1ST JAIL PROJECT WALL SECTION ERECTED

1ST JAIL PROJECT WALL SECTION ERECTED

WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO — The first section of the Wayne County Jail project was erected on October 30, 2024. At nearly 50 years old, the current jail desperately needs renovation. Opened in 1977 and with a maximum allowable capacity of 80 inmates, the grant will add 72,000 square feet of space, bringing bed capacity to 200 when the project is complete. This groundbreaking is a testament to Ohio’s commitment to addressing the pressing concerns of jail overcrowding, outdated infrastructure, and inadequate resources in the state’s correctional facilities.

 

 

 

 

Dan Starcher photo

WIGGAM, NEAL IMPROVE AUTO TITLING

WIGGAM, NEAL IMPROVE AUTO TITLING

WAYNE COUNTY, OH, Sep. 19, 2024 — A recent legislative change introduced by State Representative Scott Wiggam, with collaboration from Wayne County Clerk of Courts Tim Neal, has streamlined the title process for Ohio residents who purchase a vehicle outside the state.

When a buyer purchases a vehicle outside of Ohio, that vehicle must be inspected before a title can be issued from the Title Office. In many cases, the buyer will visit the Title Office with paperwork in hand, only to find out that an inspection is required, and they would have to provide a copy of the inspection matching the vehicle identification number (VIN). The inspection requires the buyer to visit the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) or a third-party provider, wait for an inspection, and then return to the Title Office to complete the titling process.

Wiggam and Neal recognized the need for change and introduced House Bill 373 of the 135th General Assembly, which takes effect in October. With its introduction, Ohio residents who purchased a vehicle outside the state can receive the inspection directly from the Title Office and eliminate the need for an additional trip to the BMV or a dealership that provides inspection services.

“When Tim and I brought this to Columbus and were discussing it, people asked why this hasn’t been done before,” Wiggam said. “This may seem like a small thing, but the small things take time, effort, and attention to detail. Bills like this lead to exceptional customer service from the government.”

Together, Wiggam and Neal reformed the system to enhance efficiency and transparency, ensuring buyers can focus on what truly matters: getting their vehicle titled quickly in one visit to the Title Office. However, it was no simple task.

At the heart of the process to get a bill passed is the Ohio General Assembly. It is comprised of two chambers: the House of Representatives and the Senate. Both chambers work collaboratively, but each has distinct roles and procedures. While the House is seen as the body closest to the people, reflecting their immediate concerns, the Senate employs a system of checks and balances to ensure the bill’s integrity.

“This is something we began in October 2023,” Wiggam said. “The Governor finally signed it in July of 2024, and this is something that didn’t have any opposition.”

A bill can originate from various sources—elected officials, advocacy groups, or concerned citizens. In this case, the idea was born out of a discussion between Wiggam and Neal, leading to Wiggam sponsoring the bill.

Neal, who, as clerk of Courts, oversees the Title Office, agreed that the bill is a much-needed improvement for buyers.

“In Wooster, the BMV is next to the title office, but you still had to leave and come back,” Neal said. “But in some places, you might have to drive a half hour away and then back to the Title Office. In Orrville, for example, the Title Office is inside City Hall, but the BMV is elsewhere. So you would go to City Hall and find out you had to go to the BMV and back to the Title Office again.”

Neal played an instrumental role in getting support from the Clerk of Courts Association and providing testimony for the bill.

“Once the bill originates from the House, it goes to the Senate, and they can make changes, and then it is discussed,” Neal said. “But once both sides agree, which can take a long time, it goes to the Governor.”

While it may seem like a long time, elected officials are used to putting in the time and effort it takes to pass a bill.

“There is a lot of horse trading,” Wiggam said. “If the bill fails at any point, you have to start from the beginning with the next General Assembly.”

Dan Starcher is the Public Communications Coordinator for Wayne County.

STATE PATROL LABOR DAY STATISTICS

STATE PATROL LABOR DAY STATISTICS

COLUMBUS, OHIO, Sept. 3, 2024 – The Ohio State Highway Patrol is reporting 15 people lost their lives in 15 traffic crashes during the Labor Day reporting period, which began Friday, August 30 at midnight and ended Monday, September 2 at 11:59 p.m. In those fatalities in which safety belts were available, seven were unbelted. Ohio’s safety belt law remains a secondary violation; however, troopers continued to have zero tolerance during the holiday reporting period when motorists were stopped for other violations and were found not wearing their safety belt. Throughout the reporting period, troopers issued more than 2,000 safety belt and child safety seat citations.

Additionally, six of the fatal crashes were OVI-related. Troopers also made 378 arrests for impaired driving and 50 for drug-related charges. The Patrol responded to 519 crashes and made 25,674 traffic contacts in total. Troopers also issued 930 citations for distracted driving and provided assistance to 1,829 motorists. A statewide breakdown of enforcement and crashes during the Labor Day reporting period can be found here.

Motorists are encouraged to call #677 to report impaired drivers or drug activity.

LT. GOV. ATTENDS GROUNDBREAKING

LT. GOV. ATTENDS GROUNDBREAKING

WAYNE COUNTY, OH, May. 2, 2024 —  The State of Ohio is taking a bold step towards creating safer communities for its citizens. With a significant investment of $15 million, the Governor’s Office is helping the Wayne County Jail bolster its capacity, security, and operational capabilities, promising far-reaching benefits for public safety, law enforcement, and the communities it serves.

Before the introduction of Lt. Governor Jon Husted, Wayne County Commissioner Ron Amstutz recounted the eight-year journey that finally led to the groundbreaking ceremony. In the face of adversity and a defeated levy, the commissioners finally achieved their goal with a new jail scheduled to be operational in 2026.

“The ones that collaborate are the ones that succeed,” Lt. Governor Husted told a group that gathered for the occasion. “Clearly, that is happening here; collaboration is what we do in administrative government across the state. The citizens benefit from the partnership between state and county governments. We recognize the challenges that local communities face.”

At nearly 50 years old, the current jail desperately needs renovation. Opened in 1977 and with a maximum allowable capacity of 80 inmates, the grant will add 72,000 square feet of space, bringing bed capacity to 200 when the project is complete. This groundbreaking is a testament to Ohio’s commitment to addressing the pressing concerns of jail overcrowding, outdated infrastructure, and inadequate resources in the state’s correctional facilities.

“There are many who contributed to our arrival to this day. We have more than 25 persons on our Community Corrections Planning Board, including judges, law enforcement, community members, social services, and other community leaders,” said Wayne County Commissioner Ron Amstutz. “We set this project as one of our top priority goals several years ago. The commissioners hired Greg Strollo’s Architect firm, and now we have hired local Bogner Construction Company as the general contractor and construction manager for what is underway as we speak.”

Nothing worthwhile comes easy.

Amstutz admitted that financing the project went through twists and turns, and features were redesigned occasionally.

“We thought we needed to raise our sales tax rate, but now we can avoid that because we have substantial state and federal funding. We are very thankful for that,” he said. “Patrick Herron, our administrator, has played a vital role in this from the beginning and continues to provide invaluable leadership.”

Ohio’s need for enhanced jail facilities is undeniable, and the statistics paint a stark picture. The opioid epidemic has led to a surge in overdose deaths, and jail facilities are struggling to provide adequate medical care to inmates with addiction.

No one is more familiar with the condition of the jail than Wayne County Sheriff Travis Hutchinson. “When I first started here, I was 20 years old,” he said. “We moved into this building, and at that time, it was state-of-the-art. Seeing this new phase start with another state-of-the-art project is very humbling. The support of the state, city, county, and citizens is overwhelming.”

Those in the criminal justice system recognize that many individuals incarcerated in local jails struggle with mental health issues, substance abuse, and other challenges that hinder their ability to reintegrate into society upon release.

By providing a facility with access to counseling, therapy, and treatment services, we proactively address the root causes of recidivism and promote a safer, more rehabilitative environment within its jails, lending to a safer community.

Dan Starcher is the Public Communications Coordinator for Wayne County.

SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK

SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK

Severe Weather Awareness Week will be March 17 – March 23.

The county wide tornado warning sirens will be activated the full cycle, Wednesday March 20 at 9:50 am. for severe weather week. The activation will take place unless severe weather is in our area, or any type of watch or warning are issued by the National Weather Service.

The Wayne County Justice Center activates the sirens in the area we cover on the first Monday of every month at 12:00 unless weather prohibits it.

If you would like more information on weather safety go to Ohio Committee for Severe Weather Awareness or National Weather Service website.

WCLRC Special Meeting

WCLRC Special Meeting

WCLRC Special Meeting Notice
A special meeting of the Wayne County Land Reutilization Corporation will be held on Thursday, Feb. 1, at 11 a.m. on the second floor of the Wayne County Administration Building located at 428 W. Liberty St., Wooster, to discuss the Welcome Home Ohio Grant, and the Taylor Road in Chippewa Township decision.