OML UPDATE AT-A-GLANCE
Here are the top four things you need to know from this past week:
· The League congratulates all municipal officials elected this Tuesday! We know you are dedicated to leading your local community well and we encourage you to use the League as a resource as you begin this next term as an elected municipal official. We look forward to working alongside you in building a strong and bright future for cities and villages across Ohio.
· We want to again thank all our members who joined us for OML’s 2021 Virtual Annual Conference last week. We are asking members to complete a quick survey and share their views on what they liked, didn’t like or what can be better next year. Remember to view any of the workshops you might have missed at your leisure to be sure you receive all the important information provided at this year’s event. You can access the survey HERE.
· As this week was an election week, the Ohio legislature did not hold any sessions and very few committees held hearings. The General Assembly is expected to resume its normal legislative schedule next week. However, the legislature did take action on one major issue when republicans in the Ohio House and Senate unveiled two different potential redistricting maps for the state’s 15 congressional districts. You can see the House GOP map HERE and the Senate GOP map HERE. Both chambers of the Ohio legislature have begun holding public hearings on the proposed maps.
· This week, $44 million in grants was awarded to 28 projects in the second round of new water infrastructure grant funding as part of the new Ohio BUILDS initiative. A total of $250 million in grant funding will be allocated for water infrastructure projects. The grants will help communities with critical infrastructure needs, including constructing new water systems, replacing aging water lines, and installing new water mains. The funds will also be used to prevent sewer system backups and replace failing household sewage treatment systems. During the first round of funding, 54 projects received a total of $93 million in grants. Find the full list of awarded grants and more information HERE.
OHIO OFFICE OF BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT (OBM) TO HOLD SECOND OHIO GRANTS SUMMIT
On Tuesday, December 7, The Ohio Office of Budget and Management is virtually hosting the second Ohio Grants Summit. The first summit was held in September of 2020.
The Ohio Grants Summit is a unique event offering the opportunity to connect local government leaders and financial managers to resources and education to support their management of federal grant funds. This year, the Summit sessions include the following topics:
o Ohio Broadband;
o Emerging Issues in Federal Funds;
o Allowable Uses of Fiscal Recovery Funds on Water and Wastewater Infrastructure;
o Preparing for a Single Audit and Accounting for COVID Funds;
o Federal Procurement; and
o Compliance and Legal Considerations with Fiscal Recovery Funds
o This free event is specifically for local governments and non-profits that apply for and receive grant funding from the State of Ohio.
Don’t miss out on this important and informative event! To learn more and to register, click HERE.
OHIO EPA TO HOLD NOVEMBER WEBINARS ON REDUCING CONTAMINATION. ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING AND MOSQUITO CONTROL
On Tuesday, November 9, at 10 a.m., the Ohio EPA will be holding an event entitled “Feet on the Street: Fighting Contamination Across Ohio.” The webinar will be an overview of how six Ohio communities reduced their contamination rates by implementing the Feet on the Street program. Attendees will learn about the contamination-fighting best practices and communication tools needed to change resident's behavior and opportunities for future grant dollars to enact this work in their own community. Learn more and register HERE.
Also on Tuesday, November 9 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., the Ohio EPA is holding a webinar about the application process and grant program under its Diesel Mitigation Trust Fund (DMTF) program to help fund the installation of publicly available DC Fast Charging (DCFC) Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations in 26 Ohio priority counties. To learn more about this grant program, click HERE. To join the webinar, click HERE.
Finally, on Thursday, November 18 at 10 a.m., the Ohio EPA will hold a webinar entitled “Fight the Bite! Ohio EPA’s Mosquito Control Grant Application Overview”. This webinar will provide a brief overview of Ohio EPA's Mosquito Control Grant (MCG) and information on how to apply for the upcoming grant cycle. Mosquito control grants are available annually to health departments or other governmental organizations to aid with mosquito surveillance, control, source reduction, and community outreach. Learn more and register HERE.
FREE UPCOMING OML WEBINAR ON WORKERS’ COMPENSATION
On Thursday, November 18 at 11:00 a.m., the League will be hosting a free webinar entitled “Workers’ Compensation Issues Most Impacting Cities and Villages”. The Ohio’s Firefighter Cancer Presumption law was enacted four years ago and PTSD legislation for first responders was passed last year. These laws impact cities & villages as much as any employer in the State. This presentation will discuss how cities & villages can investigate and respond to these claims. Learn more and register HERE.
INVITATION TO JOIN MUNICIPAL ENGINEERS ASSOCIATION OF OHIO (MEAO)
The League is inviting your municipal engineer to become an inaugural member of the Municipal Engineers Association of Ohio. As an inaugural member, your municipality will help us shape the mission, goals, and priorities of this important organization. Membership will allow you to engage your fellow municipal engineers, understand and impact state legislation, programs and policies, receive professional development. Learn more about MEAO membership HERE.
NEW BILLS OF MUNICIPAL INTEREST
· HB 472 – Political Subdivision. Sponsored by Rep. Ingram (D – Cincinnati), would eliminate certain defenses to political subdivision liability for an employee's negligent operation of a motor vehicle and reduce damages recoverable against a political subdivision in such actions by the contributory fault of the plaintiff or other parties.
· HB 475 – Hospital/Special Police Officer. Sponsored by Rep. Fraizer (R – Newark) and Rep. Plummer (R – Dayton), would increase penalties for certain assault offenses if the victim is a hospital police officer or special police officer, provide a municipal corporation or county with immunity for certain actions of a hospital police officer, and include gaming agents of the Casino Control Commission as peace officers under the general statutory definition of that term.
· HB 478 – Radio Communication Equipment. Sponsored by Rep. Stein (R – Norwalk) and Rep. Ray (R – Wadsworth), would provide funding for the acquisition of Multi-Agency Radio Communication System (MARCS) equipment.
