The Allen County Engineer’s Office is working with revenue from taxes that have largely not kept pace with today’s costs, Engineer Brion Rhodes told Lima Rotary Club Monday.

Rhodes, Allen County Engineer since 2015, spoke to Rotary, giving an overview of what his office provides and how the work is funded.

The Allen County Engineer’s Office is responsible for the maintenance of Allen County’s local highway system, which includes 352 miles of county roads, 550 miles of township roads.  The County Engineer is also responsible for the inspection, maintenance and replacement of 378 bridges and over 1,400 culverts of various sizes located throughout the county.  To maintain this complex system, the County Engineer works in cooperation with the 12 townships to help perform roadside mowing, snow plowing, drainage improvements and road maintenance. 

Rhodes has been with the Engineer’s Office since 1997, and was appointed chief deputy engineer in 2009. As the Allen County Engineer, Rhodes administers all aspects of design, construction and repair of our local roads, bridges and culverts in Allen County.

Nearly all of the office’s funding comes from fuel tax and license fees, 85 percent to be exact. The fees are a:

The proposed 10-year sales tax increase would provide $5 million to upgrade the county engineer’s facility, as well as $500,000 annually over the life of the tax for road and bridge repairs. That $500,000 would double the county’s current road repair budget. The Allen County commissioners are asking for a 0.2 percent increase to the county’s sales tax to fund capital improvements.

Call to Order                                                                   Tracie Sanchez

President Sanchez called the meeting to order at 11:35 PM with the following members present:  Jill Ackerman, Paul Crow, Ken Dysert, Dave Frost, Anne Decker, Susan Hubbell, Jed Metzger, Catheryn Sarno, Paul Swartz, Jeff Tracy, David Runk plus incoming Board Member John Ficorilli.  Also present were Treasurer Kevin Bill and Secretary Rita Brown. 

 

     Attendance report                                                             Rita Brown

Brown reviewed the Membership Attendance Report for March 2018.  The month of March ended with 170 Members, up by four since the end of June 2017.  Meeting attendance for March was at 46.11% and remains consistent with previous months. 

 

     Presidents Report                                                              Tracie Sanchez

     Blood Clinic will be May 5, 2018

Flyers have been ordered and will be given to churches and other gathering places.  New signs will be ordered and placed at the entrance by the drive and at the rear of the building.  Also an A Frame sign will be place by the rear door entrance to the clinic. 

 

     Presidential Citation 

The last criterion to be met is the purchase and planting of 160 trees.  Sanchez indicated the money has been raised for the purchase and the trees are being planted.

 

     Club Service Awards

Each year at the Annual Changing of the Guard Party, Club Members are acknowledged as winners in the Five Avenues of Service.    Winners were selected for the 2017-2018 year.  Their names will be kept confidential until the Changing of the Guard Party scheduled for July 2, 2018 during the Club Board Meeting at City Center.

 

     New Vice-President Announcement 

Incoming Board Member John Ficorilli has been named as incoming Vice President for the 2018-2019 fiscal year.

 

     Reimbursement for Conferences - District and International

The Board discussed reimbursement for District and International Conferences.   Sarno made a motion to approve $1,000 per club member for International Conferences for up to the first five club members and up to $100 per member for District Assemblies or Conferences for registration fees.  The number of members reimbursed who are attending District or Regional Conferences is unlimited.  Crow seconded the motion.  Board approved.   The Board agreed to revisit the issue each year. 

 

     Torch Run

The Special Olympics Torch Run will be held and may include a Blood Drive for the Red Cross.

 

     President Elect Report                                                       Paul Swartz

Swartz stated this year, the club raised $10,289.04 for World Polio from the fund drive, the auctions and Rottery proceeds.  Forty-six percent of club members contributed.            

 

     Annual meeting April 23^rd

This year the annual meeting will have a new format.  Previously it was done by the current President.  This year the incoming President will lead the meeting with the current President providing support as needed.

 

     Request from Sheriff’s Office for a Tread Mill

The Rotary Club has made a request to the Foundation in the amount of $6,000 for a treadmill for the Sheriff’s Office.  Whatever the Foundation does not provide will need to be raised by the club.

 

     Retractable banner stand

A banner with all Lima Rotary areas of service activities was discussed.   Decker will design it.

 

     Board Reports                                                                   All Board Members 

     4-way speech/essay                                                          Jill Ackerman

The local winners of the Rotary Speech and Essay contest will be presenting at the upcoming Rotary Meeting – Monday April 16^th.   Ackerman will introduce the speakers at the club meeting.

 

    Golf Outing                                                                         Paul Crow

This year’s Golf Outing will be Wednesday June 13 with Wednesday July 18 set as rain date.  The committee is working on securing major sponsors by next week. 

 

     Rotaract/Interact                                                               David Runk

Runk stated Rotarct is participating in the March of Dimes Walk on Saturday April 21, 2018 with a team of walkers.  The Club will Adopt-a-Roadway April 23, focusing on Cable Road and the surrounding campus.  They will be provided supplies for a day of cleaning.  The second annual Color Run is scheduled for Saturday May 26 in Faurot Park. They are currently contracting former and potential sponsors.  Several members of Rotaract are planning to go to the Rotary District Leadership Conference on Saturday May 29, 2018 at the Renaissance Hotel in Downtown Toledo. 

 

The Bath Interact Club meets twice a month and recently participated in a safe driving social campaign on social media with the hashtag #ArriveAlive.  Club President Gabe Niebel was the winner of the State Farm Billboard Safe Driving contest.  Niebel and the Interact Club were each presented with a check for $500.  The club’s prize money will go towards the Interact Scholarship Fund.  Alexis Ball, Bath Interact Secretary, won first place in the Lima Rotary four way speech contest and will advance to the District Contest plus is speaking at an upcoming Rotary Club Meeting.   Club Members will be providing support at the West Ohio Food Bank and also will be participating in the Ottawa River Clean Up during the month of April.  Members of both clubs who have more than 24 hours of service will attend the Rotary Club Meeting on May 7, 2018 to receive their pins.

 

     Movies  in the Park

Sarno indicted The Eagles has again agreed to be a movie sponsor.    Two free movies are now scheduled for the summer.   The free community events will be featured on the Rotary website and Facebook page.

                 

     New Business:                                                   Rita Brown                                                             

     Resignations

Sarno made a motion to accept the resignation of Pam Stricker with regret.  Crow seconded the motion.  Board approved. 

     Applications

Dysert made a motion to approve the application of Cory Frazer and Tracy seconded the motion.  Board approved. 

 

     Adjournment

Sanchez adjourned the meeting at 1:10 PM.

 

Respectfully submitted

Rita Brown, Club Secretary