LOCAL NEWS
Sidney Daily News, Saturday, March 31, 2012
TOLL
From Page 1
of continued government services.” The plan calls for automated toll booths to be set up at entrances to the following bridges, two of which are actually in the city of Sidney but maintained by the county: • The Fair Road bridge over the CSX Railroad tracks near the fairgrounds and Sidney Middle School. • The Russell Road bridge over the railroad tracks near Gas America. • The County 25A bridge that spans Finkenine Ditch north of Mason Road. Each booth will require a fee of 50 cents, payable in the form of two quarters to be tossed into a basket. An arm will then raise and allow the vehicle to enter the bridge and proceed. “We have looked into the economics of such a plan,” said Commissioner
Larry Kleinhans, “and it’s by far the least painful solution to our financial troubles. There will be an initial investment to purchase and install the equipment, but thereafter it’s all profit.” Kleinhans observed that since the booths will be fully automated, there will be no labor costs. The county auditor’s office will oversee collections and any necessary repairs will fall to the county engineer’s staff. Sheriff John Lenhart, who attended Thursday’s meeting, expressed concern about vandalism to the machines, as well as possible theft. “Between the Sidney Police and my department, we’ll have to step up patrols and keep a close eye on these locations,” Lenhart said. “We’ve done a lot of research into the issue,” said Commissioner Julie
Come
Ehemann, “and the positives greatly outweigh the potential negatives. In Ohio there are toll bridges in Belpre and Bellaire and they report very few problems. Once people get used to the idea it just becomes a fact of life and a part of their daily routine.” County Engineer Bob Geuy, who also was present, said the Fair Road and Russell Road bridges each convey from 15,000 to 20,000 vehicles per day and the 25A bridge averages about 6,000 per day. Geuy expressed concern that people will quickly figure out alternate routes in order to avoid the tolls, thus defeating the purpose. “Well, once people spend a dollar to travel out of their way to avoid paying a 50-cent toll, they’ll discover the math doesn’t add up,” said
Toomey. “We have smart folks here and they’ll do what’s right for both themselves and the county.” Commissioner-elect Bob Guillozet, who sat in on the meeting, suggested the toll bridge program be named after Toomey and Kleinhans, who are retiring at the end of the year. “I think it’s only fitting that their service be memorialized in some lasting way and what would be more meaningful than this?” he asked. “Every time someone drops 50 cents into the basket they will fondly remember these two great guys.” Ehemann made a motion to name the program “the Toomey-Kleinhans Toll Bridge System,” but the measure failed when Toomey and Kleinhans voted against it. “They’re just too mod-
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Death sentences total 313
est,” observed Guillozet. The county engineer’s office will be seeking bids for the automated toll COLUMBUS (AP) — equipment and installation and hopes to have An annual report on the program up and run- Ohio’s capital punishment system says 313 defenning by October. dants have been senFor more on the proj- tenced to death since the ect, see related story on state’s death penalty law took effect in 1981, with 46 Page 5A. executions. The report says 16 inmates were spared by governors and another 22 died of natural causes while on death row. The report released Friday by Attorney General Mike DeWine also Sidney City Council says eight inmates were will hold a workshop ruled ineligible for execumeeting Monday at 6:30 tion because they were p.m. in council cham- mentally disabled and bers. eight were set for resenCouncil will hear a tencing, which could inpresentation from Vec- clude another death tren Energy. It will also sentence. Seventy-one discuss the sale of sur- death sentences were plus airport property, the thrown out by judges for street paving schedule reasons besides mental and goal-setting results. disability or resentencing.
Council to meet
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FIRST CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE Please join us Easter for a special service. Easter morning 10:30am. Special message and Communion Service
1028 Park St. • 498-1328 • www.sidneyag.org
1899 Wapakoneta Avenue 937.492.4492 April 5 Last Supper Reinactment 7pm April 6 Good Friday Service 7pm April 7 Community Easter Egg Hunt 10am April 8 Easter Services 8:30 and 10:30am