Fulton County Ohio Media

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To be clear, voter “voice” suppression is not the same as voter suppression but they are very similar in nature and intent.  Both use a set of rules, regulations and requirements designed to limit opportunities and rights granted by the United States Constitution, the right to vote and the right to free speech.  Voter suppression is a controversial issue that has been a hot-button part of American politics since before the founding of the country and has intensified tremendously in the aftermath of the 2020 election.  Voter “voice” suppression, on the other hand, is accomplished in more subtle ways and can include everyone in the country, not just the registered voter.

The Swanton Village Council has no authority to restrict voting but they do have the authority, under the Ohio Revised Code, to restrict and even eliminate the public’s voice during Village meetings.  They can and do use this power at their wont and convenience.   This year they found they had the power to suppress the Mayor’s voice during meetings by removing the “Mayor’s Report” from the agenda and did so by a 5-1 vote.

As for the public at large, to address the Swanton Village Council on any topic, you must follow the procedure laid out and approved by the Council within their “Rules of Council” at the beginning of the calendar year.  First, contact the Village Offices by noon on the Thursday prior to the meeting on Monday to be placed on that meeting’s agenda.  Second, the agenda must be approved by the President of the Council, currently Craig Rose, before it is published on that Friday.  If you clear that hurdle, and it is not a given, you are placed towards the end of the meeting agenda and are allowed to speak only on your designated topic or issue.  Council may also decide to limit the length of time you have.  They also have the right to suspend their own rules at any time if it serves their purpose.  Now you may speak.  Now you may not.

By comparison, here is the way the Delta Village Council treats anyone wanting to address their members at a meeting.  After the Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer, the Mayor will ask, “Is there anyone here who wishes to address the Council?”  No call to the Village Office needs to be made.  No speaker’s names need to appear on the agenda.  No hoops need to be jumped through.  The speaker is then asked to step to the podium and give their name and address for the record. 

Occasionally, a brief discussion will take place between the speaker and Council members.  Once finished, the Mayor will ask, “Is there anyone else who wishes to address the Council?”  If not, the meeting proceeds.  Prior to adjourning, the Mayor will ask, “Based on what was discussed during this meeting, does anyone have any comments or questions?”  In the over four years I have attended the Delta Village Council meetings, I would estimate that half of the meetings will have a speaker from the audience, usually at the beginning, and it will generally add approximately ten minutes on average to the length of the meeting.

The citizens of Delta will have their own assessment of the overall performance of their Council and their Village administrators, but in this area, they are the beneficiaries of good and progressive policy.  Their voices are not only heard by everyone in attendance at the Council meeting but can also be heard in the next day or two when the Village places the unedited audio recording on the Village’s website under Council Minutes.

The Swanton Village Council does not offer their citizens the same benefit and opportunities for their voices to be heard and for the rest of the constituency to listen to those voices.  In fact, under the current leadership of this Council, the rules have become more restrictive.  The voters of Swanton will have their chance to change the rules but will need to begin by changing the Council in November.

Pictured:  Delta citizens who spoke to Village Council as “walk-in” speakers.

Delta resident Kathy Moore spoke before the Village Council at their May 3^rd meeting regarding the status of a donation of $290 that was left to the Village by her late husband, Robert, to be used for sidewalks in the Delta Community Park.  Ms. Moore said the money was donated in April of 2018 but had not been used for the specified purpose, repairing current sidewalks in the park and installing new sidewalks to make the park more handicapped accessible, allowing easier movement of wheel chairs and other handicap walking aids to get from one field to another.  She also offered to match the donated funds if it would help move the project along.

Village Administrator Brad Peebles responded to Ms. Moore’s comments.  “She’s absolutely correct.  The $290 is part of the fund,” he said.  “But, quite honestly, the Planning Commission has recommended that we also connect the walks to create continuity.  I don’t know that it’s going to totally accomplish what Ms. Moore is hopeful of accomplishing, but it is our intent to construct walks between those areas that are not currently connected so you could continue to walk around and throughout the park without having to walk across the grass.  The cost of that project right now is likely going to be somewhere in the neighborhood of $10,000.  It is on our docket to do.  It is something that we can, hopefully, accomplish this year.”

Mr. Peebles also discussed the status of Village properties that had been put up for sale.  He said the Wood Street at Eastwood Street property has an accepted bid and he was waiting on the title search to be completed and anticipated the closing to be within a week or two.  The Madison Street property, approximately 8.5 acres, also had an accepted bid of $17,500. 

There was also talk about the Village constructing a shooting range for law enforcement on the Madison Street property but it was agreed that the funds to prepare the land as well as the construction would be cost prohibited.  Councilman Chad Johnson recommended the proceeds from the sale be used in collaboration with other county communities to construct a law enforcement training facility for all agencies to use.

Mr. Peebles informed Council he had talked with Council members Johnson and Mark Tanner along with the Fulton County Sheriff’s Department and the Villages of Archbold and Swanton regarding Mr. Johnson’s recommendation.  “I think that there is a consensus that there is a need for more than just a shooting range,” he explained. “There is need for actual training facilities that are scenario based.  I think that with the current climate in this country and the issues going on surrounding law enforcement and the interaction with the public, you’re going to see a growing demand by the Federal Government to mandate training levels.  And I think that a complex that could be used by all agencies collectively makes a lot of sense.  When it comes to training, if we can do it with six or seven agencies versus trying to do it independently, it also becomes very effective.”

A motion was made to place the funds from the sale of the Madison Street property into a line item specifically designated for the proposed law enforcement training facility.  The motion carried 5-1 with Tony Dawson casting the dissenting vote.

In other news:  The three-year agreement for electric power supply for Village operations has expired.  Energy consultant Palmer Energy has sought quotes obtaining prices and agreement for two years to expire May 2023.  The rate had dropped from $.0455 cents per KWH to $.0338 per KWH.  It is projected, based on a three-year consumption history, the Village will experience a cost savings of $11,000 over the two-year term of the agreement.

Replacement of the Helvetia water tower, which was given a life expectancy of 10 years in 2017, needs to be addressed.  Funding assistance and finance options must be reviewed and pursued in the next couple of years.

With the stats from pool usage reflected a continued decline and recognizing the need for significant investment being needed to maintain and update the complex, careful consideration must be given to the future needs and investment.  With a growing concern over the funding received to maintain the park, the possibility of a Park District was discussed and should be reviewed further.

Review of available grave plots has revealed that based on the current rate of usage, within 10 years Greenlawn Cemetery will be fully sold.  Options for the future should be considered in the next one to two years.

The next scheduled Council meeting is Monday, May 17, 2021 at 5:30 p.m. in Memorial Hall.

Pictured:  Kathy Moore addresses Council

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The Swanton Village Council recently approved Resolution 2021-10, Supporting and joining the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce in strongly urging the United States Postal Service (USPS) to consider returning mail processing operations to its sorting facility in Toledo, Ohio. 

The Resolution read, in part, “Our residents and businesses rely on prompt mail for important everyday transactions like sending invoices, paying bills, receiving medications and shipping critical supplies.  Complaints of untimely mail delivery have persisted in Northwest Ohio since USPS transferred sorting operations from the Toledo processing facility to the Michigan Metroplex Facility in 2012.  In a survey of its member businesses conducted in 2020 by the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce, more than 70 percent of responders indicated that delays in USPS mail delivery were negatively impacting them and their customers.”

A copy of the Resolution was sent by Mayor Neil Toeppe to the USPS addressed to Michael J. Gordon, Manager, Government Relations Correspondence.  A portion of the response is as follows:

“Dear Mayor Toeppe:  This responds to your recent correspondence, transmitting a copy of Resolution 2021-10 regarding the transfer of mail processing responsibilities for Northwest Ohio from the Michigan Metroplex Processing and Distribution Center (P&DC) in Pontiac, Michigan, to a mail processing facility within the State of Ohio.

As you are aware, the U.S. Postal Service operates a nationwide network of mail processing and distribution centers that accept, sort, and dispatch the nation’s mail.  Moving, removing and repurposing mail processing equipment and operations or ‘operational mail moves’ is an ongoing Postal Service strategy dating back decades that allows for more efficient, timely delivery of mail and packages.

We contacted Operations officials at postal headquarters, who advised that there are no plans to transfer mail processing operations for Northwest Ohio from the Michigan Metroplex P&DC to another facility.  Moreover, there are currently no plans to further consolidate mail processing operations at the Toledo Processing and Distribution Facility.”

The letter went on to cite the combination of the pandemic, the national election and the holiday season as the major factor in causing the delays.  The letter ended with, “Since then, service levels have improved in most areas and we full anticipate improvements in service performance.  Thank you for writing.”

Pictured:  United States Post Office in Swanton

The Evergreen Lady Vikings entered their final league game against the Swanton Lady Bulldogs with an outside chance of capturing a share of the NWOAL Softball Championship, their first since 2013.  However, in addition to having to defeat a strong and talented Bulldog team, the Vikes were going to need a major upset of the league-leading Bryan Lady Golden Bears by a sub .500 Archbold team. 

Despite the long odds, everything fell into place last Friday afternoon as Bryan, undefeated in league play, dropped a 3-2 decision at Archbold and Evergreen battled from behind in beating Swanton 7-6 in thrilling, come-from-behind, extra-inning fashion.  The Lady Vikes certainly did not make it look easy as they found themselves down 5-1 as the Bulldogs offense came out swinging, the big hit being a two-run blast deep over the centerfield fence by Brie Williams.

In the bottom of the fourth, Evergreen loaded the bases with two out for senior catcher Kennedy Keller.  Keller worked the count to 3-2 then drilled a line drive into the gap in left centerfield, clearing the bases and pulling the Vikings within 5-4.  Not wanting to talk about herself, Keller explained what the clutch hit and the victory meant to her and her teammates.  “My team has been planning this since last year when we didn’t have a season.  This whole time when we were in quarantine, we had the one goal,” she said.  “Now that we’re league champs, we’re going for District champs.  We’re not done yet.”

Evergreen managed to tie the game at 5-5 in the bottom of the sixth inning and went into the bottom of the seventh with a chance to win in regulation.  Swanton’s Taylor Forrest, pitching in relief, set down the first two batters then intentionally walked freshman phenom Macy Chamberlin, arguably the most dangerous hitter in the area.  The walk was followed by a ground ball out and the teams went to extra innings.

In the top of the eight inning, the Bulldogs took the lead when Rachel Waszak drove her fourth hit of the game up the middle, scoring Kailey Brownfield from second base to put Swanton up 6-5.  The Vikings came right back in the bottom half of the eight when Jocelyn Schuster singled and Skylee Raker doubled to put the winning run on second base.  Schuster then scored on a slow roller to tie the game while Raker was thrown out at the plate while trying to score right behind her. 

Evergreen was able to get another runner to second base and put in pinch runner Shelby Moore who the managed to proceed on to third, just 60 feet away from home.  After a failed bunt attempt, Brooklyn Richardson hit a short ground ball towards third base and Moore raced home for the score, the win and a share of the NWOAL title.

“We came in hoping to put up a lot of numbers early.  We didn’t do that.  The top of our lineup kind of struggled.  They (Swanton) have a good pitcher, two good pitchers, actually,” said Evergreen coach Matt Keller breaking down the game.  “We got a lot of help from the bottom of our lineup.  Kennedy came up and got us back in the game.  She came up big for us.  We got some timely hits and being able to tie it up in the sixth inning with some aggressive base running was huge.”

Obviously, the victory and the league title were a great way to end the regular season, especially for the four seniors Keller, Breanna Huffman, Lexie Thibodeaux and Riley Lumbrezer.  “We’ve come back in so many big games this year.  We won against Archbold with a walk-off.  I had no doubts. I knew our offense would do it,” said Huffman, the Vikings pitcher.  “I didn’t throw my best game and I got down on myself but honestly, I just relied on my defense.  I trust my defense.”

The Evergreen Lady Vikings will now take on the Delta Lady Panthers in the first game of the Sectional Tournament on Tuesday, May 11, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. at home.

Pictured:  Shelby Moore scores the winning run in the bottom of the eight inning.

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A second meeting by a group of Swanton residents and business owners looking to bring positive changes to the Village’s local governing body, aka the Village Council, was held in the banquet room of the Studio 101 Salon and Spa on Sunday, May 2, 2021 to give progress reports on the three initiatives established at the first meeting two weeks before.

The first initiative was to find civic-minded candidates who would work in the best interest of the Swanton community to run for one of four available Council seats in the November election.  At the time of this meeting, five people have expressed interest in challenging the incumbents for the office.  They are Mikey Disbrow, Sam Disbrow, Brady Harlett, Derek Kania and Patrick Messenger.  As of today, Kania, who is a Master Sergeant serving in the 180^th Tactical Fighter Wing of the Ohio Air National Guard, is the only candidate to officially declare his intentions. 

The second initiative was to place legislation on the November ballot to create an all-volunteer Economic Development Commission (EDC) for the Village of Swanton.  The purpose of the EDC would be to provide input from all aspects of the Swanton business community and act as a resource for elected officials and staff to explore and consider new economic development ideas and changes to Village policies.  The goal of the EDC would be to bring in new businesses and help grow current businesses to expand the Village’s tax base to maintain and expand Village services without increasing taxes on Swanton residents.

The third initiative was to place legislation on the November ballot for the live-streaming of Council, Committee and Commission meetings for the Village of Swanton.  The legislation would be written to include the live-streaming as well as the publishing of the recordings and written minutes.  The goal of this legislation is to provide a flexible and convenient way for the wider community to access to the Village Government’s decision-making processes.  Increased community awareness of decision-making can promote confidence in the integrity and accountability of Swanton’s appointed and elected officials.

The process and rules of collecting signatures and the critical importance of accuracy on the petition was also discussed.  According to the Fulton County Board Elections (FCBE), a minimum of 50 valid signatures of Swanton registered voters would be required to run for a seat on the Village Council.  A minimum of 10% of the number of Swanton votes in the last gubernatorial election would be required to have a legislative initiative appear on the ballot.  Petitions must be notarized be being submitted to the FCBE.

Several of the attending business owners expressed frustration with the Village Council’s apparent anti-business decisions and directives and specifically questioned the motives of Council President Craig Rose, a commercial real estate agent with the Rose Group of Key Realty and Councilman Mike Rochelle, a bank executive with Key Bank which lists small businesses as part of its customer base.  No explanation or reasoning was offered.

The next meeting is scheduled to take place on May 23, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. at Benfield Wines located at 102 N. Main Street in Swanton.