Sylvania senior levy looks like a win

John Pristash, left, takes a sticker from Gary Munch outside the Sylvania Senior Center on Sylvania Avenue yesterday.

John Pristash, left, takes a sticker from Gary Munch outside the Sylvania Senior Center on Sylvania Avenue yesterday.

Voters apparently approved a replacement levy that will allow the Sylvania Senior Center to continue operations.

A defeat for the 0.32-mill would have meant closing the 5-year-old building on Sylvania Avenue by the end of the year.

Early returns had the measure well ahead, but returns were incomplete late last night.

In a special election in May, a request for a 0.4-mill levy for the center, was defeated. In addition to seeking lower millage, the senior center was a stand-alone levy yesterday. In May it shared the ballot with two levy requests from the Sylvania Township Fire Department, which were defeated by a 4-1 margin.

Claire Proctor, director of Sylvania Community Services, which operates the center, said, "We're very grateful to the citizens of Sylvania and Sylvania Township for their support."

The center opened about five years ago after the passage of an initial 0.32-mill levy.

In Maumee, voters were being asked to approve several changes to the city charter that officials said would make operations smoother. The changes, described primarily as housekeeping, would make conflict-of-interest policy more specific, and spell out how contracts are approved, among other issues.

Perrysburg residents will continue to pay 1 mill for garbage collection and disposal, approving a replacement levy for a measure that has been regularly passed every two years.

In Rossford, voters approved a five-year, 3.5-mill levy for operating expenses that will raise about $474,000 in its first year. Officials had projected a shortfall of about $350,000 in the city next year.

Passage will allow for the end of a refuse collection fee imposed earlier this year by council. It will also allow for deferred raises to employees, the replacement of police cars, and other costs. About 20 percent of the revenue is earmarked for road improvements.

There were no returns last night on a 2-mill renewal levy for village operating expenses for Berkey.

There also were no returns on a Monclova Township ballot issue asking if voters wanted to overturn a zoning change which would have allowed a proposed mixed-use development called Scrimshaw Village.

In December, trustees voted to rezone about 150 acres near U.S. 20A and Albon Road from agricultural to allow the commercial and residential development.

Voters in Lake Township approved a five-year, 1-mill renewal levy to fund repairs to streets, roads, and bridges.

In unofficial returns, a five-year 0.3-mill levy on the books of Middleton Township since 1976 has apparently been renewed by voters to provide and maintain fire equipment.

In Luckey, voters appear to have approved a five-year, 1-mill renewal for village operating expenses.