Our first virtual council meeting will be held Tuesday April 7 at 7:00 pm as per the new Open Meeting requirements created by Sub. H.B. 197, the emergency COVID-19 legislative response signed into law by Gov. DeWine.
To keep order, participants are all muted but default. if you “raise your hand” you can ask a question or be un-muted. Please be patient as we temporarily shift to this new technology. Subsequent meetings will be also held in this fashion until the governor advises otherwise.

To join the meeting…

Please register* for April Ostrander Village Council Meeting on Apr 7, 2020 7:00 PM EDT at:

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/rt/8335875244100908557

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

*Please register prior to the meeting to get your device set up.

COVID-19 SCREENING TOOL

Apple has launched a new screening tool for the US in partnership with CDC (The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). The tool, available both as a website and an iOS app, acts as an information center for people across the country.

The tool also allows you to answer a bunch of questions to determine if you need to quarantine, take a screening test, or contact a medical professional.

U.S. CONGRESS PASSES CORONAVIRUS RELIEF BILL

The U.S. Congress has passed H.R. 748, a $2 trillion emergency relief bill to address the massive impact the ongoing coronavirus outbreak is having on all aspects of our country, from our economy to the sustainability of our communities. President Trump signed the bill shortly after it was passed

Here are some of the provisions in the bill that will have an impact on cities and villages.

• State and Local Coronavirus Relief Fund: $139 billion will be distributed between statesand local governments. Municipalities with a population exceeding 500,000 will receive direct distributions, while cities and villages below that population threshold will receive federal financial support through distributions made to state governments.

• The funds may only be used for “necessary expenditures” related to COVID-19incurred between March 1, 2020, and December 30, 2020.

• This funding is not revenue replacement funding. We are hopeful that funding will be in the fourth recovery bill that Congress is expected to introducesoon.
• Each state will be allocated a minimum of $1.25 billion to be prorated bypopulation.

• Municipal Bonds: Allocates $454 billion for the “Economic Stabilization Fund” andallows the purchase of municipal securities with maturities greater than 6 months in the secondary market.
• This fund also provides loans and loan guarantees to small businesses, so not all$454 billion will be used for the purchase of municipal securities.

• Transit Funding: $25 billion is allocated in Transit Infrastructure Grants for transit providers, primarily led by local governments, for operating and capital expenses. The FTA is directedto release these funds within 7 days of the bill’senactment.

• Housing and Community Development: $5 billion is allocated for Community Development BlockGrants.
• $2 billion will be given directly to states and local governments through theregular program formula.

• $1 billion will be given to thestates.
• The remaining $2 billion will be allocated by the U.S. Housing and UrbanDevelopment Agency (HUD) to state and local governments based onneed.
• The 15% services cap is suspended so that grantees may spend additional fundson assistance to low-incomehouseholds.

• Homeless Funding: $4 billion is allocated for Homeless AssistanceGrants.
• $2 billion will be allocated by HUD to state and local governments based onneed.
• $2 billion will be allocated by formula to currentgrantees

• Disaster Assistance: $45 billion is allocated to the Disaster Relief Fund for the immediate needs of state and local governments. Reimbursable activities may include medicalresponse, personal protective equipment, National Guard deployment, coordination of logistics, safety measures and communityservices.
• The bill also allocates $100 million in Emergency Management Performance Grantsto state and local governments to support coordination, communications and logistics.

• Commerce: Allocates $1.5 billion for the Economic Adjustment Assistance Program (EAA) to be given to state and local entities for technical assistance and planning for public works and infrastructure in regions experiencing adverse economicchanges.

• Direct Payments: Individuals will receive $1,200 while married couples would receive $2,400 with an additional $500 for each child under age17.
• Payments phase out for those making more than$75,000.
• People making over $99,000 aredisqualified.
• Thresholds for couples aredoubled.

• Unemployment Insurance: The federal government will give unemployed workers $600a week for 4 months on top of statebenefits.
• The bill also calls for a new pandemic unemployment assistance program toprovide jobless benefits to those who don’t traditionally qualify.

• Loans: The Treasury Department can provide $500 billion in loans, loan guaranteesand investments that will be monitored by a congressional oversightcommission.
• $454 billion is earmarked for loans to businesses, states andmunicipalities.

• Foreclosures, Evictions and Food Assistance: The bill protects those facing financialhardships due to COVID-19 from foreclosure and evictions by granting those individuals forbearance without fees, penalties or additional interest on federally backed mortgages for 60 days or more.
• Federally backed mortgages cannot be foreclosed for 60 days starting March18.
• Additionally, $450 million is allocated for the Emergency Food Assistance Program and provides additional funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and the Child NutritionProgram.

If you received a bill from RITA for penalties and/or interest for tax years 2017 and/or 2018, I have been informed the P&I was removed from all of the accounts for tax years 2017 and 2018.  

If you paid penalties and/or interest for tax years 2017 and/or 2018, a refund will be issued by check and mailed within 90 days to the most current address on file.

The only reason a taxpayer would continue to receive a bill from RITA is if they have a tax balance due for Ostrander or have a balance due for another RITA municipality.  RITA will be sending letter soon informing affected residents of the details.

Please note, penalties and interest will begin in tax year 2019 for residents not filing with RITA. Regardless of your situation, residents are still required to file annually with RITA, even if no taxes are owed. If your taxes are done by a tax professional or someone else, please be sure to let them know about the RITA filing, otherwise visit the RITA website to file directly using their simple online form.

https://www.ritaohio.com/Individuals/Home/File

If you have specific tax -related questions, please contact RITA at 800-860-7482. If you have general tax questions, please visit Ostrander’s website for information or contact a Council member.

Stay safe. Stay healthy. Help your neighbors.
Mayor Bob

Ostrander,

The governor and Ohio Director of Health Dr. Amy Acton issued a “stay-at-home” health order that will go into effect at 11:59 p.m. Monday.

The order requires residents to stay at home with the exception of essential needs, such as going to the grocery store, restaurant carryout, weddings and funerals. DeWine did say playgrounds are closed, but parks remain open and he encouraged people to get outside with the proper social distancing.

I urge you to please adhere to this order to the greatest extent possible for the health and safety of everyone.

The Dispatch has a summary here

Click here of the full order

Stay safe. Stay healthy. Help your neighbors.
Mayor Bob

As people are looking for alternatives to toilet paper, we have a request from your local sewer plant in Ostrander…please, please, please DO NOT flush anything down the toilet other than toilet paper or FLUSHABLE wipes. Do not flush paper towels, tissues,  baby wipes, towels, or anything else unless they are categorized as “flushable”. Flushing any of these items could clog your own sewer lines and could also cause damage or clogging of the sewer plant. Please find an alternative method to dispose of those items other than flushing. This request is true for any time but in these times of spending a lot of time at home, we need everyone’s cooperation in keeping the sewer plant up and functioning property.

flushable wipes are not ideal either…just because it says you can flush it….does not mean you should…watch here

Stay safe. Stay healthy. Help your neighbors.
Mayor Bob

To the Residents of the Village of Ostrander:

I realize there is a lot of information out there now. Here are a few items of good information recently shared with me.

Be safe. Be healthy.
Bob