The Village of Whitehouse has five issues on this year’s ballot. Below you will find a breakdown of information and language for each one. Included are a video explainer as well as detailed text, including some frequently asked questions, and links to resource documents.
Our goal is to communicate the What and the Why to assist you in fully understanding the ballot language.
Whitehouse Ballot Issue #4: Electrical Aggregation Creation
What:
Ballot Issue #4 asks voters whether the Village should be able to arrange for negotiated electric rates for eligible electric customers in the Village, which is called “government electric aggregation.” Government electric aggregation is an electricity purchasing option established by the state and overseen by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO). If electric aggregation is approved and the Village completes steps required by PUCO, the negotiated rate would become the default for eligible customers in the Village, but customers would have the option to opt-out of the negotiated rate.
Why:
Currently, Whitehouse is not in an electric aggregation program. Because of this, individual customers in Whitehouse have limited, if any, ability to negotiate a more favorable electric rate. Electric aggregation, however, gives individuals the potential to receive lower electric rates through collective purchasing power. While lower rates are not guaranteed, aggregate buying power increases the probability of more favorable rates as compared to a non-aggregation situation. Keep in mind, if the electric aggregation is approved, you as the customer still have the ability to opt out of the program.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How would the Village be able to choose a certified electric generation supplier on my behalf?
Whitehouse voters must approve the electric aggregation ballot issue. If approved, Whitehouse is then authorized to select a supplier.
Is electric aggregation new and is it locally used?
Electric aggregation programs have been available to communities for many years. In Ohio, many municipalities and townships are in aggregation programs and have experienced great success in securing lower electric rates for their residents. In Lucas County, almost all municipalities and townships already participate in government electric aggregation.
If electric aggregation is approved by the voters and the Village completes the steps required to establish an aggregation program, what do I need to do?
All eligible homes and businesses will receive letters when the program starts and when rates are updated. Unless they choose to opt-out of the aggregation program, those homes and businesses will be enrolled in the program. Once enrolled, customers will continue to receive a single, easy-to-read bill from the electric company. There is no cost for enrollment, you will not be charged a switching fee, and you do not need to do anything to participate.
If, for any reason, you want out of the program, you may choose to leave or “opt-out” of the program, without penalty, and will not be charged a cancellation fee.
Who is eligible for the program?
- You must be a resident or business owner located within the Village limits;
- You must not be a PIPP (percentage of income payment program) customer;
- You must not be in arrears on your bill payment;
- You must not already be under an individual contract with an electric suppler as part of a customer choice program;
- You must not be a mercantile customer (commercial accounts using over 700,000 kWh/year).
Would the Village benefit from the program?
Yes, the Village can receive the negotiated electric rates for its facilities; however, the Village would NOT receive any portion of customers’ electric payments.
Will small businesses, schools and churches be eligible?
Small commercial accounts using less than 700,000 kWh/year and with a peak demand < 199kW are eligible.
If the voters approve electric aggregation, would the aggregation program start immediately?
No, after receiving approval from the voters the Village is required to take multiple steps before the program can start, including establishing a plan, holding public hearings, and notifying customers.
Resources
Whitehouse Ballot Issue #5: Approving Cultivation of Marijuana
What:
Ballot Issue #5 refers to an opportunity for voters to provide a community opinion on whether commercial marijuana (cannabis) cultivation and processing should be permitted within the Village limits. For Ohio municipalities that have approved cultivation and processing, licensed cultivators can grow marijuana from seeds into mature plants. The licensed processors then manufacture the plant material into a variety of products that include oils, edibles, capsules, patches, and lotions. The Ohio Department of Commerce governs all cultivation and processing licenses within the state. Municipalities that have licensed cultivation and processing activity within their boundaries can receive a share of the licensing revenue. For some municipalities, that share can be significant.
Why:
Think of this ballot issue as a polling of the public’s opinion on marijuana cultivation and processing within Village limits. In the past, Whitehouse officials were approached about the possibility of allowing marijuana cultivation and processing within its boundaries. Due to a standing ordinance, cultivation and processing are not allowed in the Village. By voting on this issue, you offer your opinion on whether Whitehouse should be open or closed to the possibility of marijuana cultivation within Whitehouse’s Village limits. To be clear, neither a passed nor a failed ballot issue determines whether marijuana cultivation and processing is permitted within Whitehouse. For commercial cultivation and processing to be permitted, additional action by Whitehouse Council is necessary.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What happens if this ballot issue passes?
A passed ballot issue signals to the community that it is open to the concept of commercial marijuana cultivation and processing within the Village. A passed ballot issue does not mean that cultivation and processing is permitted. For cultivation and processing to be allowed, Whitehouse Council would need take the following four (4) action steps:
- The standing ordinance must be overturned;
- New zoning criteria must be approved designating allowable areas for marijuana cultivation and processing;
- Approval of additional zoning restrictions (e.g., front setbacks, side setbacks, and lot size etc.); and
- New permitting forms and a fee structure must be approved
What happens if this ballot issue fails?
A failed ballot issue signals to the community that it is closed to the concept of commercial marijuana cultivation and processing within the Village. Marijuana cultivation and processing could still be permitted but would require the same four (4) Council action steps noted above.
Resources
Whitehouse Ballot Issue #6: Charter Change – Meetings
What:
Ballot Issue #6 is a proposed amendment to the Village’s Charter that (a) simplifies the language related to Council meetings, (b) provides more flexibility in arranging and providing notifications of those meetings, and (c) more clearly acknowledges that the Village follows state requirements related to Council meetings. Those changes include:
- removing the requirement that the Council hold regular meetings at least twice each month;
- removing the requirement that meetings be held exclusively in Council Chambers while retaining the requirement that meetings be open to the public;
- allowing the Council to decide how to provide required notices about upcoming meetings; and
- replacing details of processes that are already required by the State of Ohio with a clear statement that the Village will follow the requirements of the Ohio Revised Code.
Why:
The proposed changes make it clearer that the Village follows state law regarding meetings and provides more flexibility in arranging and conducting Council meetings to better adjust to changing situations including emergencies. More specifically, the proposed changes:
- Provide flexibility for the Council (e.g., when it might not be possible to have a quorum for a regular meeting);
- Make it possible to choose an alternate meeting location (e.g., if many people were expected to attend a meeting the Council could choose to hold the meeting in a larger venue);
- Allows for greater flexibility of public meeting notice postings. The current Village Charter specifically requires public meeting notice postings at the Village Hall and four (4) other public locations. Since the last Charter update, changes in technology have occurred allowing a wider communication of public meeting notices. If changed, this would allow the Village Council to determine, by ordinance, the physical public posting locations and/or digital communication of public meeting notices. If changed, this would be in compliance with Ohio Revised Code. The twenty-four (24) hour notice of meetings still applies; and
- References the Ohio Revised Code instead of repeating selected details of the code making it less likely that this section of the Charter will require changes in the future if the Ohio Revised Code is changed.
Resources
Whitehouse Ballot Issue #7: Charter Change – Mayoral Vacancy
What:
Ballot Issue #7 is a proposed Charter amendment changing the procedure when the position of Mayor becomes vacant. If this vacancy occurs, the amendment specifies that the President of the Council will give up their Council seat and become Mayor. This replaces language in the current Charter that allows someone to simultaneously serve as both President of the Council and Mayor.
Why:
The current Village Charter specifies that upon the vacancy of the Mayor’s position, the President of Council becomes the interim Mayor and continues to hold their elected Council seat. In this situation, the President of Council holds both positions. It has been argued that in certain situations this could be untenable. The proposed change specifies that in a Mayoral vacancy, the President of Council becomes the Mayor (filling the vacated Mayor’s term) and vacates their Council position (vacating their elected term). The vacated Council position is then filled following section 3.07 of the Charter.
Resources
Whitehouse Ballot Issue #8: Charter Change – Elections
What:
Ballot Issue #8 is a proposed Charter amendment moving the date of primary elections for Village Mayor and Council—when primary elections are necessary—from early September to early May. Also, the deadline to file a petition to run for one of those offices would be moved to late February/early March. This would begin in 2025.
Why:
The current Village Charter specifies that primary elections are held in October. Due to the timing, this does limit the ability to conform with Federal and State laws. Moving primary elections to May complies with Federal and State laws by ensuring that members of the military and other citizens (e.g., absentee) have sufficient time to vote in November elections by mail.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- What dates are proposed for primaries and for filing petitions?
- Primary elections would typically be the first Tuesday after the first Monday in May. The Lucas County Board of Elections could adjust the date, such as if the Board of Elections will be closed on that date. The deadline to file petitions to be on the ballot for Village Mayor or Council would be 60 days before the primary date.
- How was the new date chosen for primary elections?
- The date was recommended by the Lucas County Board of Elections. The date is the same date the State of Ohio usually uses for spring votes on statewide issues. Aligning the Village’s primary date with statewide voting could reduce the Village’s cost for its primary elections.
- Does the Village hold primary elections every year?
- No, in most years primary elections are not needed. The Charter currently states that when the number of valid candidates for a Village election exceeds three times the number of people to be elected at any regular municipal election, then a primary would be held. For example, a primary election for the position of Mayor would only be held if there were four or more valid candidates. This ballot measure would not change the threshold for holding primary elections.
- What is the cost to the Village for holding a primary election?
- Most years there is no cost because a primary is not necessary. When a primary is necessary, the Lucas County Board of Election charges the Village for the cost to hold the election. That cost historically has been around $15,000 to $20,000. If this measure is passed, there might be no cost to the Village for a primary election. If the State has a vote, such as for a state-wide initiative, on the same day as the Village’s primary election there would be no cost for the Village to hold a primary election because the State would pay the Election Board’s costs for the election.
Resources