Did you know? Use of competitive bidding

1 Did you know ? Use of competitive biddingAugust 2014 Grassroots ClippingsOhio Township Association6500 Taylor Road, Suite ABlacklick, Ohio 43004 Townships have a variety of bidding procedures and requirements for the purchase of goods and services. Unlike other local governments though, townships do not have a requirement to bid every contract over a certain amount. Rather, there are specifi c ORC sec ons for specifi c compe ve bidding thresholds for townships are $50,000. Below is a list of township Revised Code sec ons in which compe ve bidding is required. Consult with legal counsel before undertaking a large purchase or - Emergency Contracts A er adop ng by a unanimous vote a resolu on declaring a real and present emergency in connec on with the administra on of township services or the execu on of du es assigned by law to any offi cer of a township, the board of township trustees may, by resolu on, enter into a contract, without bidding or adver sing, for the purchase of services, materials, equipment, or supplies needed to meet the emergency if the es mated cost of the contract is less than fi y thousand dollars.

2 ORC (A) - Fire Equipment & Buildings When the es mated cost to purchase fi re apparatus, mechanical resuscitators, other equipment, appliances, materials, fi re hydrants, buildings, or fi re-alarm communica ons equipment or services exceeds fi y thousand dollars, the contract shall be let by compe ve bidding . ORC - Fire/Ambulance Contracts When any expenditure of a fi re and ambulance district, other than for the compensa on of district employees, exceeds fi y thousand dollars, the contract for the expenditure shall be in wri ng and made with the lowest and best bidder a er adver sing once a week for not less than two consecu ve weeks in a newspaper of general circula on within the district.

3 Con nued on page 3 ORC - Town Hall If, in a township, a town hall is to be built, improved, enlarged, or removed at a cost greater than fi y thousand dollars, the board of township trustees shall submit the ques on to the electors of such township and shall cer fy their resolu on to the board of elec ons not later than four of the nine eth day before the day of the elec on. ORC - Memorial Building, Monument Statue or Memorial The board of township trustees may prepare plans and specifi ca ons and make contracts for the construc on and erec on of a memorial building, monument, statue, or memorial, for the purposes specifi ed and within the amount authorized by sec on of the Revised Code.

4 If the total es mated cost of the construc on and erec on exceeds fi y thousand dollars, the contract shall be let by compe ve bidding . ORC - Ligh ng Districts If the board determines to procure ligh ng by contract and the total es mated cost of the contract exceeds fi y thousand dollars, the board shall prepare plans and specifi ca ons for the ligh ng equipment and shall, for two weeks, adver se for bids for furnishing the ligh ng equipment, either by pos ng the adver sement in three conspicuous places in the township or by publica on of the adver sement once a week, for two consecu ve weeks, in a newspaper of general circula on in the township.

5 Any such contract for ligh ng shall be made with the lowest and best bidder. ORC - Road Machinery, Materials & Supplies Except as otherwise provided in sec ons , , and of the Revised Code, all purchases of materials, machinery, and tools shall, if the amount involved exceeds fi y thousand dollars, be made from the lowest responsible bidder a er adver sement, as provided in sec on of the Revised Code. Monthly publication of the Ohio Township Association August 20142014 Workers comp billing system updateThe Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensa on (BWC) is changing the way it bills for workers compensa on coverage to be er serve Ohio employers.

6 For decades, the agency has billed for premiums a er the fact. It will begin billing in advance of coverage star ng Jan. 1, 2016, for public employers. This change will align BWC with standard industry billing prac ces. Due to the switch to prospec ve billing, a number of deadlines for plan and program sign-ups will change in coming months. Among them is the snapshot date for experience calcula on: for public employers enrolling for the 2016 policy year, the new date will be March 31, 2015. Reminder: The current billing process remains in eff ect, so don t forget to pay your remaining premiums by Sept. 2. Here s a breakdown of other key date changes: Group experience ra ng: May 29, 2015; Group retrospec ve ra ng, deduc ble program, individual retrospec ve ra ng, One Claim Program: July 31, 2015; and Des na on Excellence: Nov.

7 30, ts of prospec ve billing include reduced overall systems costs for the agency, and in turn, an expected overall base rate reduc on of four percent for public employers. It will give BWC an increased ability to detect non-compliance and fraud, which will lead to long-term savings. Also, more fl exible payment op ons will be available with prospec ve billing - up to 12 installment payments instead of semi-annual billing. The transi on won t cost Ohio employers any extra money. BWC will provide a one- me, $ billion premium credit to eliminate the need for double payments during the transi on. For ques ons regarding prospec ve billing, email bwcprospec CLE credits available as part of OTA trainingThe Ohio Township Associa on (OTA) established a Law Directors Group in 2008 to further the educa on of township legal counsel, county prosecutors, etc.

8 The next mee ng of the group will occur Aug. 15, at the OTA offi ce in Blacklick, Ohio. Topics include: Implementa on of New JEDZ Law; Healthcare & Townships; Legal Issues Surrounding Nuisance Proper es; Unvoted Alterna ves for Financing Township Permanent Improvements; and Elec ons, Levies & Referendum. The workshop is pending approval by the Supreme Court of Ohio for CLE hours. The fee is $100 for members and $150 for non-members, and includes lunch. A registra on form is available online at by clicking on Affi liate Groups, then Law Directors. The registra on deadline is Aug. 8. Sign up today, as this is a great opportunity for county prosecutors, township legal counsel or law directors.

9 AaonnvotedSave the Date - Winter Conference Planning BeginsThe Ohio Township Association s (OTA) Annual Winter Conference is slated for Jan. 28-31, 2015, at the Columbus Convention Center. In the next couple of months, the OTA will compile workshop topics and speakers. If you have a specific topic you would like to see covered, or a speaker suggestion, please contact Heidi Fought, director of governmental affairs, at or of the MonthPhoto of the MonthEach of Ohio s 1,308 townships vary in size and budget. The Photo of the Month will give you a snapshot of the diversity that can be found around the a photo you d like to share?

10 Email Kaitlin Hall at Township/Union CountyDarby Township is home to roughly 2,200 people, and maintains 9 miles of road. They have two active cemeteries - Darby and Mitchell (seen below). Ready, aim, us replenish our township photo catalogue! The Ohio Township Associa on uses township photos in miscellaneous publica ons throughout the year, including the newsle er, magazine, website, Facebook, Winter Conference program and legisla ve pla orm. Photos may include township buildings, fi re/police/EMS, roads, drainage projects, plowing, parks, community gardens, memorials, line fences, you get it, right?Not a photographer by nature?