Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks And Open Space Funding topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Medina County Park District seeks Clean Ohio funds to acquire 97 acres; commissioners sign resolution of support
Summary
The Medina County Park District asked the commissioners for a resolution supporting a Clean Ohio grant application to acquire a 97-acre parcel in Granger Township and discussed a renewal levy to provide long-term funding for the park district.
Nate Epping of the Medina County Park District asked the Medina County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 23 to adopt a resolution supporting a Clean Ohio grant application to acquire a 97-acre parcel in Granger Township.
Epping told the board the parcel would protect the headwaters of Yellow Creek, described in the presentation as a high-quality tributary that feeds toward Lake Erie, and would allow creation of a new park if the grant is awarded. He said West Creek Conservancy will provide the local match for the acquisition and that letters of support are already on file from Medina County Soil and Water, Friends of Medina County Parks, Summit Metro Parks and the National Park Service; Highland Local Schools confirmed a letter of support the day before the meeting.
Commissioners approved a resolution of support on the record to accompany the Clean Ohio application. Epping said the application deadline is Friday and that, if the grant application is successful, there would be no local cost to the park district beyond the match provided by partners.
Epping also briefed the board on the Park District's finances and a planned renewal levy to appear on the Nov. 4 ballot. He said the Park District has no permanent funding and is currently supported by a 1-mill levy made up of a 0.75 mill originally passed in 2005 and a 0.25-mill increase approved in 2015. He said those amounts are collecting at less than current property-value levels and that a renewal including a small quarter-mill increase is proposed to fund operations through 2036 should voters approve it. Epping presented an example cost to property owners: $31 per $100,000 of appraised value; he said a $500,000 property would pay about $155 per year under the proposed levy.
Commissioners took the park-district resolution for the Clean Ohio application and indicated they would include the measure in the grant package. No local appropriation was made at the meeting; Epping said partner funding would provide the local match if the grant is awarded.
