News Briefs
CAUV filing deadline
Wood County Auditor Matthew Oestreich has announced that the 2025 Current Agricultural Use Value (CAUV) renewal forms have been mailed to property owners currently enrolled in the program.
Eligible property owners who are not currently enrolled may also apply for the program now.
In accordance with Ohio law, CAUV applications are to be filed with the county auditor’s office by the first Monday in March, this year by March 3. Eligible property owners must renew each year with no renewal fee. There is a $25 initial filing fee for all new applications.
If renewal forms are not returned by March 4, the county auditor will be required by law to value the property at its market value and recoup the tax savings for the past three years.
Current Agricultural Use Value authorizes the county auditor to assess farmland at its crop production value rather than its market value. It protects and preserves farming operations by gearing the tax base to the production of the land rather than its potential for development.
Ohio voters approved a constitutional amendment that created the program, and since 1974 most of the state’s agricultural land has been taxed at this value instead of market value.
CAUV soil values are set by the Ohio Department of Taxation and are adjusted every three years for each county. New values were issued for the 2023 tax year and are effective for tax years 2023-25.
“Wood County has 9,496 individual real estate parcels on Ag Use,” Oestreich said. “A total of 311,394 acres in this program brought a tax savings to agricultural landowners last year of nearly $22,000,000.”
Call the Wood County Auditor’s Office at 419-354-9174 for more information.
Board meeting
date changed
The meeting date of the next regular meeting of the Eastwood school board has been changed to Jan. 27 at 6 p.m. in the administrative offices.
The Wellness Committee will meet Jan. 16 at 6 p.m. at 6 p.m. in the upstairs of the bus garage on campus.
Road limits
to be lowered
Motorists in Ottawa County will be seeing new signs along county roads as the winter progresses.
The Ottawa County commissioners have approved a reduction of up to 50 percent in the maximum legal load limit for vehicles on county roads, effective Feb. 1.
The county engineer’s office, which recommended the reduction, is authorized to place signs indicating load limits as necessary.
The reduction will remain in effect while there is freezing and thawing along the roads.
Anyone needing a permit for hauling on the affected roads should contact the engineer’s office and apply for a moving permit.
Lake commission
holding its 33rd
photo contest
The Ohio Lake Erie Commission has announced its 33rd Annual Life on Lake Erie Photo Contest.
The contest invites photographers to submit up to five images that represent life on Lake Erie – whether that's a scenic capture of the Great Lake Erie, its wildlife, recreation activities, or events.
Entries will be judged based on relevancy to the theme, creativity, and visual quality and composition.
Prizes will be awarded to the top entries and photographs will be featured on the Ohio Lake Erie website, social channels, and at partner venues.
Submissions for the photo contest are due by July 31, 2025. Participants can submit up to five photographs for consideration. Each photo should be submitted as a high-resolution digital file along with a completed entry form and submitted to lakeeriecommission@lakeerie.ohio.gov.
"The Life on Lake Erie Photo Contest has become a cherished tradition, celebrating the beauty and legacy of Lake Erie through the lens of our community," Ohio Lake Erie Commission Executive Director, Joy Mulinex, said.
For more information, visit lakeerie.ohio.gov.