News Briefs Week Of 3/21/2022

By: 
Staff Writer

Toledo City Council
redistricting meetings
Toledo Mayor Kapszukiewicz and members of the Reapportionment Committee announced the process for redistricting City Council during a press conference on March 14. Upcoming public meetings about the redistricting process were also announced.
Every 10 years after the decennial census, the City of Toledo is required by the city charter to redraw city council districts. These districts are required to follow the existing voting precinct lines and need to have a population count within 5 percent of each district.
The census data is then used to determine the population shifts and change to modify the boundaries of the council districts.
The Reapportionment Committee, which is appointed by Mayor Kapszukiewicz, includes Mike Beazley, Ken Fallows, Devon Overton, Sally Perz, Donna Owens and Brittany Jones.
The City of Toledo Reapportionment Committee is in the process of modifying these boundaries, and is requesting public feedback via four public meetings for residents to hear the proposals and provide feedback in an online survey.
The public meeting schedule includes:
• Wednesday, March 30, Mott Branch Library, 6-7:30 p.m. Community Room B.
• Thursday, March 31, Heatherdowns Library, 6-7:30 p.m., Community Rooms A+B.
• Monday, April 4, Reynolds Corners Library, 6-7:30 p.m., Large Community Room 4.
• Thursday, April 7, Kent Branch Library, 6-7:30 p.m., Community Room A.
An online survey, more information, and maps of the current and proposed City Council districts can be found online at toledo.oh.gov/redistricting.

Prescribed fire season
The Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge is entering its spring prescribed fire season, which typically runs now through May 15. During this time, smoke may be visible above refuge properties throughout Ottawa and Lucas counties.
Prescribed burning on the refuge is conducted to improve wildlife habitat and reduce the accumulation of fuels that lead to uncontrolled wildfires. Ottawa NWR has historically treated between 100 and 800 acres annually with prescribed fire. A prescribed fire during this time period is especially productive for habitat management and brush control.
Refuge staff have informed local officials of its planned management actions. Prescribed fire will only be conducted when conditions allow for safe implementation.
Any questions concerning the prescribed fire season may be directed to Refuge Manager Jason Lewis or Private Lands Biologist Jeff Finn by calling 419-898-0014.

Levy estimator
available online
Wood County Auditor Matthew Oestreich announces that the levy estimator on the auditor’s website is updated for the May 3 ballot. The website is located at auditor.co.wood.oh.us.
“The levy estimator is a valuable tool to inform voters of the impact on their taxes of upcoming levies.” To use the levy estimator, property owners can search on the website for their specific parcel and then click on the levy estimator button. Users can then view the current tax amount on their parcel generated by each levy, the new tax amount if passed, and the difference based on the current year tax value.
The website also lists the authority proposing the levy, the use of the levy, the type of levy (renewal, replacement, bond, etc.), the proposed mills, and the number of years the proposed levy will remain in effect.
“The parcel-specific information provided by the levy estimator will help voters make informed decisions,” Oestreich said.
For any questions regarding the levy estimator or the auditor’s website, contact the Wood County Auditor’s Office at 419-354-9150 or auditor@woodcountyohio.gov.

County address
to be presented
The Wood County Commissioners will present the 2022 State of the County Address March 23.
The address will be recorded and available at 9 a.m. on the website for the Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce, www.bgchamber.net.
During the week following the address, the report will arrive in mailboxes across the county.
Traditionally, the address has been an in-person event presented at the Wood County Courthouse. Due to pandemic restrictions in 2021, the commissioners presented a recorded address, and they believe that is the best course of action for 2022. They anticipate returning to a live event in 2023.
For additional information, contact Andrew S. Kalmar, Wood County Administrator.

Brief filed in
Line 5 case
The Ohio Chamber of Commerce, along with five other business organizations including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Canadian Chamber of Commerce, filed an amicus brief in support of the Enbridge Energy lawsuit that seeks to keep Line 5 pipeline open.
The brief was filed last week in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan in the Enbridge Energy, Limited Partnership, et al. v. Gretchen Whitmer case.
In November, 2020, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer revoked a land use agreement that enabled Enbridge to operate the Line 5 pipeline under the Straits of Mackinac.
Since then, the matter has been entangled in legal disputes, including lawsuits in both federal and state courts.
The economic impact of shutting down the Line 5 pipeline has been noted by state and local officials in Ohio. Local refineries produce about 30 percent of the gasoline and 35 percent of diesel fuel consumed in Ohio.

Closure of bridge
to start March 28
The Ottawa County commissioners have approved a repair project for the bridge on Wildacre Road over Cedar Creek.
Great Lake Demolition is the contractor for the project that will require the closure of the bridge from March 28 through May 27.
A detour route will be posted.

Fatal accident in
Perrysburg Twp.
Troopers from the Bowling Green Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol responded March 14 to a fatal two-vehicle traffic crash at the intersection of State Route 199 and Five Point Road in Perrysburg Township.
Richard Armstrong, 85, of Perrysburg, was driving a 2014 Chrysler Town and Country minivan on Five Point Road and Tami Jorgenson, 50, of Luckey, was driving a 2020 Chevrolet Equinox SUV southbound on State Route 199.
Armstrong failed to yield the right-of-way at the posted stop sign and was struck in the intersection on the passenger’s side by Jorgenson, the patrol said.
Jorgenson was not wearing her safety belt and suffered serious injuries. The front passenger in the Equinox, Magin Jorgenson, 18, of Luckey, was wearing her safety belt and suffered non-life threatening injuries. Both Jorgenson’s were transported to ProMedica Toledo Hospital.
Armstrong was transported to St. Vincent Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased. He was wearing his safety belt.

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