Luna Pier
Luna Pier, MI · Municipal
The Blade
Editorial: Cuts will be coming in Oregon after vote
It will not be a merry Christmas for Oregon city employees, as significant job cuts are now the only way to plug a multimillion-dollar budget deficit following voters’ rejection of a billion-dollar data center project. Oregon City Council Finance Committee Chair Dennis Walendzak asked fellow council members to clear the first Saturday in December for a daylong meeting dedicated to balancing the city’s budget. Read more editorials Mr. Walendzak addressed the council at the end of Monday’s session, which had opened with resident comments mostly cheering the passage of the ballot initiative blocking the data center planned for city-owned land at Corduroy and Wynn roads. “Obviously, 60 percent of Oregon residents are pleased with the election outcome,” Mr. Walendzak noted, adding that because personnel and benefits make up 81 percent of the budget, balancing the books takes far more than cutting back on office supplies. Voters’ rejection of the ballot measure eliminated a projected $250 million revenue stream — derived from the property sale and a 15-year payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement shared with the school district — forcing both the city and schools to operate with significantly fewer resources. During Monday’s meeting, supporters of the anti-data center charter amendment acknowledged the financial
The Blade
Health department reopens at new location
Most Toledo-Lucas County Health Department operations will reopen at its new location Monday. Operations now at 1933 Spielbusch Ave. will be limited as a phased transition and preparations for full service continue, the department said Friday. Regular hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays. Meanwhile, Vital Records will remain at 635 N. Erie St. through Thursday. Hours are 8 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Vital Records will be closed Friday for relocation to the Spielbusch building. The health department was closed to the public last week as it began its move from Erie Street to new offices at 1933 Spielbusch Avenue, which it says will offer improved access and convenience while offering a more centralized layout. For more information surrounding the move , call 419-213-4100 or visit lucascountyhealth.com .
13abc.com
City of Toledo tears down house on Airport Highway amid concerns from next door neighbor
TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) - All that remains of a house on Airport Highway near Hanover in Toledo is a pile of debris. The next door neighbor has video showing it was torn down in late October. Our team was out there this week as a demolition company works to clean...
WXYZ
The Blade
Toledo police, fire unions anticipate different impacts from city layoffs
Toledo’s police and fire unions are bracing for sharply different outcomes from the city’s planned layoffs. Eleven firefighters are facing layoffs, according to their union president, while police union leaders expect no officers to be laid off. The city of Toledo is preparing to lay off about 100 employees across all departments effective Jan. 4, with affected workers notified Thursday and Friday, Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz said a day earlier. “It’s my opinion that the city values police over firefighters,” said Joe Cira, president of Toledo Firefighters Local 92. “My opinion is that both police and fire are extremely important to the safety of the citizens of Toledo, and they should be treated equally.” “[But] to be clear, nobody should be cut from safety forces,” he continued. “There is no room for cuts from either safety force.” Officer Michael Haynes, president of Toledo Police Patrolmen’s Association, said his expectations of zero cuts of police officers are well-founded. “I can never be positive, but I’ve been told by a credible source that no officers will be laid off,” he said. He didn’t disclose that source. “We’re already at a net minus 20 officers this year, the lowest that Toledo police have ever
The Blade
Blade Holiday Parade to close downtown streets
The 39th annual Blade Holiday Parade will close several downtown Toledo streets Saturday morning, city officials announced. The parade begins at Summit and Jefferson streets at 10 a.m. Saturday. The route proceeds northbound on Summit to Jackson Street, westbound on Jackson to Huron Street, and southbound on Huron to finish near Washington Street. Several downtown streets will close around 7 a.m. for staging. The parade is estimated to be completed by noon, city officials said. It will feature high school marching bands, color guards, giant balloons, dozens of clowns, mascots, dance teams, and the guest of honor, Santa Claus. This year’s grand marshal, Bay View Yacht Club, will lead the parade. For the parade route and more information, go to theblade.com/holidayparade .
thesalinepost.com
Saline Craft Show Will Bring Thousands of People to Saline Saturday
Thousands of people are expected to visit town for the 39th annual Saline Craft Show at Saline Middle School on Saturday. The show takes place from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is $5 - cash only. Kids 10 and under are free. There are crafters in more than 250...
NewsForce 24/7
wlen.com
NewsForce 24/7
Eight Plaintiffs Sue Tank Carrier Over October Toledo Chemical Release
TOLEDO, Ohio — Eight people have sued M.C. Tank Transport and its parent company, The Kenan Advantage Group, over the October 20 chemical release in North Toledo, in a lawsuit announced November 3 by the law firms Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy and Groth & Associates in a release carried by PR Newswire. The complaint, […]
thesuntimesnews.com
Milan Schools Pushes Back on State Safety Funding Requirements
Milan Area Schools plans to forgo an estimated $232,000 in state school safety funding this year over concerns about legal protections following a mass casualty incident. During its Nov. 11 meeting, the Milan Area Schools Board of Education reached a consensus not to pursue the safety funding while moving forward with a separate application for approximately $116,000 in student mental health support.
The Blade
Loss of data center causes Oregon to tighten its budget for next year
Now that the proposed data center has withdrawn plans to come to Oregon, city officials are preparing for budget hearings to find ways to raise revenue and cut expenses for next year. Officials for two years had expected that the data center, which was going to be located near Corduroy and Wynn roads, would bring in millions of dollars to city coffers. When voters on Nov. 3 passed a data center charter amendment that limited its size, the company withdrew its plans, causing some supporters to worry about its impact on the city’s budget. City Administrator Brody Walters is not currently too concerned about the financial condition of the city. In fact, there is a $3 million surplus this year. Expect cost cutting, though, for next year, when revenue is expected to be less than expenditures. Council will have to make the tough decisions at the budget hearings, the first expected this month. “Right now, we’ve reviewed the general fund budget, and found savings in the neighborhood of $1.3 million across all departments,” Mr. Walters said of the $32 million projected budget estimate for 2027. “These are not painful cuts. It’s trimming the fat.” In a Nov. 9 letter to
thesuntimesnews.com
Saline Passes New Background Check Policy
Saline City Council passed a new background check policy for the city after several rounds of revision brought on by concerns about the language used in the document. The current policy now includes a decision matrix for the hiring of individuals with a criminal background, and only convictions will be taken into consideration, not charges.