Richland County commissioners OK 3-year contract with sheriff’s deputies:
OPEN SOURCE: Are there plans for affordable, subsidized housing in Ashland for seniors?:
James A. Riggins Sr.:
Today – This week Richland County commissioners approved a new three-year contract with the Fraternal Order of Police union representing 27 sheriff’s deputies.
The pact, which takes effect Jan. 1, includes annual pay increases of 5 percent, 3 percent and 3 percent in 2022, 2023 and 2024, respectively. Sheriff Steve Sheldon said the successful negotiation led to the new deal being signed before it expired, a first in his 17 years in office.
The sheriff attended the meeting along with county Human Resources Director Kelly Christiansen. He said that they’re absolutely very happy with the contract, noting that they have high quality staff members and this contract will help in our recruitment efforts to bring in top candidates.
It’s not necessarily about the quantity of candidates. It’s more about the quality. Christiansen called it a “mature contract” that didn’t require many changes, other than economic. Finally, commissioner Darrell Banks said that he appreciates that the deputies cooperated and got this over with.
Christopher Moore, Mansfield’s comedic fantasy author
Now, some local history. Did you know that Mansfield-raised author, Christopher Moore, is a comedic fantasy author. He attended Ohio State University and Brooks Institute of Photography in California.
Moore’s novels typically involve conflicted everyman characters struggling through supernatural or extraordinary circumstances. Books like “Practical Demonkeeping,” Vampire novel “You Suck: A Love Story”, and “Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal” capture much more about human nature than their humorous premises would suggest.
While a number of books have made it to the best-seller list and all of his books have reportedly been optioned for movies, as of 2021 none have yet been made.
Snow Trails season kickoff party set for Dec. 18
Now, we’d like to take a moment to highlight an event that you should know about…
On Saturday December 18th at 9 pm, come see what Cleveland Magazine and the Cleveland Scene called Cleveland’s Best Cover Band… “Billy Likes Soda” at Snow Trails Ski Resort for their ski season kickoff party.
Next, From Ashland Source – Are there plans for affordable, subsidized housing in Ashland for seniors?
This story is in response to a reader-submitted question through Open Source, our platform where readers and listeners like you can ask the Richland Source newsroom to investigate a question. Apartment-living in Ashland is on the rise. The upscale apartment complex Latitude 40 Flats opened to renters in June. And at the corner of Fourth and Union streets, another apartment building is slated to be built. On top of that a 200-unit apartment complex is planned where the old Hess & Clark building once stood between Orange and Union streets.
According to the latest Apartment Guide data the city of Ashland is the tenth cheapest city in the country when it comes to rent, but, the Latitude 40 apartments are renting for higher than average. They start at $1,350 for a one-bedroom apartment.
So in response to the current boom of apartment construction in the city, a reader asked us, “When will there be affordable subsidized housing for seniors?”
Well, there are a few affordable housing complexes for seniors in the county, however the options have little to no openings as of the beginning of December 2021.
Sandy Enderby, the executive director of the Ashland County Council on Aging, told us that there have been circumstances where seniors need to be placed immediately, but there is nowhere they can go, other than be placed on a waiting list. Enderby also sees barriers for seniors to filling out affordable and subsidized housing applications. And while they try to help, sometimes added assistance with applications is not enough.
Her advice? Start planning in the younger years of life. No one wants to think about getting older, however she likes to think of it as thriving, not just surviving. Two options that exist now are the Good Shepherd Villa and Mill Run Place, which have Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly. Qualifying income limits are determined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and vary by county. In Ashland County, the income limit annually for a one-person household is $23,450 and for a family of four is $33,500.
Finally, we’d like to take a moment to remember the life of James Riggins of Mansfield. He was born in Felton, Georgia and was employed with Local Union #1216 for 50 years. He retired from Kokosing Construction after more than 17 years of service. A bit ornery, Jim was a great dad and grandpa and a very generous man.
He loved his grandchildren very much and spent as much time with them as he possibly could. He was an avid fisherman and coon hunter and enjoyed giving fishing lessons to his family. He looked after his extended family and was a past member of the Crawford County Coon Hunters Club.
He is survived by his daughter, two sons, nine grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and a host of family and extended family whom he loved dearly. He was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Betty Lou. Thank you for taking a moment with us to remember and celebrate James’s life.
