Those attending a Meet the Candidates forum Oct. 17 in Elmore could witness an unusual political rivalry.

Lowell Krumnow, the long-time mayor of this Ottawa County village, is being challenged for the office by his older brother, James Krumnow.

James is mid-way through a term on village council.

Mayor Krumnow said infrastructure improvements will be addressed in the next mayor’s term in office, including what is the best way to prevent a reoccurrence of an electrical blackout that plagued the village for almost three days this summer after lightning damaged a transformer at the corner of Nissen Road and State Route 51.

About 700 residences and 200 businesses were affected.

The village relied on a mobile unit provided by FirstEnergy for temporary power.

“It’s going to be interesting the next four years,” the mayor said. “We’re already in the pipeline for the new sewer plant, which has been mandated by the EPA.   

“The outage this summer demonstrated the need for a back-up of some type. A lot of communities do that. It’s time for us to address that concern. I feel confident elected officials will support a second sub-station.”

The village already is in what the mayor calls the “discussion stage” of participating in a regional water system, which would entail tapping into the county’s distribution system.

Village officials will be looking for financial assistance from the county and state to assist with the project, the mayor said.

If there is a philosophical difference in the brothers’ approach to local government, it would be that James favors a more limited role for how the village expends public revenues, focusing primarily on infrastructure and “the basics,” both men said.

James said he would await an opinion from the board of public affairs, which has been assessing the situation with the transformer, before deciding how the village should proceed with a back-up system.

And with the reported algae problems in Lake Erie, he’s more reluctant to proceed with linking with the county’s water system.

Mayor Krumnow noted his administration has routinely balanced budgets but he’s still found funding for amenities such as parks, downtown beautification, and bike paths.

James said some residents were encouraging him to run for mayor while he circulated petitions for his council race.

He said he wasn’t sure if he’d be able to attend the forum due to his work schedule.

The forum is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. in the community center at 410 Clinton Street.

Council race uncontested
There is no competitive race for two seats on village council with incumbents Donna Wollenslegel not seeking another term and Tom Deitemyer declared ineligible to run due to a problem with his petitions.

David Crozier and Robert Eickel are the only candidates for the council seats.

Nor is there competition for two seats on the village board of public affairs with Douglas Perkins and Gary Rhiel the only candidates.

School board race
Candidates for the Woodmore Board of Education have also been invited to the forum.

Incumbents Julie Bowman, Michael DeStazio, and Stephen Huss are being challenged for three seats by Sean Rizor.

A major issue on the November ballot for Woodmore district voters is a bond issue that would leverage state funding for a new elementary school building.

If passed, it will generate approximately $19.5 million and have a repayment schedule of 37 years.

Construction would include a building near the present elementary building site in Woodville that would house pre-kindergarten classes through the eighth grade as well as a performing arts center/auditorium and a home economics classroom at the high school in Elmore.

Voters will also see a 0.5-mill levy on the ballot for maintaining the building. The maintenance levy is required by the Ohio School Facilities Commission, which would provide slightly more than $7 million – equal to 32 percent – of the project’s cost.

District officials are projecting the total cost of the project to be approximately $26.5 million.

The auditorium would be built on land where the Hetrick wing of the high school sits. The wing houses classroom space for grades seven and eight.

According to information provided by the district administration, preliminary plans for the auditorium/performing arts center include seating for approximately 500 but that number is flexible as the school board and administration receive more input from district residents.

Superintendent John Fernbaugh said the size of a stage and whether or not there would be an orchestra pit will be determined after music boosters and other interested groups offer their opinions.

A rendering of the proposed auditorium layout has been posted on the district’s website.

The school board and administration will host a public forum Nov. 1 at the high school.

An update on the building plan and the district’s financial status will be discussed as well as its academic plan.

That forum will start at 7 p.m.

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