Back in August of 2022, the Ohio Supreme Court overturned the state law prohibiting trains from blocking intersections for more than five minutes. Due to federal regulations, local government officials are no longer able to control the movement or the standstill of trains passing through our area.

Will lifting 18 cents federal gasoline tax make a difference in the pocketbook of consumers? For example, if you have a 16-gallon tank it would save you 2 dollars and 88 cents. If you fill your tank each week during the 3-month gas tax holiday that is just about 35 dollars in savings. The temporary reduction in gas taxes will more than likely hurt an already struggling road and bridge infrastructure in the country.

Allen County is earmarked for just over 7-million dollars in the state’s 2023-2024 capital budget. A few of the projects tagged are an Apollo Regional Training and Safety program, an Allen County Fair Youth Show arena, a Lima community pool, and improvements at the Schoonover Observatory. These dollars are essential for the projects to move forward.