Rocky Ridge, Allen Township, Luckey: Communities' funding requests top ballot issues

11/2/2005

Three communities with uncontested races in Ottawa and Wood counties will be asking voters for funding requests Tuesday.

Rocky Ridge and Luckey officials say they need additional money for current expenses. Officials in Allen Township want to beautify their cemetery.

In Ottawa County, Rocky Ridge will be asking voters to approve a five-year, 3-mill additional tax levy for current expenses along with a municipal referendum to allow the village to construct a water supply and distribution system.

If approved, levy funds would go into the general fund so that "we won't have to make as many cuts as we have in the last two years," Clerk-Treasurer Brenda Goetz said. She said the council has cut its pay, cut the village clean-up day, and scaled back the hours police work.

She said residents will also vote on a referendum to pay for a $2.5 million water supply system to link the village with the water system in Carroll Township, which is only a mile away.

Rocky Ridge incumbents Mary Louise Kania, Randy Brown, and Randal West will remain on council in the village's uncontested council race. They'll be joined by newcomer Ralph Whitaker because incumbent Orris Wilburn is not seeking re-election.

Allen Township wants voters to approve a five-year, 0.6-mill levy for beautifying the cemetery grounds and buildings.

Trustees bought 5.5 acres of land adjacent to the Allen Township Cemetery off Martin-Williston Road several years ago to double the cemetery's size. Trustees would like to develop the new land and improve the existing cemetery if the levy is approved, Trustee Scott Everhardt said.

If passed, the levy would raise $42,300 a year and would cost the owner of a $100,000 home $18.90 a year.

Mr. Everhardt, 43, and Daniel Johnson, 68, who have been trustees for 12 years, will be re-elected next week because they are unopposed.

In Wood County, Luckey Village Council is asking voters for a five-year, 1.9-mill levy for current operating expenses.

Luckey officials said the levy, which was replaced five years ago, brings in $48,882 a year for the village and costs the owner of a $100,000 home $67 a year.

Three incumbents will be re-elected to Luckey Village Council in November along with one newcomer because Councilman Cathy Mohre, who was appointed two years ago to fill an empty council seat, has decided not to run.

Incumbents Donald Brickner; Thomas Loew, 53, a self-employed plumbing, heating, and air conditioning contractor, and Harold Wachter, 75, a retired glass furnace operator, will remain on council.

They'll be joined by Robert Herrick, 37, a quality-control supervisor, who said that he wants to upgrade the park districts.