Waterville Chamber Hosts Candidates At October 20 Forum
Meet the candidates for Anthony Wayne board of education, Waterville mayor and council, and Waterville Township trustee and fiscal officer during the Thursday, October 20 candidates’ night at Waterville Primary School.
Hosted by the Waterville Chamber of Commerce and emceed by attorney Paul Croy, the event begins at 6:30 p.m. The public is encouraged to bring questions for candidates in area races.
“Each candidate will have three minutes to speak, then we’ll open the floor to questions,” Croy said.
Candidates will include Lori Brodie and Ann Cherry, who are running to replace outgoing Waterville Mayor Derek Merrin. Barb Bruno and Tim Pedro are running along with incumbents John Gouttiere, and Jim Valtin for two open Waterville council seats.
For the Anthony Wayne board of education, incumbents Pam Gerhardinger and Gary Roser are running for re-election. Barry Cousino and Rhona Wise are running as write-ins. Three seats are available and the top three vote-getters will be on the board.
In Waterville Township, trustee Les Disher and fiscal officer Kay Ann Robertson are running unopposed.
For more information, contact chamber executive director Corina Pfleghaar at (419) 878-5188 or visit www.watervillechamber.com.

Whitehouse Council Opposes Centralized Tax Collection Idea
BY KAREN BERGER — MIRROR REPORTER
With Gov. John Kasich and the Ohio Department of Taxation looking at centralizing municipal income tax collection, the village of Whitehouse is joining other municipalities in voicing opposition to such a move.
During its October 4 meeting, council voted unanimously to oppose centralized collection.
“This could put many municipalities in a dire fiscal situation,” Mayor Angie Kuhn said.
Kuhn, who is also tax commissioner for the city of Sylvania and president of the Northwest Ohio group of the Ohio Municipal League’s tax group, has met with representatives from other municipalities.
Like many cities and villages, Whitehouse has an income tax of 1.5 percent, which is used to fund services to residents.
Kuhn said if municipal income tax collection were centralized, all monies would go through Columbus, and she would expect delays of up to six months for revenues to be returned to municipalities.
For cities and villages that rely on those funds to provide services, that delay could have a large financial impact on a community, she said.
Kuhn said the state could charge an administrative fee, perhaps 1 to 2 percent of monies collected. She expects that some communities would consider increasing income tax in order to recoup lost revenue.
Taxpayers with questions would have to contact Columbus where there are backlogs, she believes, instead of contacting a local official.
“This takes away the power from the taxpayers,” Kuhn said. “It’s at the local level that the taxpayer has the greatest level of accountability.”
Kuhn said that centralized tax collection is just one way that local municipalities’ power is being eroded by the state.
“This is a huge attack on home rule,” she said. “They want to consolidate entities and give townships and villages less power. This reduces the accountability to the taxpayer.”
Kuhn said mayors of several local villages and cities are sending letters to Kasich and legislators, but have not been invited to be a part of the conversation.
“We need to stop this before legislation is written,” Kuhn said.
Ohio tax commissioner Joseph Testa told The Columbus Dispatch the issue is still being investigated.
“But this administration wants to move Ohio in a tax-friendly, business-friendly direction, and we feel this fits into that general theme,” he said.
During the October 4 meeting, council also:
• Heard that Kim Moore of Whitehouse will work as a part-time assistant for the administrator and public works director.
• Learned from council member Michelle Tippie that Whitehouse has enough points to qualify again for both the Tree City USA award and the Growth Award.
• Heard that the tree commission will be testing around the village for possible signs of the Asian longhorn beetle, which attacks any hardwood tree.
• Heard that the planning commission had discussed riparian setbacks, which impact flooding, filtering and water runoff into creeks and lakes. Kuhn asked council for direction as to whether the commission should do more research.
Frank Billings and Michelle Tippie voted to have the commission investigate more, since it impacts drinking water.
Debby Curry, Bill May and Jim Miller stated that since the commission had gathered information last year, and the village uses FEMA regulations, they didn’t see a need for more research.
• Saw the new fire truck that will be in service within the next few weeks.
• Passed legislation, as an emergency, to amend the Waterville Street overlay district to exclude Internet cafes.
• Discussed Tippie’s suggestion that the charter review commission think ahead to the 2020 census – when Whitehouse will probably become a city – and adding a section on civil service to the charter. The commission usually meets just once a year.
• Heard from council member Frank Billings that residents are concerned about speeding and traffic on St. Louis Avenue west of Providence Street.
Shelby and Dave Myerholtz, who own Hi Tek Sign Shop at the corner of Waterville and Texas streets, said that the traffic rounding the corner of Texas as it becomes St. Louis parallel to the bike trail is often dangerously fast, jeopardizing the children who walk in or near the street. The personnel and safety committee will review the area.
• Heard resident Tom Malicki ask several questions, including why council members are getting free flu shots when the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department hosts a clinic from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 26.
• Heard resident Yvonne Walters ask about the trailer on the soccer fields, and why it’s not on a concrete pad. The topic will be a part of the public service committee meeting.
• Learned that Whitehouse Police received five mobile data computers valued at $22,980 from the Lucas County Emergency Management Agency, which obtained them through a Department of Homeland Security program. Whitehouse also received a matching grant for $5,640 to pay for half of the cost of body armor. Sgt. Ron Shellhammer wrote the grant.
• Authorized the village to enter into a lease agreement with New Singular Wireless PCS for an AT&T cell tower lease. The village can still receive income from other antennas located on the property.

The next Whitehouse council meeting is Tuesday, October 18 at 7:00 p.m.