Mark Moser of Paramount presents a check for $5,000 to Board President Keirnan Menacher.

Springfield School Board to put 3.9 mill continuing levy on Nov. ballot
By Jane Maiolo
Following some discussion on which type of levy to put before voters in November, the Springfield Board of Education voted unanimously to place a 3.9-mill continuing levy on the ballot.
The board had been debating whether to ask voters to approve a continuing levy which remains on the ballot in perpetuity or to seek approval of a five-year limited levy.
Board member Ken Musch said more funds are needed, noting that the last round of cuts made after the first levy request failed is going to hurt and will result in larger classes and less support.
“It’s difficult to maintain an Excellent rating without it [passage of the levy],” he added.
Mr. Musch noted that the first $2 million in cuts made by the district won’t be brought back, but if this levy passes, the district could bring back those affected by the recent $1.6 million in budget reductions.
Board member Ev Harris believes the district needs the money to maintain its quality of education. “I don’t think there’s any question, we have to have it.”

Area children delight in magic, humor of Gordon the Magician
It was “Sitting Room Only” at the Holland Branch Library on July 20 for the performance of Gordon the Magician.
More than 90 children and their parents packed the meeting room of the library to witness the magician’s illusion.
Gordon Russ engaged his young audience with a variety of tricks, each accompanied by a bit of humor.
Before drawing a face on a balloon for his needle trick, he asked the children what kind of marker he was using, to which the younger set responded “magic marker.”
He then touched the marker and asked if they knew what he turned it into. The puzzled children broke into peels of laughter when he said, “felt tip.”
He took the marker, drew a face on the balloon and then proceeded to place a needle through the balloon as many youngsters covered their ears, expecting a loud pop.
The balloon, however, failed to break much to the curiosity and delight of the children. After drawing the needle through the balloon, he proceeded to pop it.
The 45-minute presentation also featured disappearing sea creatures, handkerchief illusions, ring magic and George the Raccoon, who seemed to meet with all kinds of trouble.
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County engineer addresses council on Angola Road costs, McCord underpass
Lucas County Engineer Keith Earley and deputy engineer Jeff Lohse attended Holland Council’s July 13 meeting to answer questions about the cost of the Angola Road project and update the village on the McCord Road underpass efforts.
Village officials asked the County Engineer’s Office for an explanation of the final cost for the recently completed widening of Angola Road. The original estimate of the village’s share was $92,000, but the final invoice from the county was for $304,000.
Mr. Lohse prepared a detailed breakdown of the costs associated with the project and presented it to council. He said a number of factors led to the cost increase, including unexpected right-of-way acquisition expenses and a significant increase in material costs.
About 84 percent of the right-of-way acquisition costs were within the village, he noted.
Council President Lee Irons said the high acquisition costs surprised the village, because they thought significant right of way had been acquired during the sanitary sewer project.
“My understanding was that the village had expanded right of way on the south side of Angola the whole length, more so than there was right of way on the north side,” he said.
Mr. Lohse explained that some of the right of way acquired during the sanitary sewer project was not recorded properly and had to be squared up.
The most dramatic increase in the price of asphalt in 16 years also contributed to the cost.

3.5-mill police levy to appear on November ballot
By Beth Church
Feeling as if they have no other funding options, the Springfield Township Trustees decided last week to place a 3-mill, five-year property tax levy on the November ballot to pay for police services.
“We’re between a hard spot–it’s not our choice,” Trustee Marylin Yoder said. “It’s hard times. I feel for people. This is a hard decision.”
The trustees face a shrinking budget and new responsibility for paying for law enforcement service from the Lucas County sheriff’s office.
The Lucas County Commissioners announced last year that road patrols were to be eliminated this year, and only 9-1-1 calls would receive responses. If townships want additional coverage, they must contract with the sheriff’s office.
The township citizens police study commission has recommended a three-year contract with the sheriff’s office and then forming a new police department.
Lucas County Sheriff James Telb offered the trustees a three-year contract to provide three additional deputies for an annual cost of $1,629,886.

Car break-ins occurring throughout township
Lucas County Sheriff’s Sergeant James Schiavone provided an update on recent criminal cases to the Springfield Township Trustees at their July 19 meeting.
Leading the list of crimes was 27 car break-ins, including the areas of McCord Road apartments and Carmella Gardens subdivision.
Primarily items were stolen from unlocked cars, he added.
The thefts are not related to a situation two weeks ago, he said, when deputies arrested a group of juveniles responsible for tearing down mailboxes throughout the Quarry subdivision and throwing them onto cars.
Sgt. Schiavone said Don Pablos on Airport Highway has suffered a recent rash of break-ins to cars in the restaurant’s parking lot.
He attributed much of those thefts to people staying at the Knights Inn and walking through the parking lot on the way to the gas stations at the corner.
Deputies found 22 men staying in one room at the Knights Inn, and 16 were illegal immigrants, he added.

Springfield Township Board of Trustees discuss proposed area for JEDZ
At a July 19 public hearing, the Springfield Township Trustees unveiled a map of the area they would like to include in a joint economic development zone (JEDZ).
The JEDZ covers 555.68 acres of commercial property along Airport Highway, McCord Road and Holland-Sylvania Road.
In that area, a 1.5 percent income tax–that matches the income tax rate for the Village of Holland–would be collected from workers.
The tax would be a personal income tax and not additional tax on businesses.
Trustee Andy Glenn said an engineer’s survey, map and legal description of the area have been completed for the JEDZ, as well as a proposed contract with the Village of Holland.
Trustee Bob Bethel said township officials have yet to determine how many people it would affect and how much money it will generate.
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