What’s going on during today’s City Council meeting? Mount Gilead Post Trooper of the Year; Remembering Charles A. Farina
Mansfield City Council to consider 2022 temporary spending plan:
Howard man, Fredericktown grad, selected Mount Gilead Post Trooper of the Year:
Charles A. Farina:
Today – Nearing the end of its legislative year, Mansfield City Council is expected to give second reads to legislation that will impact the upcoming year.
A temporary spending plan for next year, along with a proposed 0.25 percent income tax to benefit the city’s parks system, are both on today’s busy agenda. The council will also formally select committees and committee chairs for 2022-2023. So, ahead of today’s meeting, here’s what we know about the temporary spending plan.
Well, on Nov. 16 City Council gave a first read to the temporary spending plan, including a $31 million general fund, a 1.4-percent increase over 2021.
Finance Director Linn Steward explained that the city’s financial picture is not as dire as in recent years — partly due to the influx of federal funds through the 2020 CARES Act and the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act. On top of that income tax is about 3.5 percent more than 2019 at this same time of year.
Of course, that Workers’ Comp rebate that we got for $2 million really helped the general fund this year. Income taxes account for about two-thirds of the city’s general fund revenue each year. On the subject of income tax – City officials plan to put a 0.25 percent income tax issue on the 2022 May primary ballot with the goal of building a new, $8 million facility at the same park on the city’s northeast side.
The funds raised would only be used for the city parks and recreation capital improvements and maintenance. Currently, the only money going to the parks and recreation department is $850,000 a year from the city’s parks, recreation, illumination, demolitions and emergency services tax, which was successfully renewed by voters earlier this year. Check in with us at Richlandsource.com to read more about what’s going on in today’s city council meeting.
Don Nehlen and Mansfield
Next, some local history. Did you know that Mansfield native, Donald Nehlen, is a former football player and coach. He was head football coach at Bowling Green State University and at West Virginia University.
He began his coaching career in 1958 at Mansfield Senior High School and then served as head coach at Canton South High School and Canton McKinley High School.
Nehlen retired from coaching college football in 2001 as the 17th winningest coach in college football history. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2005 and has served as a president of the American Football Coaches Association.
Next, from KnoxPages
Fredericktown graduate Colton Riley has been selected the Ohio State Highway Patrol Mount Gilead Post Trooper of the Year for 2021. The announcement was released on Friday. The selection of Trooper Riley is in recognition of outstanding service during 2021 at the Mount Gilead Post.
The announcement read: “Trooper Riley was selected for this award by his peers, because of his enthusiastic work attitude, leadership abilities, community engagement, and his level of professionalism with his supervisors, peers, and the public.
“Trooper Riley has earned the Criminal Patrol Award in three consecutive years, and is a former ACE Award recipient for excellence in auto larceny.” Riley joined the Ohio State Highway Patrol in 2016 and has spent his entire career at the Mount Gilead Post.”
Originally from Fredericktown, and upon graduating from Fredericktown High School, Riley enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. Colten and his wife, Ashley, live in Howard with their children.
Finally, we’d like to take a moment to remember Charles Farina of Mansfield. He graduated from Galion High School in 1950 and at the start of the Korean War, he was drafted into the United States Army, serving from 1951-1953.
He was sent to West Germany for 18 months where he was on the 43 Division Infantry Boxing Team winning the light heavy weight championship. In March of 1953 he was honorably discharged.
He returned to Galion where he worked in various industries. He joined the Galion Police Department in 1959 where he attained rank of Lieutenant in 1962 and was voted Policeman of the Year in 1977. In 1970 a friend fixed him up with a lady at the Radio Station in Mansfield.
They fell in love, married in 1973, and spent the rest of his life with his beloved Doris.
He was a member of Grace Episcopal Church in Mansfield, the NRA, the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #71 Galion, Police and Fire Retirees of Ohio, the US Department of Veterans Affairs, and Amvets Post #26. He is survived by his daughter, his grandsons, his great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.
