UPDATED: Hillsboro council votes in 'strong opposition' to Ohio House Bill 5

Hillsboro City Council voted in "strong opposition" to Ohio House Bill 5 during its May 13 meeting at the Highland County Justice Center.

Resolution 2013-11, as proposed by Mayor Drew Hastings, claims that HB 5 includes language that is "detrimental to the financial stability of municipalities" and that it will "drastically reduce revenue for all municipalities in Ohio."

The resolution further states that the proposed reduction in the Local Government Fund will result in a loss of approximately $100,000 in revenue for the city, and the elimination of the Estate Tax will result in a loss of approximately $160,000 in city revenue.

With other anticipated revenue reductions, the city estimated an overall funding cut of approximately $400,000 per year.

Therefore, city council "declare(s) its strong opposition to any effort by the Ohio General Assembly to pass legislation that creates 'unfunded mandates' and a loss of revenue under the guise of municipal income tax uniformity," the resolution states.

Council President Lee Koogler noted that council has approved similar legislation in the past.

(House Bill 5 is) "presented as state legislation that is trying to bring everything under state control and take away our local control," Koogler said, "not that we can supersede what they decide to do."

Council member Bill Alexander moved to adopt Resolution 2013-11 and it was seconded by council member Peter Pence. Alexander, Pence and council members Mary Brown Turner, David Shoemaker, Brian Waller and Bonnie Parr voted in the affirmative. Council member Rod Daniels abstained, stating, "I work for the state of Ohio."

* * *

Route 124 project

• In other action, council waived the three-reading rule and passed a resolution for preliminary legislation to resurface a portion of S.R. 124 north within the city limits.

Council authorized Safety and Service Director Todd Wilkin to enter into contracts with the Director of Transportation in order to complete the project.

* * *

Video Service Provider legislation 

• Council also waived the three-reading rule and adopted Ordinance 2013-05, which authorizes the mayor to give notice to the city's video service provider of the video service provider fee and declare the issue an emergency.

The ordinance states: "Subject to Ohio Revised Code Section 1332.32 taking effect, in accordance with the requirements of ORC 1332.32, all video service providers providing video service in the city pursuant to a video service authorization obtained from the director of the Ohio Department of Commerce, shall pay Video Service Provider Fees (VSP fees) in the amount of 5 percent of gross revenues received from providing video service in the city, which gross revenue base shall include advertising revenues. The VSP fee shall be paid quarterly, not sooner than 45 days nor later than 60 days after the end of each calendar quarter."

Hastings told council, "It's still up in the air if we'll get more from advertising revenues."

Finance Committee report

• Finance Committee Chairman Peter Pence updated council on a recent committee meeting regarding the burial fees for the deaths of indigent residents.

Pence's committee met with local funeral directors Steve Thompson and Kevin Brown and had also invited Craig Edgington, who was unable to attend the meeting, Pence said.

"Mr. Brown gave an overview of the state law and what was the city's responsibility," Pence said.

Pence said the issue has been tabled for further review.

Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins told The Highland County Press that earlier this year at a countywide township trustees' meeting, it was decided that the townships needed to approve their own indigent burial fee legislation. The townships agreed to a set fee of $750.

There also had been discussion of how to classify city and village residents who are also township residents.

Collins, who provides legal counsel to the townships, said state law already makes that distinction.

* * *

• The finance committee also held two recent executive sessions in order to discuss ongoing labor negotiations.

"Labor negotiations have dragged on and (have) been rather costly with no progress," Hastings said. "At least we know the three unions' (city employees, plus police and fire) stance and we can proceed accordingly," he said.

Thus far in 2013, the city of Hillsboro has paid the Worthington law firm of Blaugrund, Herbert, Kessler, Miller, Myers & Postalakis, Inc. a total of $63,988.42 in legal fees related to the labor negotiations, according to Hillsboro City Auditor Gary Lewis.

Blaugrund, Herbert, Kessler, Miller, Myers & Postalakis, Inc. has invoiced the city:

• $23,751.60 on Jan. 10;

• $17,983.09 on Feb. 13; and,

• $22,253.73 on March 27.

* * *

Mayor's report

In his mayor's report, Hastings thanked Cundiff Tree Service and the Hillsboro Elks Lodge for their assistance in replacing some trees in the city's historic uptown district.

"It's obvious the locust trees (previously planted) were not great to begin with," Hastings said.

Hastings said that through a grant from the Elks, the locust trees were replaced with maples and Japanese lilacs. He also pointed out that when the "tree boxes were dug out in the 1990s, they were nowhere near big enough for the trees."

In the future, Hastings said, the trees will need to be replaced about every 10 years.

Safety/Service Director's report

• Safety and Service Director Todd Wilkin updated council on the recent striping project on U.S. 62 north at Harry Sauner Road. He also pointed out that traffic light installations for lefthand turn signals are almost finished.

"We also completed a street-sweeping with an outside contract," Wilkin said.

In addition, the city fulfilled a resident's request to fill in several potholes in a gravel alley near Terrace Avenue.

Wilkin also discussed the ongoing plans to implement a Neptune Radio Gateway System for local water meter reading.

"The Gateway System gives us live information every hour," Wilkin said, explaining that if a resident experienced an issue with a water leak, it could be detected quickly.

"I believe the Neptune Gateway System will save the city money," Wilkin said.

* * *

Rezoning proposal

• Council plans public hearings and legal advertisements for proposals to vacate certain alleys and for rezoning at 235, 237 and 241 East Main Street from Residential A to Residential B.

Koogler asked Wilkin if the rezoning was a recommendation from the Planning Commission. Wilkin replied that it was.

"We'll have a public hearing on zoning for Thompson Funeral Homes (who made the request)," Koogler said.

* * *

Recreation Fund increased by $10,000

• Council approved Resolution 2013-10 to increase appropriations in the Recreation Fund by $10,000 for the purchase of supplies for basic maintenance and the purchase of clean mulch for the playground area at Liberty Park.

• Auditor Gary Lewis reported the year-to-date bank report shows a balance of $6,097,765.48.