Fulton County Ohio Media

At the final Swanton Board of Education (BOE) meeting of 2021, Board members approved a resolution to place the renewal of an existing tax levy on May 3, 2022 election ballot.  The resolution was made in response to the substitute levy that failed by two votes in the November 2021 election.

The Resolution title language read as follows: A RESOLUTION DETERMINING TO SUBMIT TO THE ELECTORS OF THE SWANTON LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT THE QUESTION OF THE RENEWAL OF AN EXISTING TAX LEVY, PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 5705.194 TO 5705.197 OF THE REVISED CODE.

The explanation of the Resolution read as follows: This is the first resolution to submit to the electors of the School District at an election on May 3, 2022, the question of the renewal of the School District’s existing in the $825,000 emergency tax levy.  If approved, that tax would be first levied in tax year 2022 (and first collected in calendar year 2023) and would run for a period of five years. 

If approved, a certified copy of the resolution will need to be delivered to the Fulton County Auditor. Mr. Kolb, the Fulton County Auditor, will have five days after that delivery in which to certify to the Board to calculate the estimated millage required to raise the annual amount set forth in the resolution and certify that calculation and the School District’s total current tax valuation to the Board of Education.  

“It raises $825,000 a year, a fixed sum,” explained District Treasurer Joyce Kinseman.  “Back when this was first done, back in the 90’s (1996), it was at 7.4 mils.  Now it’s at 3.4 mils.  It has not, honestly, kept up with inflation but it is still a significant and critical piece of our revenue stream.  That’s what I’m asking the Board to approve.”  A motion was made to approve, seconded and passed unanimously.

Once the Resolution is returned by the Fulton County Auditor, another Resolution will be voted on at the January 2022 BOE meeting and sent to the Fulton County Board of Elections to be placed on the ballot if approved.

Pictured:  Swanton High School (South Side)

Last night, at the banquet hall of the Swanton Sports Center, members of the Swanton Lions Club handed out Christmas gifts, gathered and purchased from their annual Giving Tree program, to families that needed some help for their children this holiday season.

This year, the program staged Christmas stockings which contained a list of clothing needs of a child along with some of their toy and game likes, at several Swanton business locations including the American Legion, Benfield Wines, CK Sweets, Club Salon, First Federal Savings & Loan and Younique Boutique.  Many generous individuals took those lists and either shopped for the items or donated money to the cause and allowed Lions Club members to shop for the rest.

The Swanton Sports Center donated the space to store, sort, package and distribute all the gifts while Club members contacted all the families with pick up information.  Like every year, and not at all surprising, the generosity and support of people in the Swanton community was overwhelming.

Pictured: (L to R) Swanton Lions Club Members Holly Lawson, Dick Notestine, Jerry Salyers and Matt Fetterman

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The Swanton Bulldog bowlers held a 110-pin lead after the first two games then tacked on another 82 pins to the lead during the Baker Games round and defeated the visiting Evergreen Vikings 2198-2056 on Monday at the Swanton Sports Center

Seth Sweet (pictured) bowled games of 185 and 205 for a 390 series to lead the Bulldogs. Marty Mosher had a 364 series which included a 203 game.  Other series scores were Carson Santchi with a 347 and Scott Reside with a 312.  Makayla Balonek (113) and Mate Bates combined for a 266 series.

Evergreen’s Derek Cobb shot games of 210 and 223 for a 433 series to lead all bowlers.  Other series scores were Mason Luttrel with a 311, Michael Laver with a 288, Mitchell Gillen with a 269 and Zachary Laver with a 268.

Swanton’s victory brings their record on the season to 3-1 while Evergreen falls to 0-4.

Click on the link above to access all photos from the match.  Photos are in the jpeg format to allow for editing and can be downloaded courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.

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The Delta Panthers Bowlers hosted the Tinora Rams at the Swanton Sports Center Monday night and took both matches from the visitors with the boys winning 222-2190 and the girls winning 1710-1397.

Brody Waugh (pictured) fired games of 215 and 208 for a 423 series to pace all bowlers. Other series scores were Gabe Syverson with a 375, Kaden Hawkins with a 349 and Dylan Stricker with a 298. Ethan Cone (112) and Paul McQueen (139) combined for a 251 series.

Ciarra Fleckinger rolled games of 176 and 148 for a 324 series to lead the Lady Panthers. Other series scores were Lexi Brown with a 273, Maddy Johnston with a 268 and Karyn Gillen with a 210. Serena Shelhart (98) and Mariss DeSantos (117) combined for 215 series.

Click on the link above to access all photos. Photos are in the jpeg format to allow for editing and can be downloaded free of charge courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/6sRhzaZotHHRm8x8A

Plagued by ice-cold shooting from the outside in the first half, the Swanton Bulldogs had to rally from a nine-point deficit in the second half to get past the visiting North Central Eagles 53-44 in a non-league boys basketball game.  The Bulldogs only made two shots from the field in the first quarter and had to rely on their inside game and free throws to stay close to the Eagles who led 28-19 at halftime.

Senior Nic Borojevich scored nine of Swanton’s 19 points in the third quarter and junior Luc Borojevich added seven more as the Bulldogs cut the deficit to two points, 40-38, entering the final frame.  Nic Borojevich scored six more points in the fourth, all on foul shots, as Swanton completed the comeback to remain undefeated with a 5-0 record.

The brothers Borojevich, Nic with 24 points and Luc with 14, led the Bulldogs in scoring.  Sam Betz had five points and Hayden Callicotte had four.

Click on the link above to access all photos from the game.  Photos are in the jpeg format to allow for editing and can be downloaded for no charge courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.

At the final Village Council meeting of 2021 this Monday, December 13, Mayor Neil Toeppe, Administrator Rosanna Hoelzle and all six Council members listened to a presentation regarding the construction of an event venue on 26 acres of property in the Turtle Creek Circle area on Airport Highway in Swanton.

The presentation was given by Dave and Pam Mills, a married couple who will be the proprietors of the venue, which is expected to break ground in Spring of 2022.  The structure will a long barn style building with an A-shaped roof with the primary purpose of hosting weddings, banquets, trade shows and other large gatherings with a capacity of 300.

The name of the new venue will be Birchwood Meadow and will also have business meeting rooms separate from the main hall and there will be a large kitchen available for outside caterers to use during events.  Other plans include the having six to eight “tiny” houses on the property for guests attending the events to stay in.  Long range plans include a cabin lodge, also for event guests.

The estimated opening date for Birchwood Meadow is sometime in November of 2022.  Tours for the public and event-related vendors will be scheduled.

Picture:  Architect rendering of a similar model. Not the actual structure.

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The 5-0 Stryker Lady Panthers came into Swanton’s McQuade Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon and used hot long-range shooting to battle the Lady Bulldogs to a 23-23 tie after the first half.  However, it was the Swanton offense that caught fire in the third quarter, outscoring Stryker 23-8 as the Bulldogs went on to a 61-50 victory over the visitors.

The Panther offense reignited in the fourth quarter, draining five three-point shots and hitting four of five free throws, but the Bulldogs kept pace with six two-pointers and three of four foul shots for the 11-point win.

Senior Frankie Nelson was the game-high scorer with 21 points.  She got balanced scoring help from Katie Floyd with 11 points, Emma Crow with 10 points and Trista Eitniear with eight.

The win moves Swanton’s record to 4-2 while Stryker drops to 5-1.

Click on the link above to access all photos. Photos are in the jpeg format to allow for editing and can be downloaded for no charge courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/fZxM8VHDwRPKUpMeA

Swanton senior Marty Mosher rolled games of 209 and 203 for a 412 series to top all bowlers as the Bulldogs defeated the Delta Panthers 2159-2061 in NWOAL action at the Swanton Sports Center. Swanton took the first game 842-732, Delta came back in game two 832-816 but the Bulldogs won the Baker round 501-497 to win the match by 98 pins.

Other Swanton series scores were Seth Sweet (382), Scott Reside (346), Makayla Balonek (269) and Carson Santchi (249).

Kaden Hawkins had games of 188 and 198 for a 386 series to lead the Panthers. Other Delta series scores were Brody Waugh (359), Gabe Syverson (314), Dylan Stricker (282) and Ethan Cone/ Paul McQueen (223).

Click on the link above to access all photos from the match. Photos are in the jpeg format to allow for editing and can be downloaded for free courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.

At the Monday, December 6^th meeting, The Delta Village Council voted unanimously (6-0) to approve the First Reading of Ordinance 21-21.  The heading of the Ordinance reads, “An ordinance directing the administration to prepare and file with the Fulton County Board of Elections ballot language to be placed on the ballot for the General Election to be conducted May 3, 2022, approving the cultivation, processing and/or wholesaling, retailing and dispensing of medical marijuana under certain terms and conditions in the Village of Delta, Fulton County, Ohio.”

Language contained within the body of the Ordinance states, “WHEREAS, following the presentation by individuals and organizations from the Village opposing this issue, Council has determined it is in the best interest of the community to allow the issue to be placed before the voting public of Delta at the next general election which shall be May 3, 2022.”

Full approval will require the passing of two more readings, one each at the next two Council meetings.

Later in the meeting, Mayor Frank Wilton announced the formation of a committee to conduct a search for a new Village Administrator.  The committee will be comprised of Councilmembers Ashley Todd, Michael Tanner and Art Thomas.  Current Administrator Brad Peebles has expressed his intent to retire sometime this summer, possibly in June or July.

In other legislation news, the Third and Final reading of Ordinance 21-17, establishing salaries and wages for employees of the Village of Delta was approved 6-0.  Emergency Ordinance 21-20, to supplement Ordinance 20-30 to make supplemental appropriations for the current expenses of the Village of Delta for the Fiscal Year ending December 31, 2021 was approved 6-0. 

The First Reading of Resolution 21-21, authorizing the Village Administrator to advertise for bids and enter into a contract for the Capital Improvement Projects in 2022 also passed 6-0.  There will be three projects to be bid.  “It would be the intent to bid these projects as soon after the first of the year as possible with the anticipation and hope we’ll get the best pricing going into the early construction season,” said Mr. Peebles.  “These projects consist of the resurfacing of Madison Street from Main to Fernwood, the construction of public parking at 200 W. Main Street and also the West Main Street Beautification Wall at W. Main and Main.”

The Council also discussed the potential for expanding the capacity of the Wastewater Treatment Plant.  With the recent EPA requirement to treat storm water the Delta plant is operating close to, at or over capacity, especially during heavy storms with large rainfall amounts.  Mr. Peebles informed Council that the EPA requires any municipality’s plant operating at or above 80% capacity look into sewer expansion.

Currently, Mr. Peebles is obtaining engineering quotes for expansion and, with the President Biden’s administration expected to issue significant grant funds directed at water and sewer projects.  “It is our belief that if we are engineered ready to build before those dollars are released, we stand a better chance of obtaining grant assistance to build a plant expansion,” he stated. An increased capacity of 250,000 gallons per day is estimated to cost $5,000,000.

The next Council meeting will be held on December 20, 2021 at 5:30 PM in Memorial Hall.

Pictured:  Delta Village Administrator Brad Peebles

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Click on the link above to access all photos from this game. Photos are in the jpeg format and can be downloaded for no charge courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.