Happy Memorial Day!

Happy Memorial Day weekend! I hope that everyone takes time out to remember those who have laid down their lives for our country.

TAPS - Major General Daniel Butterfield

Day is done...Gone the sun
From the lake...From the hills...From the sky.
All is well...Safely rest
God is nigh.

Fading light....Dims the sight
And a star....Gems the sky....Gleaming bright
From afar....Drawing nigh
Falls the night.

Thanks and praise...For our days.
Neath the sun...Neath the stars...Neath the sky
As we go....This we know.
God is nigh
Falls the night.

New Income Tax for the Ballot

The proposal offered by Mayor Grace to eliminate the temporary .5% and replace it with a permanent .75% income tax dedicated solely to the Elyria Police Department passed Strategic Planning and will, most likely, be the plan that goes to the ballot in the fall.

A majority of Council also supported a proposal to use public funds to pay for the income tax campaign, using $30,000 of money from the JEDD fund. This is the first time that Elyria has ever used or tried to use public money to pay for a political campaign, which is a concept prohibited by the Ohio Revised Code for other public bodies.

There is a specific exception for charter municipalities in R.C. Section 9.03(A) that allows them to avoid the prohibition set forth in R.C. Section 9.03(C)(1)(e) that "no governing body of a political subdivision shall use public funds to do any of the following: * * * (e) Supports or opposes the nomination or election of a candidate for public office, the investigation, prosecution, or recall of a public official, or the passage of a levy or bond issue."

Income Tax Discussion Continues

City Council will have a second Strategic Planning meeting on Monday, May 24, 2010 to discuss Mayor Grace's income tax proposal that will increase the income tax to 2%, eliminate the city’s existing 0.5 percent general fund temporary income tax, replace it with a .75% permanent and give the Police Department 1.125 percent of the city’s proposed 2 percent income tax.

These meetings are open to the public and the public is welcome to speak at these meetings. Council has also asked that all affected Department Heads for General Fund departments speak at this meeting to give their personal opinion and concerns about how their department will be impacted or alternatives to consider.

The Law Director's office has been asked to provide additional information about using public money to pay for a tax levy campaign, when such activity is illegal for all public bodies other than charter municipalities, including the legislative history and rationale from the Ohio General Assembly in making such activity illegal for other public bodies. Also under consideration will be whether or not to send this idea to the Charter Review Committee for consideration in creating a change to the City Charter such that the City of Elyria is similarly prohibited from using public funds to pay for elections and campaigns to pass a levy.

I also submitted a referral to consider an independent audit of the Elyria Police Department, which should be referred at the next Council meeting (tomorrow night). The department had a management audit completed in 1979 and Chief Whitely believes that such an audit would be a waste of time now because he feels the department is already operating within the guidelines of the last review. I believe this would be a better use of JEDD funds than supporting a tax levy campaign.

Draft Rubbish Removal Regulations

In response to the numerous questions I have received regarding the implementation of the new trash pickup system, I have attached the draft rubbish removal regulations in the Available Documents section of the web page. If you have any comments or suggestions regarding these draft regulations, please contact Don Brackenhoff at dbrackenhoff@cityofelyria.org or contact me with your comments and I will direct them to him.

PRESENTATION EXPLAINING OPERATION OF SIGNALS

NEWS RELEASE

On Monday May 17th, 2010 during the Elyria City Council meeting, the Traffic Engineer from TMS Engineers will make a presentation explaining the operation of signals and new traffic pattern at the intersections along State Route 57. The representative from ODOT District-3 will also be available for questions related to SR-57. The Council meeting will be held at 7:00 PM in Council Chambers, second floor of Elyria City Hall at 131 Court Street, Elyria, OH 44035. The meeting will be open to public.

Please contact the City Engineer’s Office at (440) 326-1444 for any further questions regarding this presentation.

Elyria Police Proposed Funding Plan

Today Mayor Grace announced the administration's plan to increase manning levels for the Police Department. This plan will be discussed by Council at the special Strategic Planning Committee meeting to be scheduled for Thursday, May 13 in Council Chambers at 6:00 p.m. Once the meeting date and time is known for certain, I will update the Upcoming Events.

This proposal involves repealing the temporary, 5-year 1/2% Safety Forces income tax and replacing it with a permanent 3/4% income tax. Documents regarding this proposal are in the Documents Section of this web page for your review and consideration.

Please consider attending this special meeting and offering your reaction to this new income tax proposal for the Elyria Police Department.