Park district levy on Auglaize ballot

WAPAKONETA - Heritage Trail Park District has proposed a five-year, 0.5-mill property tax levy to develop and protect lands and waters, according to Auglaize County Board of Elections filings.

This would be the district's third attempt to nail down a levy in nearly a decade.

The Nov. 7 general election in Auglaize County will also feature contested township trustee, council and board of education races as well as tax levies for St. Marys and Minster schools, pending certification by elections officials.

Wednesday was the deadline for candidates to file petitions to run in nonpartisan races - such as township trustee and board of education - in the general election. It was also the final day to submit local questions and issues for the Nov. 7 ballot.

Partisan candidates who ran unopposed in the primary automatically advanced to the general election.

Revenue from the park district levy, if green-lighted by voters, would be used for "maintaining, conserving, developing, improving, acquiring, and protecting lands and waters for the purposes of parks, parkways, and forest reservations including the existing parks within the jurisdiction of the Heritage Trails Park District."

The levy would collect $620,000 annually, amounting to $18 for a home appraised at $100,000.

St. Marys City Schools submitted a five-year, 5.823-mill emergency property tax renewal levy that would collect $1.83 million annually, amounting to $204 for a home appraised at $100,000.

Also, Minster Local Schools filed a five-year, 0.2-mill recreation replacement levy that would collect $37,000 annually, amounting to $7 for a home assessed at $100,000.

Candidates

Several races will be contested, including nonpartisan races, pending certification of petitions.

• In St. Marys, a new mayor will take office in 2024. Mayor Patrick McGown several months ago revealed this would be his last year heading up the city.

Republican Joseph E. Hurlburt Jr. moved on to the general election after running uncontested in the primary. Ashley Randolph, presently the second ward councilor, filed to run for mayor as a no-party candidate.

Four are running for three at-large city council seats, incumbents Robert J. Fitzgerald and Daniel F. Uhlenhake, both Republicans, and write-in candidates Michael Aquaro and Donna Thomas.

Two are running for the second ward city council seat currently held by Randolph, Kyle A. Schmehl, a Republican, and David A. Thomas, no party.

• In Minster, two have filed for mayor, incumbent Dennis Kitzmiller and Craig G. Oldiges. Four have filed for two open village council seats, Nicole A. Clune and Thomas Herkenhoff, both incumbents, and Joshua P. Osterloh and Trey Steele.

• In New Knoxville, three have filed to run for school board, incumbent Brian Hoge, and Brittany Clark and Heather Jurosic.

No one filed for three open village council seats.