Senator Voinovich said that "Earmarks are the yeast that raises the dough." He is one of four who are writing the Transportation Bill whose title is yet undecided. The desire is to get the Bill passed this year. He estimated it would take $500 Million to do a halfway decent job. He suggested that it might take a gas tax increase and other measures that might be available in order to get the money to get the job done. "Can't keep doing things the way we have done them in the past." This was the same message presented earlier by Jolene Molitoris and Chris Roynane.

This year's Walter Ehrnfelt Jr., Award for Outstanding Regional Contribution went to Brecksville Mayor, Jerry Hruby. Initiated in 2004, all six recipients were present: Betty Blair, Lorain County; Neil Hofstetter, Geauga County; Bob Klaiber and Erwin Odeal, Cuyahoga County; and Steve Hambley, Medina County.

Senator Voinovich's remarks covered a wide range of his 40+ years of public service. He made brief comments on proposals to change Cuyahoga's County government structure. His comments about his Chief of Staff when he was Cuyahoga County Auditor interested me. The name was Ralph Berry. When I joined NOACA as a County Commissioner in 1991, Ralph Berry was then a Medina County Commissioner. He later became a Medina County Judge. Seems like there are several people who have served their communities in more than one capacity!

LORAIN COUNTY FARM BUREAU
Each year, the Lorain County Farm Bureau invites elected officials and others to a dinner meeting of the Policy Development Committee, where policy positions on local, state and national issues affecting agriculture, food, rural living and the community are reviewed. These positions, in turn, serve as the basis for political action throughout the program year.

I asked the Farm Bureau to endorse the "Retention of the 1/2 % Safety Issue to Protect Lorain County" that will appear on the November Ballot.

Lorain County Revenues and Spending have been cut drastically, putting public safety at risk.
County revenues have dropped 20% in just 3 years as a result of state cutbacks and reduced interest income. This is unprecedented.

County cut spending 15% and the rainy day fund is depleting fast. Cuts hit every office in County Government, including pay freezes, permanent job cuts, layoffs, and forced unpaid leave and reduced hours.

Population continues to grow here, by 6% since 2000. So do safety needs.

To protect Lorain County, the Commissioners increased the county sales tax by 1/2%. This 1/2% is dedicated to public safety. Funds can be used only for Safety: the Jail, Sheriff, Prosecutor, Coroner and Courts System. Safety services are critical. In an average year: County Jail holds 445 prisoners; Sheriff arrests 5,164 suspects; Courts handle 17,000 cases.

Without the 1/2% Sales Tax, Permanent Cutbacks Endanger our Safety and Future.
An entire wing of the County Jail may close; prisoners will be set free.
More Sheriff Deputies will be laid off, reducing patrols and jail coverage.
Criminals will NOT be sent to jail. Too many prisoners will be released too early.
Judges will no longer have as many options for putting prisoners behind bars.

To find the funds to prop up safety services, the County must cut economic development, Lorain County Transit and aid to local communities.
Flood control, environmental protection and agricultural extension services would be eliminated.
Courts will not be fully staffed or secured, so criminal and civil justice will slow to a crawl.
Lorain County will become less attractive to companies who could provide employment and residents who could purchase our homes and provide a skilled workforce.

Our sales tax was at the bottom of Ohio Counties. With the 1/2%, we will still be a low-tax County and be able to keep vital services.

November 3, voters will decide on the 1/2% safety issue.
The cost is $6.89/month per household or .23 cents per day.

Without the 1/2%, our County will be forced to close part of the jail. It would require us to end vital economic development, transportation and human service programs to subsidize safety.

TWO HUNDRED YEARS OF SERVICE
Four graduates of the Elyria Catholic High School (Website | Profile) Class of 1956 recently celebrated their Golden Jubilees as Sisters of Notre Dame. Sister Mary Joanne Bonczek (aka Sister Mary Ann Jose), donor relations, Food for the Poor, Coconut Creek, Florida; Sister Mary Kathleen Knechtges, (aka Sister Mary Ambrose), Pastoral Minister, Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, Grafton; Sister Anne Marie Robinson (aka Sister Mary Eric), coordinator of marketing and recruitment, Metro Catholic School, Cleveland and Sister Bernice Mary Spevok (aka Sister Mary Victorian), switchboard operator, Notre Dame Education Center, Chardon.

Also honored for her 65 years of service was Sister Mary Neil Kardian, who was Principal at ECHS during our Senior Year.

Congratulations to these devoted women!

CONCLUDING THOUGHT: "Worrying does not empty tomorrow of its trouble. It empties today of its strength.