Area issues left in limbo after election delay

A number of area election issues are being impacted by state leaders postponing in-person voting from March 17 to perhaps June 2.

Issue 1 on the Mentor ballot would permit rezoning about 186 acres at 8021 Center St. from C-1, Conservation and R-4, Singlefamily Residential districts to the PMUD, Planned Mixed-Use Development Overlay district.

The rezoning is tied to the proposed redevelopment of the Bolton family estate. Charles P. Bolton, who still lives on the land with wife Julie, has said that the impetus for development stemmed from Cleveland Clinic’s hospital proposal across the street.

“We hope Mentor voters will back Issue One on June 2, as we had hoped they would (March 17),” Bolton said. “Obviously,the whole process will be delayed.”

With Gov. Mike DeWine’s action closing polls in Ohio due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, nothing significant, monetarily, has changed regarding Leroy Township’s five-year, 2.5-mill additional levy for the improvement and maintenance of streets and roads.

However, Trustee Chuck Klco concedes that the suspended primary “ties our hands” a bit.

“While no one could have predicted the COVID-19 health scare, and the subsequent follow-up measures taken, this delay essentially keeps us from aggressively pursuing additional monies, primarily from (the) Ohio Public Works Commission, which require matching funds,” Klco said. “With Governor DeWine’s directive, we hope June 2 does remain the date he’s detailed, but, of course, we have to wait and see like everyone else.

“No matter what, we want to remain proactive, and we have, passing a resolution March 16 allowing us to move forward with the earmarked funds ($26,549) we were fortunate enough to receive through the 2020 road improvement grant.”

The Lake County School Financing District’s 4.9-mill renewal levy has also been left undecided. Comprised of districts from Painesville Local, Riverside, Perry and Madison, the district seeks to allocate funds and support the multiple districts involved.

Regardless of the recent postponement, funding from the renewal levy will remain available for the remainder of 2020 as it completes its latest five-year cycle.

“This definitely introduces more uncertainty into an already historical uncertain time,” Painesville Superintendent Joshua Englehart said of the postponement. “However, we all understand the need to be extremely cautious with public health.

“We will continue to work with great care and diligence as we confront the challenge immediately in front of us — to serve our kids during the closure — and hope to continue to earn the support of our communities,” he added. “We will, however, need to develop financial contingency plans as we approach the next school year, as we won’t have the clearer picture of our budget status that we hoped to have.”

Other issues on the Lake County ballot that have been left in limbo include Willoughby-Eastlake Schools’ 10-year, 4.94-mill emergency operating levy and Madison Joint Recreation District’s 0.64-mill additional levy.

Staff Writers Adam Dodd and Chad Felton contributed to this article.