Maumee Graduate Awarded Army Commendation Medal
Army Staff Sgt. Rob Schmidt was awarded the Army Commendation Medal with Valor.
Schmidt received the award for bravery while engaging the enemy on August 11.
A 2004 graduate of Maumee High School, Schmidt enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2006.
He is currently stationed at Fort Knox, Ky., and is serving his second tour of duty in Afghanistan. He will return to the United States in January.
Schmidt is married to Ashley Schmidt. He is the son of Heidi Schmidt of Maumee and Bob Schmidt of Swanton and the grandson of George and Vicki Dunham of Maumee. He is also the brother of Joe Schmidt.
Maumee School District Recieves Strong Credit Rating
BY NANCY GAGNET — MIRROR REPORTER
Maumee City Schools has received a AA- credit rating from Standard and Poor’s.
The credit firm rates a corporation or governmental entity’s ability to meet its financial obligations, district treasurer Paul Brotzki explained at the December 12 school board meeting.
Brotzki said he was pleased with the report.
“It’s a very good, solid rating, and one of the better ratings for school districts in Ohio,” he said.
According to information from Standard and Poor’s, an AA- credit rating means that an obligor has a very strong capacity to meet its financial commitments, differing only a small degree from the highest-rated obligors.
In 2003, the district received the same rating.
Brotzki also reported that property values in Lucas County have decreased by $7.2 million in 2011.
As a result, the district will collect $39,500 less than estimated from the 4.9-mill operating levy that voters approved on November 8.
With the levy, the district had anticipated receiving an additional $2.27 in revenue.
In other action at the meeting, board members:
• Set an organizational meeting for Monday, January 9 at 5:45 p.m. and approved the appointment of Sylvia Washburn as chair of the meeting.
• Approved the appointment of Bob Righi to serve on the Penta Career Center board of education.
• Held a first reading on several policies for which language was changed.
The next Maumee City Council meeting is scheduled on Monday, December 19. The committee of the whole meets at 7:00 p.m. and the regular meeting begins at 7:30 p.m.
Theater Manager Optimistic About 2012 Budget Projections
BY NANCY GAGNET — MIRROR REPORTER
A decision to invest more than $150,000 into the Maumee Indoor Theater has paid off for the city.
According to Jim Walter, president of Great Eastern Theaters, the managing firm for the city-owned Maumee Indoor, the theater may break even or post a profit for the first time since the city took over operations in 2004.
“The results have been extremely good. The community appreciates the quality picture and the quality price,” he said.
Walter made his remarks at the December 19 Maumee City Council meeting, during which he presented the theater’s 2012 business plan.
According to Walter, in 2012 revenue is expected to reach approximately $500,150, which is nearly equal to operational expenses.
The projected deficit is $3,600, but Walter believes the theater could end the year in the black.
“These numbers could be better than they look because this is a conservative budget. This might be the first year that we break even,” he said.
In April, council approved a proposal to convert the discount movie theater from film technology to digital cinema projection and 3D systems at a cost of $153,768.
“For movies, we’re reaping the benefit and slowly feeling the effect of being the only discount movie house in town – like we were in the ’80s,” he said.
Admission prices will remain the same in 2012 with regular admission $4.00, Wild Wednesday admission $2.00 and 3D movies an additional $2.00.
Concession prices will also remain the same, Walter said.
Facility rental rates will remain unchanged, and rental facility and equipment use is expected to increase from 30 to 41 percent next year.
Theater manager Ty Szumigala is pleased that prices will not increase.
“We’re not going to raise fees because we feel it’s a better way to serve the community,” he said.
Council president Rich Carr said the city views theater operations as it views operating Rolf Park Pool.
“We should never lose sight that this is an affordable form of entertainment we can offer families,” Carr said.
Council member Brent Buehrer was not present at the meeting.
Also at the meeting, council took the following action:
• Referred to the buildings and lands committee information from an energy assessment report presented by Russ Ely of Palmer Conservation Consultants relative to possible energy savings strategies.
• Voted against a request by police Lt. Michael Fortney to rescind his intention to retire on July 29, 2012.
• Approved the resignation of Jim Heckman, captain/EMT, bureau of firefighting.
• Placed on file the annual report of the probation services fund.
• Approved a $2,760 agreement with Bender Communications of Toledo for support and repair service for eight computers for the Maumee Police Division. Council also approved an $11,371.12 agreement for equipment for the fire division.
• Approved a $420 annual renewal agreement with TattleTale Portable Alarm Systems for monitoring service at Rolf Park Pool.
• Approved the appropriation of $28,381.50 for ammunition from Kiesler’s Police Supply and Vance’s Law Enforcement Supply.
• Approved a service agreement with the International Institute of Toledo for interpreter services for the municipal court.
• Approved an agreement in the amount of $117,838.50 with Creative Microsystems for city software maintenance and facilities management services.
• Approved a request by finance director Linda Wilker to amend the Ohio Municipal League master deferred compensation plan.
• Approved an $800 service agreement with Xerox Corp.
• Approved advertising and filling the supervisor of construction position in the service department.
• Approved a $395 one-year maintenance agreement with Automated Business Machines.
These are sample articles that ran in The Mirror Newspaper.
To see what else you've been missing . . .
