ASHLAND – After two previous attempts, the Ashland County Park District was successful Tuesday night in getting voters to approve a levy to fund their operations.
According to final unofficial results from the Ashland County Board of Elections, the 0.5-mill levy passed 12,335 to 11,399.
In 2013, county voters defeated a 0.1-mill levy by a 6,211 to 5,118 vote. A year later, voters again said no to the levy, with 7,965 votes against the levy and 7,004 votes in favor of the levy.
The levy will cost the owner of a $100,000 home $17.50 per year, and senior citizens would pay only $13.50 per year thanks to the homestead exemption.
The park district, which includes 16 parks across the county, has operated on grants, donations and volunteer time since it was founded 14 years ago.
Park Commissioner Kolleen Crall said the commissioners would be seeking public input on what they wanted to see in the parks, but bathrooms at some of the parks would definitely be a priority.
“We’ve already grown the awareness of the parks and our supporters and we hope to continue to do that,” Crall said.
Senior Citizens levy
Ashland County votes also approved a 0.6-mill renewal levy for the Council on Aging, 16,789 to 6,870. The levy, which was first passed in 2007 and renewed in 2012, provides services such as Meals on Wheels and facilities for senior citizens across the country.
County Officials
In the only contested countywide race, Republican James Justice defeated Democrat Dorothy Balkin, 16,890 votes to 5,636 votes to fill the County Commissioner seat left vacant by the retiring Barb Queer.
Several county officials were running unopposed including:
- Sheriff E. Wayne Risner
- County Prosecutor Christopher Tunnell
- Common Pleas Judge Ronald Forsthoefel
- County Commissioner Mike Welch
- County Recorder Michael Crow
- County Treasurer Angela McQuillen
- County Coroner Dale Thomae
- County Engineer Ed Meixner
- Clerk of Courts Annette Shaw
Ashland County Township/Village Issues
Other Ashland County results included:
- Clear Creek Township – 1 mill additional levy for roads and bridges. 313 votes for, 266 against.
- Clear Creek Township – 2.7 mills renewal for fire protection and emergency medical services. 702 votes for, 208 against.
- Green Township – 0.2-mill renewal to maintain and operate Greenlawn Union Cemetery. 772 votes for, 361 against.
- Green Perrysville Joint Fire District – 2 mills renewal for fire protection and emergency medical services. 892 votes for, 250 against.
- Jeromesville Village – 1 mill renewal for current expenses. 142 votes for, 83 against
- Milton Township – 2.5 mills renewal for roads and bridges. 727 votes for, 461 against.
- Montgomery Township – 2 mills renewal and 0.6 mill increase for fire protection and emergency medical services. 972 votes for, 567 against.
- Orange Township – 0.7 mill renewal for ambulance service, emergency medical services or both. 935 votes for, 272 against.
- Orange Township – 0.92-mill additional for fire protection and emergency medical services. 668 votes for, 512 against.
- Sullivan Township – 1.5 mills additional for roads and bridges. 567 against, 449 for.
- Sullivan Township – 1 mill additional for fire protection and emergency medical services. 608 votes for, 412 against.
- Troy Township – 0.5-mill replacement for maintaining and operating the township cemetery. 329 votes for, 244 against.
- Vermilion Township – 0.8-mill renewal for roads and bridges. 848 votes for, 350 against.
