OML UPDATE AT-A-GLANCE
Here are the top six things you need to know from this past week:
· The Ohio Legislature canceled committee hearings this week due to weather. The Legislature is scheduled to return next week for committee hearings and House and Senate session. You can find the Ohio General Assembly’s 2022 legislative calendar HERE.
· This week, the White House has released a Bipartisan Infrastructure Law guidebook to break down what funding opportunities municipalities can apply for, who to contact and how to prepare. This guidebook is a roadmap to the funding available under the law, as well as an explanatory document that shows direct federal spending at the program level. The White House will continue to update this resource online. Find the guidebook HERE
· The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) will host their Ohio Safety Congress & Expo from March 9 through 10 as an online-only event. Attendees will have access to dozens of learning sessions and a digital expo, allowing participants to chat virtually with vendors about new and existing products and services. Register HERE and read more in the article below.
Additionally, BWC also provides monthly webinars on safety and health topics as well as Virtual Training Classes (VTC) to meet more in-depth learning needs. Find out more HERE.
· The League along with the County Commissioners Association of Ohio, the Ohio Mayors Alliance and the Ohio Township Association has released a Toolkit to assist local governments in understanding and establishing regional governance structures under the OneOhio Memorandum of Understanding. You can access that toolkit HERE. We encourage members to register for one of the upcoming webinars to discuss the toolkit and have their questions answered. You can register for the Monday, February 7 webinar at 12 p.m. HERE.
· The League has announced the 2022 schedule for the OML Municipal Officials Training Seminars. These important seminars will equip municipal officials to best lead their communities by covering topics such as home rule and local control, city and village financing procedures, council powers and procedures, public records and liability for municipalities and municipal officers. Click HERE to register. Learn more in the article below.
· OML Regional Conferences are back! Mark your calendars for the return of our in-person regional meetings from May through August. The League will once again be holding four one-day conferences in each of the four corners of our state to bring important educational resources and networking opportunities to our members. These meetings will be in addition to our Annual Conference which is scheduled for late fall of this year. Dates and location information can be found in the article below.
DEADLINE EXTENDED FOR UNRESPONSIVE NON-ENTITLEMENT UNITES OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT (NEUs) TO APPLY FOR AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT (ARPA) FUNDS
The following is a communication from the Ohio Office of Budget and Management to unresponsive NEUs:
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA), passed by the U.S. Congress in March 2021, appropriated $844 million to the state of Ohio for distribution to local governments with a population less than 50,000. During the previous application period offered by the Office of Budget and Management (OBM), some local governments did not apply for your allocation and was been deemed unresponsive. Funds from unresponsive governments gets redistributed to all other eligible local governments that applied for funds.
The U.S. Treasury released their final rule on January 6, 2022 providing significant flexibility for the use of funds. Previously, funds needed to be used for specific purposes provided in the rule to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The final rule added a standard allowance for assumed revenue losses of up to $10 million. Funds used under the assumed revenue loss category can be used for most general government services, and do not need to tie back to the pandemic or the other eligible use categories. This means that your government entity could use your full allocation toward typical general government expenditures such as road paving, payroll, parks and recreation needs, facility renovations, vehicles, equipment, etc. Local governments have until December 31, 2024 to obligate funds and until December 31, 2026 to fully spend the funding. In addition, the Treasury has communicated minimal reporting requirements when using funds for revenue loss.
In recognition of this new flexibility, OBM is offering one final opportunity for your local government to apply for their allocation. OBM has opened the application portal up through February 11, 2022 to allow for those that were previously unresponsive to apply. The application can be found at https://grants.ohio.gov/fundingopportunities.aspx under the funding opportunity titled “American Rescue Plan Act-Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Funds for Ohio Non-Entitlement Units of Local Government.”
If OBM does not receive your application by the deadline, your local government will be declared as unresponsive in accordance with the U.S. Treasury requirements and your allocation may be reallocated to other eligible local governments across the state. In addition, unresponsive local governments are not eligible for the second tranche payment. Please consider completing the application; this is a rare opportunity to use one-time funds to address the needs of your community with minimal restrictions.
If you need any assistance in applying or wish to discuss the new requirements, you may reach out to Gene Berry at (614) 728-4661 or email the Ohio Grants Partnership team at grants@obm.ohio.gov.
OHIO BUREAU OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION (BWC) HOLDING OHIO SAFETY CONGRESS & EXPO MARCH 9-10
The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) will host their Ohio Safety Congress & Expo March 9-10, 2022, as an online-only event with dozens of learning sessions and a digital expo, allowing participants to chat virtually with vendors about new and existing products and services.
By attending the safety congress, members will learn to:
• Prevent workplace injuries and illnesses
• Achieve better outcomes for injured workers
• Reduce workers’ compensation claims costs
• Keep Ohio’s work force healthy and productive
BWC recently announced its educational offerings, which you can find HERE, for the 2022 Ohio Safety Congress & Expo (OSC22). With the online format, attendees can attend sessions from anywhere.
OSC22 online will deliver more than 30 live sessions on March 9 and 10. A dozen on-demand sessions are available to view anytime March 9 through March 31, offering more choice and more convenience than ever before. If you’re an environmental specialist, consider also attending the Ohio EPA’s education day on March 8.
OSC22 is the largest free work-safe event in the U.S. Registration is free and available now. Click HERE to register. If you have any questions, please call BWC at 1-800-644-6292.
SEDGWICK WORKER’S COMPENSATION AND SAFETY ARTICLE: DESTINATION EXCELLENCE
The following is a Sedgwick Workers' Comp and Safety article for February 2022:
The Destination Excellence program encourages an employer’s focus on safety and return-to-work for injured workers, and fosters efficient management of accounts and cost control efforts. The Destination Excellence program includes Administrative rebates, Safety Council rebates, an Industry Specific Safety bonus, a Drug Free Safety incentive program and a Transitional Work Grant program and bonus.
Savings options
Go Green
A rebate (1% of premium, which includes any assessments, up to a maximum of $2,000 per policy period) is granted to employers who elect to utilize the BWC’s website at www.bwc.ohio.gov to conduct business electronically. BWC will apply the rebate automatically; no application is required. Online transactions consist of reporting payroll; payment of premium no later than the due date; and any additional transactions that BWC expands to online account management and communications.
Lapse Free
A rebate (1% of premium, which includes any assessments, up to a maximum of $2,000 per policy period) is granted to employers with an active policy for at least 5 years and no lapses during that time. “One Time Forgiveness” may be utilized to remove a lapse to become eligible. Predecessor policy lapses do not transfer to successor policy but successor policy must be active for at least 5 years to be eligible. Employers reporting zero payroll in current payroll period, state agencies and self-insured employers are not eligible for this discount.
Safety & return-to-work options
Industry Specific Safety Program
A 3% bonus of the employer’s premium is given at the close of the program year to encourage an employer’s focus on safety in the workplace. Employer must complete an online safety management self assessment and completion of one, two or three loss prevention activities depending on payroll. Loss prevention activities include industry-specific training classes, attendance at BWC’s Ohio Safety Congress & Expo and/or onsite field consulting with a BWC safety and health expert.
Drug Free Safety Program
A premium bonus is given for the implementation of a program promoting occupational safety and health for workers which addresses the use and misuse of alcohol and drugs in the workplace. An employer may choose between basic (4% bonus) or advanced (7% bonus) level programs to help their organization prevent on-the-job injuries and illness by integrating drug-free efforts.
Safety Council
This is an incentive program that enables employers to receive a rebate of 2% of their annual workers’ compensation premium through program participation and an additional 2% performance bonus based on the reduction of the frequency or severity of claims (reduction of 10% or more compared to the previous year’s frequency or severity or maintaining both frequency and severity at zero). Regular attendance at meetings (requirement of 10 meetings or events between July 1 - June 30 annually) provides an organization with the latest in safety, workers’ compensation and risk management information, techniques, products and services.
Transitional Work
This is a grant for employers to establish a transitional work plan and a bonus for employers who use the plan in returning injured workers to work. An effective transitional work program helps injured workers return to productivity in the workplace by providing modified job duties and other methods that accommodate medical restrictions. The injured worker receives a full paycheck with the goal of returning to his/her original job while the employer reduces the costs associated with long-term claims and improves productivity. Grants are 3-to-1 matching grants for companies ranging from $2,900 to $6,300 from 11 to 200+ employees. Up to a 10% bonus available for employers who utilize an established and approved program applicable to claims with dates of injury within the policy year.
LEAGUE ANNOUNCES DATES AND LOCATIONS FOR 2022 REGIONAL CONFERENCES
From May through August, the League will be holding four Regional Conferences throughout the state to bring important elements of our Annual Conference right to the doorstep of the local leaders who serve Ohio's cities and villages.
Our Regional Conferences are an invaluable opportunity for municipal officials across the state to attend presentations on the many critical issues facing Ohio’s cities and villages while connecting and networking with other local leaders in their area.
Mark your calendars for the following dates:
· Southeast: Friday, May 20 – Ohio University Inn & Conference Center, Athens
· Northeast: Friday, June 10 – Hilton Garden Inn, Akron
· Southwest: Friday, June 24 – Marriott NE, Mason
· Northwest: Friday, August 5 – Hancock Hotel, Findlay
We will have the agenda and registration information available in the next few weeks. We look forward to seeing you there!
2022 SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED FOR OML MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS TRAINING SEMINARS
The League is excited to announce the 2022 schedule for our Municipal Officials Training Seminars. These seminars are designed to prepare our local leaders for the issues and responsibilities they manage as municipal officials and assist in navigating the successful management of their communities.
The presentations will cover topics such as what is Home Rule and what authorities are granted to municipalities through local control, new changes to city and village financing procedures, council procedures and authorities, management responsibilities related to public records and liability issues for municipalities.
The following are the dates and locations for this year’s Municipal Officials Training Seminars:
· Saturday, March 5 – Cincinnati Marriott Northeast
· Saturday, March 12 – Doubletree Columbus/Worthington
· Saturday, March 26 – Embassy Suites Rockside, Independence
These seminars are a great opportunity for both local leaders starting their first terms in office and current municipal leaders. To find out more information and register, click HERE
UPCOMING FEBRUARY AND MARCH OML/OMAA WEBINARS
On Wednesday, February 16 from 11a.m. to 12 p.m., the League along with the Ohio Municipal Attorneys Association (OMAA) will be hosting a free webinar called “American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) – Practical Guidance from Final Rule.” As we reported in previous Member Alerts and bulletins, on January 6, the U.S. Dept. of Treasury issued the Final Rule on the implementation of the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund established under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The Final Rule will take effect April 1, 2022, and there are some provisions that may prove very helpful to Ohio municipalities. This webinar will focus on these new provisions in the Final Rule and include opportunities for questions and answers, both during and after the webinar. Learn more and register HERE.
Additionally, on Wednesday, February 23 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., the League and the OMAA will be hosting a webinar called “Labor and Employment Issues – Basics of Discipline.” Public employees have constitutional procedural rights which are strictly enforced by courts, arbitrators, and in civil service appeals. This webinar will examine which employees are subject to the standards, the multiple standards, and provide the legal basis for each including the Loudermill and Garrity standards. Investigation techniques and potential conflict between administrative and criminal investigations and discipline in union and civil service environments will be addressed. Practical applications will be presented, and sample forms and outlines will be provided. Learn more and register HERE.
Finally, on Thursday, March 10 from 11 a.m to 12 p.m., the League and the OMAA are hosting a webinar entitled “Update on Public Records Act and Open Meetings Act.” Public bodies are forced to handle a world where opinions and emotions run strong. This webinar will discuss what a municipality can and cannot do under the Public Records Act and the Open Meetings Act to deal with such hostilities—what public records must be released and what can be withheld, how to run a meeting, what is allowed and not allowed during public participation, and how to handle a meeting when tensions may escalate. Learn more and register HERE.
PEP OFFERS MEMBERS PROPERTY APPRAISAL PROGRAM AT NO ADDITIONAL COST
The Public Entities Pool of Ohio (PEP) continues to offer its members specialized services tailored to meet the needs of its members. In 2018, PEP launched a Property Appraisal program as a benefit to its members at no additional cost.
PEP has partnered with CBIZ Valuation Group, a professional property appraisal firm to perform certified appraisals of member buildings and contents over a five-year period, with the following parameters:
· An on-site appraisal of all buildings valued at $100,000 or higher.
· For members that do not insure any buildings valued at $100,000 or higher, the building with the greatest value will be appraised.
Each member will receive a formal report of the appraisal work performed, which will include detailed descriptions and replacement cost insurable values for your records.
If your public entity has been assigned to be appraised this year, you will be contacted by a CBIZ Logistics Coordinator via telephone and/or email in the coming months in order to set up a convenient date and time for you and your staff to host the on-site appraisal visit. The appraisers will be conducting the site visits between the hours of 8:00 am and 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday.
PEP understands that public entity assets need to be properly valued and protected, especially considering current unpredictable building and labor costs. To be sure that CBIZ is able to safely provide this valuable service to the PEP membership, CBIZ has established formal safety protocols for interacting with clients. The CBIZ COVID-19 Field Precautions can be found HERE.
If your entity is not ready or comfortable with scheduling on-site work, members should reach out to their PEP representative to discuss other available options. You can contact PEP toll free at (800) 367-4818
MUNICIPALITIES INVITED TO HELP FOSTER NEXT-GENERATION ENTREPRENEURS
The Ohio Afterschool Network (OAN) is inviting community leaders, community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, parents, schools, libraries and others to help Ohio K-12 youth to share their great ideas by entering the Ohio Afterschool Network Pitch Challenge.
Youth submit a 30-90 second video pitching an idea for a business or social venture and compete for prizes including $500 Amazon gift cards. Youth don’t need to start a business; they just need to pitch an idea! The entry deadline is Monday, March 28, 2022.
Free curricula, training and technical assistance are available to those who want to facilitate sessions to help youth learn about entrepreneurship.
Details are available on the OAN website HERE. For more information contact Liz Nusken, OAN Entrepreneur Education Consultant, liz@oanohio.org.
