Fulton County Ohio Media

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The Delta Village Council convened on Monday, June 7, 2021 at 5:30 p.m. for their regularly scheduled session in Memorial Hall.  However, when the roll was called, three councilmen, Art Thomas, Chad Johnson and Mike Tanner were absent. 

With three of the six members not present, the Council could not reach a quorum and was unable to conduct business.  According to Section 3.02 of the Delta Charter, a quorum for Council shall consist of a majority of the members of that body.  In this case, four Councilmembers were required to proceed. 

Mayor Frank Wilton called for a motion to adjourn which was approved.  All absent Councilmembers had been excused from attending prior to the meeting.   The short proceedings were conducted for documentation purposes.

The next meeting will be held on June 21, 2021 at 5:30 p.m. in Memorial Hall.

Prior to every election, whether it be local, state or federal, the public is inundated with media advertisements encouraging us, even pleading with us, to exercise our right to vote.  Unlike direct political ads, these specific messages do not tell us how to vote, only urge us to do so because voting is the bedrock of a democratic society and gives us a voice on how we are governed.

The counter to this, a reason or excuse voiced by many eligible voters, is that their vote, their one and only vote, is insignificant and will not make a difference in the grand scheme of things.  Without going into a long listing of why this does not hold up, let’s take a look at the May 2021 election ballot for Fulton Township voters.

On that one-issue-only ballot was a 1-mil fire levy that, if passed, would have allowed the double taxing for fire service for Swanton residents also living within the Village limits to be eliminated.  This “double taxation” issue has been a point of contention for decades between the Village and the townships that share jurisdiction with Swanton.

When the votes were counted at the end of election night, the levy was losing 74-72.  When the count was deemed “official” it was tied at 74 votes apiece.  A recount was taken with the same 74-74 result which meant the levy failed to pass and the double taxation would continue.

The result of this election, pass or fail, pales in comparison to the weight a single vote could have had if only it had been cast.  If just one more Swanton/Fulton Township voter had taken a few minutes to stop in their voting precinct and cast a vote, their tax bill for fire protection for the next five years may have been smaller.  Truthfully, we will never be sure.  But it makes you think “what if”, as it should, for future elections.

For example, in November, there will be four seats on the Swanton Village Council up for election.  The actions and decisions of the Council, as it is now seated, have received a great deal of negative backlash and publicity.  Many residents are unhappy and want to see a change.  The first step is to find acceptable candidates willing to run for those seats and step two is for the voters to get to the polls.

In village elections, the number of registered voters is small but the impact of a single vote can be large.  In Fulton Township this past May it made all the difference.  The next election is still about five months away.  But let me be the first to say it.  Please Vote.

Derek Sheridan, Delta High School’s Head Boys’ Basketball Coach for the past three (3) seasons has been advised to take a year off of his head coaching duties due to health issues.

Coach Sheridan has served as a teacher and head boys’ basketball coach for well over two decades.  Sheridan has struggled with chronic lumbar spine and knee pain since the early 90’s.   This past November he spent a week in the hospital due to an infection in his right-lung and hasn’t been able to fully recover.  After several appointments, tests, and procedures he was advised by his Pulmonary Specialist to take a year off coaching.

“I was very much looking forward to coaching next season for Delta High School, I had all of our summer schedules, camps, and workouts already planned prior to learning that I needed to take a year off.  Over my career I have never missed a season, so this will be a big adjustment for my wife, Stephanie, and I.  It was important to me that Matt Brighton (DHS varsity assistant who also teaches math for Delta Middle School) took over for me.  Additionally, I wanted Adam Conrad (DHS JV coach) to return with Matt.  The administrative team at DHS, Doug Ford; Principal, Andrew Hange; Athletic Director, and Ted Haselman; Superintendent, have been very supportive and have made this transition as seamless as possible.  More importantly, they have been ultra-supportive.  The Delta administrators are extremely loyal and supportive of their coaches.  That alone made this decision much more difficult.  The most difficult aspect of this situation is my respect for the players.  They are a great group of young men whom I thoroughly enjoyed coaching & getting to know.  Hopefully I can get healthy and return to coaching in a year – I’ve got a lot of work to do in order for that to happen.  I have a lot of years left in me to coach, I just need to get my health issues straightened out.  I will be working closely with Matt and Adam from behind the scenes.  Selfishly, it will be hard to not be around the players and coaches on a daily basis.   I want them to be successful.”

Sheridan has forged a reputation over his long career for building fundamentally sound teams who play hard and strong, long-lasting relationships with his players and coaches.  Prior to being Delta’s head boys’ basketball coach, Sheridan served as the head coach for the Maumee Panthers for nine (9) years, and several other schools in Ohio and Indiana.  Coach Sheridan will continue to teach physical education for Maumee City Schools and will also continue to serve as the Clinic Director for the Northwest Ohio District VII Basketball Coaches Association.

Matt Brighton, who is replacing Sheridan, stated, Coach Sheridan has been a great mentor to me, and I have really learned a lot from him in our three years together. Coach taught me how to scout, game plan, and organize practices; those are definitely things that he is very good at.  He has put a lot of time and effort into the program, and it has made my transition much easier. I am very excited for this opportunity, and I am ready for our players to have a productive summer.”

Andrew Hange, Delta High School’s Athletic Director said the following regarding Coach Sheridan, “First off, thank you to Coach Sheridan for his dedication and commitment to the Delta Boys’ Basketball program over the last three years. We fully support Derek’s decision to step away to prioritize his health. Delta was very fortunate to have a coach of his caliber and experience to lead our program. I am excited for Coach Brighton to take over the program, and I want our players, and parents, to buy-in and put in the work starting this summer.”

Chad Burt, Wauseon’s head boys’ basketball coach stated, “Having coached against Derek for a number of years, a number of things stand out.  Derek’s teams are always well-prepared.  He gets the most out of his players, and his players always know their roles.  Derek is excellent in molding a program in such a way to maximize the potential of teams.”

Thank you,

—

Andrew Hange Athletic Director Delta HS/MS @DeltaAthletics

Delta Village Administrator Brad Peebles informed the Village Council at their most recent meeting of a Toledo Edison program that would allow all streetlights in the Village to be replaced with LED (Light Emitting Diodes) fixtures.  In his report, Mr. Peebles said the program would allow the Village to pay for the replacements over a 60-month period. 

Currently, there are 208 fixtures within the town, 20 of which were replaced in 2019 at a cost of $4,200.  The 188 remaining lights would be replaced at a cost of $207 each or a total of $38,916.  Spread out over a 60-month period with no interest equates to $648.60 per month.  It is projected that the 208 LED units will each save $2.30 per month in electrical usage giving the Village a payback in approximately 6.8 years.  “I think it’s a very wise and prudent investment,” said Mr. Peebles.  “But more so I think it’s even a bigger issue for safety because these lights are so much brighter.”

Village officials met with representatives from the Fulton County Engineers Office to discuss concerns over the bank erosion of Bad Creek around Greenlawn Cemetery.  The banks of the creek continue to wash away, undermining trees and creating the concern that the erosion will expose burial sites if not addressed.  Bad Creek is under a maintenance program administered by the County and they indicate they will retain services to clear brush and trees that present possible problems as well as place bank protection in required areas to prevent further erosion.  The work is expected to be done this year.

Fulton County Sheriff Roy Miller met with Mr. Peebles to discuss a plan going forward to promote a regional training facility for law enforcement.  It was determined the best logical plan was to work toward finding a central location easily accessible to all agencies.  A meeting is being scheduled with the Fulton County Commissioners to review the idea and solicit the use of county-owned sites to be able to present to all jurisdictions.

The next Village Council meeting will take place on June 7, 2021 at 5:30 p.m. in Memorial Hall.

Traffic safety concerns and possible resolutions involving two areas of Airport Highway within the Village limits were discussed at the May 24^th Swanton Village Council meeting.  The first area encompasses two west-bound lanes that start merging at the Main Street intersection and become one lane just past the former PNC Bank building, now Soaring Software Solutions.  The other area is about a mile west of the first at the intersection of Airport and Munson/CR2.

Approximately five years ago, the section of Airport Highway that stretched through the Village limits was repaved and the merge markings were repainted to the state standard, resulting in a loss of 163 feet of merging distance.  According to Swanton Police Chief Adam Berg, the shorter distance and time has been problematic for west-bound motorists and drivers attempting to pull out from five business-related access points.  “We haven’t had crashes.  We’ve had a lot of road rage and complaints.  The owner of Soaring Software called with concerns of how bad it’s getting with people cutting each other off,” said Chief Berg.  Another concern mentioned by the Chief was that there was no signage indicating the merger until well past the intersection.

In a meeting with Chief Berg, Village Administrator Rosanna Hoelzle and officials from the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), one of the recommended solutions was to convert the right lane approaching Main Street into a “Turn Right Only” lane.  Ms. Hoelzle emphasized this was just a possible solution.  “I believe there is opportunity to evaluate.  We’re not saying this is going to happen.  I’ll make that very clear,” she said.  “There are a lot of steps to take before something like that could happen.  But what we’re saying is, from this conversation, it seems like it could be a ‘feasible’ option.  We think it’s a good idea but there has to be support behind it based on actual facts.  It’s going to take a little bit of time.”

Chief Berg said earlier warning signage placed before the intersection might also help alleviate the problem.   Other issues to consider would be vehicles coming from the Kroger parking lot, its gas station and the adjacent strip mall as well as the timing of the traffic lights, first at Hallet Avenue then at Main Street.

The second area of concern, at Airport and Munson/CR2, has experienced 12 accidents in the past three years, several from vehicles attempting to pass on the right side of other vehicles making a left turn.  A study, jointly commissioned by the Village and Swancreek Township five years ago, recommended putting in a turn lane for east-bound vehicles turning left onto Munson Road.  The turn lane would begin in the area of the entrance to the Willow Run subdivision.

The recommendation was rejected at the time after which the contractor suggested a round-a-bout.  That option would be the most expensive up front, requiring moving the intersection slightly to the east and purchasing some of the surrounding private property.  Ms. Hoelzle said round-a-bouts are difficult to get funding for.

The Maumee Valley Planning Organization lists this intersection as one that would qualify for state improvement funding.  If the Village applies for funding by the 30^th of September of 2021, funding would not become available until 2025. 

Swancreek Township Trustee Rick Kazmierczak was in attendance and recommended the Township and the Village jointly fund another study before any firm decision is made.  The Council decided to pursue the issue further.

Pictured:  West-bound view of the merging lanes on Airport Highway just past the Main Street intersection.

Looking to replace the aging and deteriorating playground equipment at Memorial Park, the Swanton Village Council, as recommended by the Public Service Committee, voted under Emergency Resolution 2021-XX to apply for a grant from Nature Works of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to be used on the Village’s proposed 2022 Playground Equipment Project.   The grant would be a reimbursement for up to 75% but it will be for a fraction of the cost of the total project.

The Village is reviewing several cost proposals for equipment and installation and may be able to save money if it is able to install the equipment using Village labor.  Among other considerations are the types of surfaces the equipment will sit on (rubber matting vs mulch) and the possible consolidation of the equipment to maintain a close proximity for child safety purposes.  A public survey may be taken to solicit recommendations for the playground.  The Village may also reach out to community service organizations for financial and labor donations.

The Committee also discussed the property at 3810 Waterville-Swanton Road with the prospective buyers regarding an eight-inch Village waterline running through the property.  The potential buyers would like to build a house on the property which would include a driveway that would run over the top of the water line but would not make an offer on the property until the issue was resolved.  Placed in its current location in 1938, the water line runs from the Water Plant to what will be a fire hydrant servicing the Cannaley Treehouse Village.

Two options for a resolution were discussed.  One would be for the Council to allow the driveway to be built.  The other would be to relocate the line off the purchased property at the expense of the owner and by a Village-approved contractor.  Mayor Neil Toeppe cited a precedent of a similar nature in the Village that involved a water line being placed under a driveway to bring water to the Silver Buck Development that was approved by Council.  Councilman Craig Rose said the issue would need to be put to a vote and the vote would not be taken at that meeting.

General Updates – The Beard Pavilion Project is on schedule.  The roof has been completed and grading and seeding around the structure is next.  Everything is set for the Fireworks Fest on July 3, 2021.  The “gates” will open at 6:00 p.m. and the show will begin around 10:00 p.m.

After a discussion during an executive session, Council voted to approve the promotion of Swanton Firefighter Kate Cleland to Lieutenant.  Shylie Houston, also of the Swanton Fire Department, successfully completed her six-month probationary period was approved to be placed on non-probationary part-time status.

Picture:  Playground slide at Memorial Park

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Please forgive my paraphrasing of the very old and accurate African proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child”, but I firmly believe accepting this philosophy is essential for the people living in Small Town America.  Every smaller municipality in this country is made up of dynamic units that must effectively work together on some level to function for the benefit of its citizens.  These units include the local government, school districts, businesses and the citizens, especially voters, themselves.  Each unit or entity has a responsibility to effectively interact, in varying degrees, with the other three and work best when they are independently flexible and adaptable. 

In smaller communities, such as we have in Fulton County, this interaction is critical to the success and prosperity of the village or town.  These relationships cannot be dismissed, ignored or neglected without causing harm to each other and the community as a whole.  Actions by one will almost always affect the others in one way or another.  If those actions are internally and rigidly narrow in focus, the affect can be counter-productive. 

Many towns are fortunate to have peripheral organizations such as churches and community service groups that are typically made up of a cross section of the four main entities and can sometimes serve as an unofficial liaison for each other but their scope and effectiveness in those settings is limited.

Our hope, as members of the community, is that when an individual decides to run for public office or the local school board, they are motivated by wanting to work for what is best for the citizenry and improve our standing.  And, that their judgement is not directed or clouded by self-serving interests or personality conflicts or resistance to change and their decision-making process includes the consideration of the overall impact on the community.  Those sitting in seats of authority and power should be principled and guided by a moral imperative to do what is right for its citizens and not just what they are obligated to do.

Vetting candidates or encouraging people with the “right stuff” to get involved in public service is a responsibility the citizens need to take very seriously.  We also hope, that tax levies are only placed on the ballot as a last resort and, as tax-paying voters, we give them full consideration and not reject them out of hand.  As consumers, we can shop locally to support our businesses and, in turn, local employment as well as providing tax revenue for schools and village services.

As important as it is, having a voice in the way your town is governed and the kind of town you live in does not begin and end at the ballot box.  In fact, many people’s lives are affected by the actions and legislation of the governing bodies without having a vote or, in effect, without being represented.  With or without a vote, people can be involved in campaigns, initiatives, improvement projects and movements at any time and enact the change they want.

Let me be up front.  The power truly does lie with the people but the effective level of that power is a direct function of the effort the people put into making that happen. It does take work.  It takes a village.

Delta senior Jenna Hallett has signed a National Letter of Intent to continue her track and cross-country career as well as her education at Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio.  Choosing to compete at the next level was actually a recent decision she made this past fall.  “It was really just this past season of cross-country that I decided I wanted to do it in college.  I didn’t just want to study,” explained Jenna.  “I didn’t want it to be over yet.”

While being involved with the Lady Tigers running programs, Jenna will be taking on the very challenging major of Biochemistry.  However, she feels Wittenberg, about a two-hour drive from her home in Delta, is the place to achieve her lofty goals.  “I actually have a lot of friends that go there and people there were really nice when I went there to visit.  It was great,” she said.  “It’s a small school, a Lutheran school, a Christian school.  It was a good fit.”

Pictured:  Jenna signs with father Walter and mother Mary.  Brother Walter (left) and family friend Brodie Roth behind.