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 skelley@ohiotownships.org 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 detemple@ohiotownships.org.

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.