Sarah Elms
Govtech.com
Toledo, OH, United States
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Past articles by Sarah:
Activists Voice Support for More Body Cameras in Toledo, Ohio
The Toledo Police Department purchased its first set of body cameras in 2015 and has expanded their use since. But many want to see more officers wearing them, and more of their recordings made public. → Read More
E-Mail Scam Nearly Costs $200,000 for Toledo, Ohio
An employee within the city of Toledo almost lost nearly $200,000 of taxpayer money by falling prey to a fraudulent email scheme, but officials said the money was recovered before it was too late. → Read More
Toledo, Ohio, Council to Vote on $144K in AV Upgrades
City officials will decide Tuesday whether to move ahead with audio visual upgrades to council chambers. To date, the city has only provided audio files of city council meetings. → Read More
Water rates key in determining who will join new Toledo-led commission
Now that Toledo voters have given city officials permission to form a new regional water commission, it’s time to figure out who all will participate. Toledo’s current water customers include Lucas County, Maumee, Perrysburg, Sylvania, Whitehouse, Fulton County, Monroe County, and the Northwestern Water and Sewer District. Several are studying whether they can get better service and rates by… → Read More
Toledo officials consider leasing former Champion Spark Plug site to local contractor
A proposal to lease the city’s portion of the former Champion Spark Plug site to Crestline Paving and Excavating for $1 a year has at least one area contractor questioning how the deal came together. Toledo City Council on Wednesday will discuss the proposed five-year lease, which would allow Crestline to acquire the city’s 8.78-acre portion of the roughly 17-acre site and use it to store… → Read More
Jail, water, school issues at stake in Tuesday's election
Voters across Lucas County will weigh in on a long list of ballot initiatives and decide a number of contested local races at the polls on Nov. 6. ■ Issue 10 — Jail Among the most contentious ballot questions is a countywide $185 million bond issue that would pay for the construction of a new jail and behavioral health center. Unions for Toledo police officers and Lucas County sheriff’s deputies… → Read More
Survey: Discrimination a top concern of city employees
Forty percent of city of Toledo employees surveyed say they have personally witnessed an instance of bias toward diverse groups at the city. Less than half believe employees are treated fairly by management regardless of their race, sex, or position, while slightly more than half say they would feel comfortable reporting a concern about discriminatory treatment. That’s according to an employee… → Read More
Toledo close to settling lawsuit stemming from crash with city vehicle
Toledo City Council will consider paying $500,000 to settle a lawsuit filed against the city by a woman who was injured in a vehicle accident involving a city employee. LeQuita Perry was driving in August, 2015, on Hill Avenue near Westwood Avenue when a city vehicle cut her off, causing the two cars to collide, according to a lawsuit filed last summer in Lucas County Common Pleas Court. Police… → Read More
Latest Uptown Arts Apartments proposal includes $350,000 payment to city
A real estate developer for the fourth time has asked Toledo City Council to forgive a $500,000 loan so that he can sell the Uptown Arts Apartments and avoid foreclosure on the affordable housing complex. The latest proposal, which council will consider at a special meeting Tuesday, includes a $350,000 payment to the city if officials agree to release its ownership of the land on which the… → Read More
Toledo's golf cart pilot program may be expanded
Kevin Clapper hopes Toledo City Council makes a pilot program allowing recreational and commercial use of golf carts in designated areas a permanent perk of living in Toledo. He’s the owner and operator of EZ Shuttles, which offers rides around town in one of three golf carts that sit five passengers each. He said the golf carts add to the growing appeal of living in or visiting downtown Toledo… → Read More
Supporters keep up push to put Lake Erie Bill of Rights on ballot
Citizens behind the Lake Erie Bill of Rights initiative are keeping the pressure on Toledo City Council to send their proposal back to the Lucas County Board of Elections for reconsideration. About 20 people stood outside One Government Center ahead of city council’s meeting Tuesday, carrying signs that read “Protect Our Water,” “Let Us Vote,” and “Clean Water is Our Right.” The demonstrators —… → Read More
New Toledo Fire trucks likely amid concerns about temporary station closings
Toledo firefighters worry they might have to temporarily close a station if one more backup fire engine winds up in the shop, but councilmen hope a slight budget reconfiguration will help alleviate those fears. Fire Chief Brian Byrd this month told council that crews have been consistently using rigs meant to be in reserve as their front-line equipment when they respond to fires. That means if a… → Read More
Mayor might veto $200,000 block grant spending
Four local organizations are on track to receive $50,000 each in additional Community Development Block Grant dollars, though Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz may veto the spending. Council this week with an 8-4 vote approved Councilman Larry Sykes’ request to split $200,000 evenly among Family House, the YWCA domestic violence shelter, Nexus Health Care, and the Toledo Urban Federal Credit Union. Mr.… → Read More
Leadership summit fosters empowerment in young women
Perseverance, passion, resilience, and hard work. Those themes came up time and again on Sunday at the third annual Empower Yourself: Be The Force Leadership Summit, presented by Total Package Girl. A few hundred girls and women spent their afternoon at Stranahan Theater learning from women of various backgrounds and professions as they told their stories of rising to the challenge. Kristi… → Read More
Toledo's suburbs want more details on regional water agreement
As Toledo voters get ready to decide whether they support a regional water commission, suburban mayors and utility managers continue to debate whether they would join the new commission or get water elsewhere. Toledoans on Nov. 6 will vote for or against amending the city’s charter to allow the new commission — Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz’s answer to suburban mayors’ requests for more equitable… → Read More
Toledo could offer city workers paid time off to work at polls
City of Toledo employees could soon receive paid time off to work a polling location on Election Day. City Councilman Nick Komives on Tuesday introduced an ordinance that would create a Precinct Election Official Leave Program for the city, and council is expected to vote on it next week. Mr. Komives modeled his proposal after a Lucas County policy that allows county employees to take the day… → Read More
Tenants want transparency about Uptown Arts Apartments proposed sale
As Toledo City Councilmen debate whether they’ll allow a developer to sell the Uptown Arts Apartments and avoid foreclosure, tenants are wondering what the future of their housing complex means for them. Myra Brown moved into her second-floor apartment at the 52-unit affordable housing complex at 336 14th St. about a week ago and said she was not informed the development was involved in a… → Read More
City of Toledo sets $125,000 charitable giving goal
The city of Toledo’s 2,600 employees have increased their charitable giving goal for 2018. Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz and more than a dozen city employees on Monday announced their plan to raise $125,000 in a month for United Way of Greater Toledo and Community Shares, which is $25,000 more than the city pledged last year. “I know it’s achievable,” Mr. Kapszukiewicz said. “And I really hope that… → Read More
Local students, graduates talk about high school drinking culture in wake of Kavanaugh hearings
In 1980, a Sylvania Southview senior told The Blade that drinking and high school went hand-in-hand. “It takes place just about everywhere,” said then-17-year-old Larry Lacure. “Each athletic event comes along and everyone is out there before the game with their beer. And then there are the parties afterwards, and everyone is drinking again. Just about from freshman on up, drinking is a very… → Read More
Toledo City Council turns down $150,000 funding request from nonprofits
Two social service agencies will not receive a financial boost from the city of Toledo after councilmen turned down their funding request by a close vote. Leaders from Grace Community Center and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Ohio in August both asked for $75,000 from the city’s general fund to help continue youth programming. That same week, Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz notified… → Read More