Putnam voters OK 911 levy

OTTAWA — It was a good night in Putnam County for two countywide levies and two school renewal income tax levies for Fort Jennings and Columbus Grove with nearly 53 percent voter turnout in the county.

The E-911 1 mill replacement and 0.25 mill increase for operations received a 56 percent voter approval.

“We did better than I imagined we would do with the current times,” said 911 coordinator Bob Brubaker. “I’m very happy with the results.”

He said the additional revenue will be used for communications, which will be countywide and will cover all law enforcement agencies, fire departments, emergency medical services, and will take care of repairs as systems get older.

“Just so we can keep up with the system rather than be on the verge of falling apart,” Brubaker said.

He said the county was lucky on the grant money it received to replace the county’s current system.

These words were echoed by Putnam County Sheriff Jim Beutler.

“We didn’t know what to expect,” he said. “We were hoping it would pass, but obviously with the quarter percent increase we didn’t know if the public would understand what it was being used for.”

The levy pays for salaries and operations of the current system, along with upgrades to keep current with cell phone and computer-based telephone services and communications equipment.

Voters signed off on the five-year 0.3 mill renewal levy for mental health by a 60.3 percent to 39.7 percent margin. The levy raises $170,000 per year for the Putnam County Mental Health, Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Board.

Mike Ruhe, executive director of the board, said the continuance of the levy was needed because the demand for services has dramatically increased during the past 30 years.

During the campaign to get the levy approved, Ruhe said the loss of the money may have meant the loss of professional and support jobs in the county and the possibility that the board might have had to consolidate with another region.

Voters in the Columbus Grove and Fort Jennings school districts approved 0.75 percent renewal income tax levies.

“We’re thankful to the voters that they have given us a vote of confidence in renewing the levy and we’ll continue to do the good job we have done,” said Frank Sukup, Fort Jennings school superintendent.

“And I’m glad it’s my last levy,” he added, referring to his upcoming retirement.

Voters in the Fort Jennings district gave a hefty 67 percent approval to the levy.

Voters in the Columbus Grove District gave 53.88 percent voter approval to their income tax renewal with 46 percent voting against the levy.

All 12 other local issues in the county, including township fire taxes and village operating expenses, were approved by the voters, many receiving more than 70 percent approval.