Auroraadvocate.com - In The Region

Sheriff, other staffers

to take 5 percent cuts

Unionized employees of the Portage County Sheriff's Department "overwhelmingly" approved concessions that amount to a 5 percent pay cut in a vote Feb. 1.

To match the concessions by union employees, Sheriff David Doak said some 30 nonunion employees will take a 5 percent cut.

"Everybody, clerical as well as uniform -- me included -- will take the cut," Doak said.

"That's the plan. I can't in good conscience look those people in the face [without taking the pay cut]," Doak said. "This was a group effort on everybody's part."

Doak is the first and only elected Portage official to agree to a pay cut to help balance his budget.

Nonunion employees will take unpaid furlough days, just like other county employees have taken to meet other department budget cuts this year.

U.S. Senate candidate

will speak to the GOP

The Portage County Republican Party's annual Lincoln Day Dinner will feature Rob Portman, candidate for U.S. Senate, as keynote speaker.

The event will be Feb. 19 at the Kent American Legion, 1945 Mogadore Road. Reservations must be made by Feb. 12 to the Portage County GOP, Box 930, Ravenna 44266.

Portman was elected to Congress in 1993 and served for 12 years until he was asked to serve as U.S. trade representative.

He then served a year as director of the Office of Management and Budget, another Cabinet-level post. Currently, he practices law with Squire, Sanders and Dempsey in Cleveland.

A special donor reception is set for 6 p.m., with dinner at 7. Tickets range from $30 for dinner, $75 for patron level and $150 for VIP.

Exposito going for her

fifth term in November

Janet Esposito has filed for re-election to a fifth term as Portage County auditor.

Esposito, a Ravenna Township resident, was first elected auditor in 1994. Prior to that she served as a county commissioner. She is the only Republican in a non-judicial county office.

In her most recent election, she beat Democratic challenger Michele Bogo by 10,000 votes.

The county auditor serves as the chief fiscal officer for the county.

In recapping her previous term, Esposito said "There is continued progress i the area of GIS, which can be used for public safety, 911 and economic development by all cities townships and villages."

Esposito said her office also modernized its property, tax and appraisal system, saving taxpayers "hundreds of thousands of dollars."

"It is a privilege being county auditor," she said. "It is also a full-time responsibility and one I take to heart."

Hike/bicycle extension

set in downtown Kent

It's been called "The Yellow Brick Road," and it's getting closer to spilling out into downtown Kent.

The Esplanade, Kent State University's section of the Portage Hike/Bike Trail, currently ends at the western edge of campus near South Lincoln Street.

The university and Kent City Council agreed last week to a memorandum of understanding that will extend the pedestrian pathway along Erie Street to Haymaker Parkway and into downtown.

The university will be responsible for maintaining the pathway, including lighting, plowing and landscaping, for the entire length from South Lincoln Street to Haymaker Parkway.

The city will pick the pedestrian route up at Haymaker Parkway by improving Erie Street west to South Water. The city will be responsible for maintaining utilities along the Erie Street corridor.

The agreement currently calls for completion of the Esplanade extension by December 2012.

State findings involve

theft of Mantua money

The state auditor has issued several findings for recovery and citations against the village of Mantua, including some that shed more light on the alleged theft in office by its former clerk/treasurer.

The findings were detailed in a report by State Auditor Mary Taylor, which was released last week.

In October, Betsy Woolf, the village's former clerk/treasurer, was charged with felony theft in office and tampering with records.

Two counts of the six-count indictment allege that on or about Jan. 4, 2008, and Feb. 22, 2008, Woolf used her position to commit a theft. Both are fifth-degree felonies.

The second count of the indictment, a fourth-degree felony, alleges the theft was in excess of $500 but less than $5,000.

The three counts of tampering with records, all misdemeanors, accuse Woolf of trying to cover up the alleged thefts by manipulating or destroying records.

AARP offering free tax

help through April 14

Free tax assistance through the American Association of Retired Persons is now available to Portage County residents.

Experienced volunteers are offering tax counsel and preparation for middle- and low-income county residents. Special attention is being paid to retirees 60 years of age and older. Participants do not need to be an AARP member.

All sites operate on a scheduled appointment basis from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. through April 14. To make an appointment, call United Way's 211 Portage at 330-297-4636.

This year's Tax Aide program sites are at Streetsboro Senior Center, Reed Memorial Library in Ravenna, Mantua Village Lodge and United Methodist Church of Kent.

Environmental awards

nominees are sought

The 12th annual Portage County Environmental Conservation Awards dinner will be April 10, with Hiram College President Tom Chema as the speaker.

The steering committee is seeking nominations for potential awardees. Nominees are judged on their efforts in environmental education, green business, green building, and environmental activism and stewardship.

Nominations should include the person's name and contact information, along with a paragraph or two describing his/her contributions to environmental conservation.

Nominations should be sent to Portage Park District, 128 N. Prospect St., Ravenna 44266 or faxed to 330-297-3472. They also can be e-mailed to sblair@portageparkdistrict.org.

The dinner costs $30 per person. Call the park district at 330-297-7728 for reservations or silent auction donations.

Census still hiring for

info takers in Portage

The United States Census Bureau is still hiring in Portage County.

"We encourage peple in Portage County to apply," said Aundrey J. Somerville, a partnership specialist with the Census. She said there are still areas of the county needed, particularly in "hard -to-count tracts" in Ravenna, Kent and Windham.

Census taker positions pay $13.25 per hour plus mileage and training. Supervisory positions pay slightly higher.

The bureau is recuriting through mid-February. People can call 1-866-861-2010 toll-free, or visit www.2010censusjobs.gov to schedule an employment test. Info on jobs and pay rates are available on the Web.

Each applicant must take a 30-minute basic skills test to land a Census job.