|
County workers to get more in checks |
 |
 |
 |
|
Written by JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN Sentinel County Editor
|
|
Friday, 08 March 2013 10:41 |
It's not even close to Christmas, but it may feel a bit like it for Wood County employees.
For the first time in recent history, the Wood County Commissioners have taken the unexpected action of giving their 800 or so employees a mid-year pleasant surprise in their paychecks.
The commissioners sent out letters Thursday notifying employees of a one-time 0.5 percent lump sum payment based on their 2012 wages.
The action was taken in an attempt to treat county employees equitably, according to Wood County Administrator Andrew Kalmar.
Kalmar explained that in December the commissioners granted 1.5 percent raises to county employees for this year. The county had offered the same amount to the collective bargaining unit at the sheriff's office. The union, however, requested 5 percent raises - which the county rejected.
A factfinder said the sheriff's raises should be 3 percent - which the commissioners also rejected, so the issue went to binding arbitration.
In the end, the result was a 1.5 percent raise and a 0.5 percent lump sum for the sheriff's office collective bargaining unit.
|
|
Perrysburg Township hires new law director |
|
|
|
|
Written by PETER KUEBECK Sentinel Staff Writer
|
|
Thursday, 07 March 2013 10:49 |
LIME CITY - Perrysburg Township has a new law director.
Township trustees unanimously appointed Truman A. "Tim" Greenwood at Wednesday's meeting.
Greenwood, a lawyer with the firm of Spengler Nathanson, served in the Ohio State Assembly from 1989 to 1995. He retired from the Ohio Senate in 1995 after being appointed to fill a vacated seat. Among other posts, he additionally served as the law director for Sylvania Township for 10 years.
Township Administrator Walter Celley said the appointment was somewhat unusual, as Greenwood was unable to attend the meeting.
"Mr. Greenwood regrets that he had a prior commitment to this meeting," said Celley. "We're going to bring him in for a meeting that's probably going to be our first meeting in April to introduce him to the public. I do have a couple matters that are going to have to be handled by the law director in the coming months.
The law director post was last held by Celley before he ascended to the position of administrator earlier this year. The job has been vacant since that time.
|
|
|
Mandel surveys business climate |
|
|
|
|
Written by JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN Sentinel County Editor
|
|
Thursday, 07 March 2013 10:50 |
 |
| Josh Mandel, left, walks with Greg Kegler, Executive Vice President and CFO of The Kellermeyer Family of Companies. (Photo: J.D. Pooley/Sentinel-Tribune) |
As he travels across Ohio, State Treasurer Josh Mandel hears that businesses are being buried by paperwork, sickened by "Obamacare" uncertainties, exhausted by energy costs, have trouble finding skilled trade workers, and wish Ohio was a Right to Work state.
On Wednesday, Mandel was in Bowling Green to learn how the state can create a better climate for business.
As he walked past the towering stacks of salt bags, bubble wrap and toilet paper at the Kellermeyer company in Bowling Green, Mandel talked to the owners about their business which distributes industrial janitorial supplies.
When Mandel found out the third-generation Kellermeyer company has 49 employees, he asked if that was an intentional attempt to avoid "Obamacare" mandates.
"Fifty is that trigger," he said, of the maximum employees before a company has to meet new health insurance requirements. "It's a game changer for a lot of businesses."
|
|
Written by HAROLD BROWN Sentinel City Editor
|
|
Thursday, 07 March 2013 10:45 |
 |
| A sign sitting along South Wintergarden Road warning drivers of deer crossing the road. (Photo: J.D. Pooley/Sentinel-Tribune) |
White tail deer have become a common sight around Bowling Green, especially on the west side of the city.
Chris Gajewicz, natural resources coordinator for Bowling Green's Department of Parks and Recreation, expects to see the population increase.
"There are probably 30 deer in this part of town. They don't stay in any one spot and they don't all stay together. They're looking for food and when they find it in your backyard, they are happy," Gajewicz said. "This is just the beginning. I think we will see a lot more deer."
Gajewicz said he receives a fair amount of questions and e-mail about deer, many wondering what the "city is going to do about its deer."
He replies the city isn't going to do anything, because deer are not the city's and are managed by the state through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. "We just try to educate people that people have to co-exist with deer."
|
|
