the Carroll County District Library in Carrollton.
-RECEVED the weekly dog pound report showing 39 impounded, 35 tagged, four redeemed and one pit bull put to sleep. There were two citations for no dog license.
-AGREED to investigate the possibility of drilling water wells to supply water to the Carroll County Commerce Park on SR 9 north of the village.
-GRANTED a three percent pay increase to Sonja Leggett, who recently received an associate’s degree in business management from Colorado Technical University, an online school, as per the county’s guidelines to recognize those who receive degrees in the area they are employed within the county.
-RECEIVED the monthly Golden Age Retreat report showing 16 male and 26 female residents. Superintendent Ollie Hawkins invited commissioners as well as the community to the Golden Age Retreat’s open house Aug. 30. |
