Step Into a Position of Leadership
Monthly publication of the Ohio Township Association A
ugu
st 2017
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Cemeteries are a unique piece of real estate which require compliance with safety and security standards set by law. The Cemetery Section of the Ohio Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing (Division) is tasked with registering Ohio’s cemeteries, and supports the Ohio Cemetery Dispute Resolution Commission in resolving disputes or complaints involving its registered cemeteries.
According to R.C. §4767.02(A), no person, church, religious society, established fraternal organization or political subdivision of the state shall own, operate or maintain a cemetery unless the cemetery is registered with the Division. The only two exceptions to the registration requirement are for cemeteries in which there has not been a burial in the previous 25 years and for family cemeteries. A family cemetery is defined as a cemetery “containing the human remains of persons at least three fourths of whom have a common ancestor or who are the spouse or adopted child of that common ancestor.”
The Division welcomes your questions and all forms can be obtained at the Division’s website: www.com.ohio.gov/Forms.aspx#Cemeteries or by calling 614.466.4100.
Is Your Township Cemetery Registered?
This publication is printed and sent to fiscal officers only. Please copy and give this to your trustees and any other interested parties. If you would prefer to receive this via email, contact Natalie Skelley at [email protected] or 614.863.0045.
At the 2018 Ohio Township Association’s (OTA) Annual Winter Conference, the OTA will hold elections for all officers and at least eight directors. According to the OTA Constitution, no more than one director or officer may be elected from the same county. Those elected as an officer or director must be an active member of the OTA, thus only township trustees and fiscal officers are eligible to run. All candidates for officer and director must interview before the appropriate nominating committee on Friday, Nov. 17, in conjunction with the OTA Board meeting. OTA staff will coordinate interview times for all candidates.
If you would like to be considered for an officer or board position, please send a cover letter and resume to the OTA at 6500 Taylor Road, Suite A, Blacklick, Ohio 43004. Resumes must be received no later than 4 p.m. on Nov. 14 in order to be considered. If you would like more information about the responsibilities of an OTA Board member, contact Matt DeTemple, executive director, at 614.863.0045, or [email protected].
Compensation in 2018 and BeyondCurrent Ohio law permitted a cost of living increase for township officials in
2016 and 2017. At this time, it is highly unlikely that the General Assembly will pass legislation to extend the cost of living increase to 2018 and beyond. This means that township officials will remain at the 2017 salary levels in 2018 and beyond or until legislation is passed to extend the cost of living increase.
When preparing budget documents for 2018, please use the 2017 salary figures for all trustees and the fiscal officer. You may find a copy of the current compensation chart on the OTA Web site. Once again, it is highly unlikely there will be a cost of living increase in 2018.
Photo of the Month
Located along Ohio Route 32 and Interstate 275 corridor in northwest Clermont county, Union Township is a thriving community on the outskirts of Cincinnati. 2010 U.S. Census figures report the population of this 9th largest township in the state at 46,416.
Union Township provides the following services: • a 60-person police department which
is responsible for its own police and fire emergency dispatch system;
• the fire department has a total of 55 personnel who provide services to Union Township and the Village of Amelia;
• the communications division provides 24/7 dispatching services for Union Township and the Village of Amelia;
• a service department that manages the day-to-day maintenance of all township roads, four township parks, the township cemetery, the Union Township Civic Center, and all other township buildings;
• and a planning and zoning department that is responsible for guiding the township’s growth and development through comprehensive planning and zoning administration.
Did You Know? Regional Arts and Cultural District (continued from page 4)
(7) the manner in which expenses will be apportioned among the participating legislative bodies. After a resolution or ordinance has been adopted by each entity, a copy of each resolution and ordinance shall be filed with the clerk of the board of county commissioners of each county, the clerk of the legislative authority of each municipality and the fiscal officer of each board of trustees included in the district. Once all filings are complete, the district is created.
Revised Code §3381.04 provides for an alternative method to create such a district in counties that have a city with a population greater than 500,000. In this instance, a board of county commissioners of such a county may adopt a resolution creating such a district. The resolution shall contain the following: (1) the purpose for creating the district; (2) that the territory is coextensive with the county; (3) the official name of the regional arts and cultural district; and (4) the location of the principal office.
Who appoints the board of a regional arts and cultural district?For a district created pursuant to R.C. §3381.03, the district trustees are appointed per the stipulations laid out in the resolutions or ordinance adopted by the political subdivisions establishing the district. For a district created pursuant to R.C. §3381.04, the county commissioners shall appoint the five people to serve as the board of trustees of the district.
Regardless of the method of creating the district, Revised Code §3381.05 requires that each person appointed as trustee to a regional arts and cultural district shall have a broad knowledge and experience in the arts or cultural heritage and all other specifications as included in the resolutions or ordinances creating the district. Additionally, the trustees appointed to the district board shall be qualified electors in the district’s territory.
How are regional arts and cultural districts funded? Pursuant to R.C. §3381.07, the board of trustees of a regional arts and cultural district may levy and collect taxes, charge rent on facilities it owns, issue bonds, and receive gifts and grants. The board may place a property tax levy on the ballot. Such a levy is limited to up to 4 mills annually and can have a duration of up to five years. An affirmative note of electors residing in the district is required to levy this additional outside village. In Cleveland, voters approved a 1.5 cent cigarette tax to support the district. Furthermore, pursuant to R.C. §3381.15, the legislative authorities that make up the arts and cultural district may use their general fund to annually appropriate moneys to the district. The annual amount should be set in the resolution that creates the district. The Board of County Commissioners in Montgomery County provides the funding for the MCACD.
Did You Know is informational only and not intended as legal advice.
2017 County Officers’ MeetingThe 2017 County Officers’ Meeting was held
Friday, June 16 at The Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center on the Ohio State University Campus.
Over 50 County Officers from around the state attended the annual meeting where they listened to presenters, enjoyed a catered lunch, and socialized with fellow officers.
Topics of presentation and discussion were healthcare reimbursements & the Affordable Care Act, legislative updates including the State Budget, the importance of accurately recording township inventory, oil & gas activities and townships, and a panel discussion with local government associations.
BWC Safety Innovation Awards
The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) is seeking entries for the 2018 Safety Innovation Awards. Winners will receive $1,000 to $6,000 in cash awards and be recognized at the 2018 Ohio Safety Congress & Expo.
Your innovation must demonstrate reduction in safety or ergonomic risk factors, or occupational health exposures. The deadline to apply is Sept. 30, 2017.
Learn more and apply at https://www.bwc.ohio.gov/employer/programs/safety/InnovationAwards.asp.
Calendar of EventsAugust 2 Hancock County
August 3 OTA Board Meeting
August 4 OTA Public Records Training & Golf Outing
August 10 Wyandot County
August 11 Jefferson County
August 12 Portage County
August 14 OTA Leadership Academy Federal Session
August 17 Clermont County Medina County
August 17 Montgomery County(cont.) Williams County
August 24 Mahoning County Richland County
August 30 Putnam County
You can register for all of these trainings on the Ohio LTAP website at www.dot.state.oh.us/Divisions/Planning/LocalPrograms/LTAP/Pages/TrainingCourseFlyers.aspx. Below are descriptions and dates for each training:
Ohio LTAP Offering Several Trainings
Acquisition 104 - InstrumentsColumbus (CEN) - August 8 A one-day course to provide the understanding of ODOT’s Instruments, property rights, and legal aspects of deed preparation.
Work Zone Safety Grant TrainingColumbus (CEN) - August 9-10 This 2-day course is designed to assist in understanding the guidebooks that the Wisconsin Traffic Operations and Safety (TOPS) Laboratory designs for the FHWA Work Zone Safety grant.
Work Type 57 - Concrete Sealer TrainingIn-person - Columbus - August 11Webcast - Lebanaon - August 11Webcast - Garfield Hts - August 11 This class is about the sealing of concrete surfaces.
Transportation Information Mapping System (TIMS) Computer Training ClassGarfield Heights - August 16TIMS provides transportationemployees, transportation stakeholders and the general public a central access point for viewing,
distributing, and analyzing Ohio’s transportation data through web mapping tools
Designing Pedestrian Facilities for AccessibilityLebanon (SW) - August 17-18 This 2-day training addresses compliance with theregulations and requirements for pedestrian facilities and access routes to be properly designed, constructed and maintained for all individuals,including those with disabilities.
Public InvolvementColumbus (CEN) - August 23 This course will provide an overview of public involvement as itrelates to the NEPA process and ODOT’s Project Development Process.
Life-Cycle Cost AnalysisLebanon (SW) - August 24 This training course provides the participants with an introduction to the techniques used in evaluating life-cycle costs of competing project alternatives, and it will also familiarize them with the FHWA Real Cost LCCA software.
Annual Membership Drive Wraps Up
The Ohio Township Association’s (OTA) annual membership drive is complete! Please note: membership totals are current as of the publication date, however, rosters and dues are still being processed. As a reminder, associate members may continue to join at any point throughout the year.
The OTA honors three counties each year for the amount of associate members gathered. This year’s winners, who receive a free one-page advertisement in the September/October issue of the Ohio Township News and a plaque at the 2018 Winter Conference, are below:
Sandusky County has won the Highest Percentage Increase with 38% increase in associate members. They had 39 in 2016 and now have 54 (15 new).
Jackson County has won the Highest Raw # Increase with 24 new associate members. Last year they had 68 this year they have 92 associate members with a 35% increase.
Fulton County has the Most Overall Associates with 304, which is no increase from last year.
As of July, we are still missing the following counties’ membership materials:
Adams Belmont Butler Crawford Delaware Erie Geauga* Hocking Lawrence Marion Stark* Summit* Denotes counties that have contacted
the OTA regarding missing membership materials
®
August 2017 Grassroots ClippingsOhio Township Association6500 Taylor Road, Suite ABlacklick, Ohio 43004
Did
You
Kno
w?
Reg
iona
l Art
s and
Cul
tura
l D
istr
ict
In a
201
3 st
udy,
nonp
rofit
art
and
cul
tura
l org
aniza
tions
in th
e ei
ght-c
ount
y Da
yton
regi
on su
ppor
ted
mor
e th
an 4
,800
full-
time
or fu
ll-tim
e eq
uiva
lent
jo
bs a
nd h
ad a
n an
nual
eco
nom
ic im
pact
of $
161.
3 m
illio
n. To
ens
ure
the
arts
rem
ain
vibr
ant a
nd st
rong
in th
e ar
ea, i
n 20
15 e
ntitie
s in
the
regi
on
crea
ted
the
Mon
tgom
ery
Coun
ty A
rts a
nd C
ultu
ral D
istric
t (M
CACD
).
Wha
t is a
regi
onal
art
s and
cul
tura
l dist
rict?
In sh
ort,
a re
gion
al a
rts a
nd c
ultu
ral d
istric
t is d
esig
ned
to fu
nd a
rts a
nd
cultu
ral o
rgan
izatio
ns, a
ctivi
ties a
nd fa
ciliti
es. P
er R
.C. §
3381
.01,
an
arts
and
cul
tura
l dist
rict i
s a se
para
te p
oliti
cal s
ubdi
visio
n co
mpr
ised
of
tow
nshi
ps, c
ounti
es, a
nd m
unic
ipal
ities
that
hav
e jo
ined
toge
ther
to c
reat
e su
ch a
n en
tity
for a
ny o
f the
follo
win
g pu
rpos
es: (
1) m
akin
g gr
ants
to
supp
ort t
he o
pera
ting
or c
apita
l exp
ense
s of a
rts o
r cul
tura
l org
aniza
tions
lo
cate
d w
ithin
its d
istric
t or (
2) to
pur
chas
e, re
mod
el, a
nd a
dmin
ister
art
s an
d cu
ltura
l fac
ilitie
s.
Wha
t may
a re
gion
al a
rts a
nd c
ultu
ral d
istric
t do?
As st
ated
abo
ve, a
regi
onal
art
s and
cul
tura
l dist
rict c
an fu
lfill
two
func
tions
. The
firs
t is t
o m
ake
gran
ts to
supp
ort a
rts n
on-p
rofit
s. F
or
exam
ple,
the
Sum
mit
Regi
onal
Art
s and
Cul
tura
l Dist
rict h
as g
iven
gra
nts
to tw
enty
diff
eren
t art
s org
aniza
tions
var
ying
from
$50
0 fo
r the
Bar
bert
on
Sum
mer
Con
cert
Ser
ies t
o $5
,000
for N
E Ed
ucati
onal
TV
of O
hio
(PBS
).
The
seco
nd fu
nctio
n is
that
dist
ricts
may
acq
uire
, con
stru
ct, e
quip
, fur
nish
, re
pair,
rem
odel
, ren
ovat
e, e
nlar
ge, i
mpr
ove
or a
dmin
ister
arti
stic
or
cultu
ral f
acili
ties.
For
exa
mpl
e, th
e Cl
evel
and
Gord
on A
rts a
nd C
ultu
ral
Dist
rict p
artn
ered
with
the
Detr
oit S
hore
way
Com
mun
ity D
evel
opm
ent
Org
aniza
tion
(DSC
DO) t
o re
nova
te th
e hi
stor
ical
Cap
itol T
heat
er. T
he
mas
sive
reno
vatio
n co
nver
ted
the
hist
oric
192
1 sin
gle-
scre
en c
inem
a in
to a
stat
e-of
-the
-art
, all-
digi
tal t
hree
-scr
een
mod
ern
mov
ie th
eate
r. Th
e Th
eate
r is n
ow o
wne
d by
DSC
DO a
nd o
pera
ted
by C
leve
land
Cin
emas
.
How
are
regi
onal
art
s and
cul
tura
l dist
ricts
cre
ated
?Ar
ts a
nd c
ultu
ral d
istric
ts a
re c
reat
ed b
y re
solu
tion
or o
rdin
ance
. Rev
ised
Code
§33
81.0
3 re
quire
s eac
h le
gisla
tive
body
that
ele
cts t
o cr
eate
or
parti
cipa
te in
the
dist
rict t
o ad
opt a
reso
lutio
n or
ord
inan
ce. A
tow
nshi
p w
ould
ado
pt a
reso
lutio
n, w
hich
mus
t inc
lude
the
follo
win
g: (1
) the
pu
rpos
e fo
r cre
ating
the
dist
rict;
(2) a
ll to
wns
hips
, mun
icip
aliti
es a
nd
coun
ties i
nclu
ded
in th
e di
stric
t; (3
) the
offi
cial
nam
e of
the
regi
onal
ar
ts a
nd c
ultu
ral d
istric
t; (4
) the
loca
tion
of th
e pr
inci
pal o
ffice
; (5)
the
num
ber,
term
and
com
pens
ation
of b
oard
mem
bers
; (6)
the
man
ner i
n w
hich
boa
rd m
embe
rs w
ill b
e ap
poin
ted
and
vaca
ncie
s will
be
fille
d; a
nd
Conti
nued
on
page
2.