October 1, 2025 • 4 mins
Lima City Council, over the objection of Mayor Smith, votes to make themselves eligible for the City's Health Benefits; Mayor Smith takes part in Ford Pro Accelerate Panel in Detroit; Ohio Lawmakers propose law to force schools to teach human growth and development; ODNR reminds Ohioans that a burn ban is in place now through November.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Last night, Lima City Council voted six to one to
make themselves eligible for the city's employee healthcare benefits. Previously
Mayor Sharita Smith stated her opposition to the ordinance based
mainly on budgetary concerns, but the mayor also said the
city can't afford to insure part time employees.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
And we do not offer insurance benefits to any part
time employees for the city, whether you're talking about a
true part time employee or seasonals. Did we bring in
anywhere from thirty to forty five seasonals every single year?
Speaker 1 (00:35):
Last night, Finance Director Meredith Foster cited federal and state
budget cuts, plus they decline in tax revenue as another
reason why the administration is against the proposal. The city
is concerned about the extra liability inherent and extending coverage
to a new group of employees. The city is self insured,
meaning it sets aside dedicated funds to directly pay medical
(00:58):
and workers' compensation claims rather than traditional insurance. Sixth the
ward Councilman Derry Glenn, a main proponent of the measure,
said council members should be treated like full time employees.
Speaker 3 (01:11):
It's a part time job. We not get paid no money.
In the sixth ward. I work hard, I mean very hard,
and got the biggest war in the city and you
still get the same paycheck. But that's my choice, though,
But I hope I respect me more and say hey,
let us help you with your your medical bills. At
least I have tapped myself on the bed that I've
(01:31):
been doing a great job or good job, a bad job,
but I've been doing a good job for my people
in my ward and I deserve it. If if I
ever need insurance, I'm not going.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
Get it wellnn also stated that many other cities in
Ohio offer council members health benefits. Councilman Tony Wilkerson voted no,
while Councilman Thomas Jones abstained, saying it's not right for
him to vote for things that benefit himself. Council President
Jamie Dixon said the plan would be a review yearly.
Speaker 4 (02:01):
We're going to review this every year annually, especially with
our yearly budget that we do, and so as the
years go on, we will have the council president as
well as that financial committee will make sure as they're
repairing the budget, but they're looking at that insurance or
fringe and benefit item line.
Speaker 1 (02:16):
It will now be up to the mayor to sign
the ordinance into law or possibly veto the measure, although
the six yes votes on Council would be enough to
override her veto should she choose to do so. That
decision is expected to come today. Yesterday, a Lima Mayor,
Sarita Smith, was actually in Detroit at the Ford pro
Accelerate Conference. Mayor Smith appeared on the panel propelling Productivity
(02:40):
for Small and mid sized Businesses and Communities. Smith joined
other panelists and highlighted Lima's investments and modernization, including remote inspections,
smart gov online permitting AI power to street surveys, and
the c click Fix app that allows residents and businesses
to report issues in real time. A group of Republican
(03:01):
lawmakers gathered at the State House yesterday to introduce a
law called the Baby Olivia Act. House Bill four eighty
five would require schools in Ohio to teach human growth
and development in its curriculum. The school would then have
to do check ins showing they've showed at minimum at
least three minutes of high definition ultrasound video showing the brain,
(03:24):
heart and sex organs and students must watch the meat
Baby Olivia video developed by the company Live Action. It
shows an animated fetus developing. State Rep. Melanie Miller introduced
the bill, the miracle.
Speaker 5 (03:39):
Of life is not something that can be easily explained,
so why don't we provide a scientifically accurate depiction of
the human development process so that our students have a fuller,
more complete understanding.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
Several other states are making the same proposals, including Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee,
and Arkansas. And the Ohio Department of Natural Resources is
reminding residents that open burning is banned during restricted hours
through the end of November. The band takes effect today
and applies to any fire that isn't in a stove
(04:13):
or fireplace that vents to a chimney or stack. The
regulation runs from six am to six pm every day
and is meant to prevent wildfires that spread through dead
and dry grass and leaves. For more information on burn restrictions,
go to ohiodnr dot gov. For the latest news at
the top end bottom of every hour, set a preset
(04:34):
button on the free iHeartRadio app to eleven fifty WYMA.
That's the news you need this morning. More available at
our website thanks to citizens National Bank stay with US
weather traffic hands, sports h it ahead on this Wednesday
edition of Lima's Morning News on the eleven fifty WYMA
Last night, Lima City Council voted six to one to
make themselves eligible for the city's employee healthcare benefits. Previously
Mayor Sharita Smith stated her opposition to the ordinance based
mainly on budgetary concerns, but the mayor also said the
city can't afford to insure part time employees.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
And we do not offer insurance benefits to any part
time employees for the city, whether you're talking about a
true part time employee or seasonals. Did we bring in
anywhere from thirty to forty five seasonals every single year?
Speaker 1 (00:35):
Last night, Finance Director Meredith Foster cited federal and state
budget cuts, plus they decline in tax revenue as another
reason why the administration is against the proposal. The city
is concerned about the extra liability inherent and extending coverage
to a new group of employees. The city is self insured,
meaning it sets aside dedicated funds to directly pay medical
(00:58):
and workers' compensation claims rather than traditional insurance. Sixth the
ward Councilman Derry Glenn, a main proponent of the measure,
said council members should be treated like full time employees.
Speaker 3 (01:11):
It's a part time job. We not get paid no money.
In the sixth ward. I work hard, I mean very hard,
and got the biggest war in the city and you
still get the same paycheck. But that's my choice, though,
But I hope I respect me more and say hey,
let us help you with your your medical bills. At
least I have tapped myself on the bed that I've
(01:31):
been doing a great job or good job, a bad job,
but I've been doing a good job for my people
in my ward and I deserve it. If if I
ever need insurance, I'm not going.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
Get it wellnn also stated that many other cities in
Ohio offer council members health benefits. Councilman Tony Wilkerson voted no,
while Councilman Thomas Jones abstained, saying it's not right for
him to vote for things that benefit himself. Council President
Jamie Dixon said the plan would be a review yearly.
Speaker 4 (02:01):
We're going to review this every year annually, especially with
our yearly budget that we do, and so as the
years go on, we will have the council president as
well as that financial committee will make sure as they're
repairing the budget, but they're looking at that insurance or
fringe and benefit item line.
Speaker 1 (02:16):
It will now be up to the mayor to sign
the ordinance into law or possibly veto the measure, although
the six yes votes on Council would be enough to
override her veto should she choose to do so. That
decision is expected to come today. Yesterday, a Lima Mayor,
Sarita Smith, was actually in Detroit at the Ford pro
Accelerate Conference. Mayor Smith appeared on the panel propelling Productivity
(02:40):
for Small and mid sized Businesses and Communities. Smith joined
other panelists and highlighted Lima's investments and modernization, including remote inspections,
smart gov online permitting AI power to street surveys, and
the c click Fix app that allows residents and businesses
to report issues in real time. A group of Republican
(03:01):
lawmakers gathered at the State House yesterday to introduce a
law called the Baby Olivia Act. House Bill four eighty
five would require schools in Ohio to teach human growth
and development in its curriculum. The school would then have
to do check ins showing they've showed at minimum at
least three minutes of high definition ultrasound video showing the brain,
(03:24):
heart and sex organs and students must watch the meat
Baby Olivia video developed by the company Live Action. It
shows an animated fetus developing. State Rep. Melanie Miller introduced
the bill, the miracle.
Speaker 5 (03:39):
Of life is not something that can be easily explained,
so why don't we provide a scientifically accurate depiction of
the human development process so that our students have a fuller,
more complete understanding.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
Several other states are making the same proposals, including Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee,
and Arkansas. And the Ohio Department of Natural Resources is
reminding residents that open burning is banned during restricted hours
through the end of November. The band takes effect today
and applies to any fire that isn't in a stove
(04:13):
or fireplace that vents to a chimney or stack. The
regulation runs from six am to six pm every day
and is meant to prevent wildfires that spread through dead
and dry grass and leaves. For more information on burn restrictions,
go to ohiodnr dot gov. For the latest news at
the top end bottom of every hour, set a preset
(04:34):
button on the free iHeartRadio app to eleven fifty WYMA.
That's the news you need this morning. More available at
our website thanks to citizens National Bank stay with US
weather traffic hands, sports h it ahead on this Wednesday
edition of Lima's Morning News on the eleven fifty WYMA
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Cardiac Cowboys
The heart was always off-limits to surgeons. Cutting into it spelled instant death for the patient. That is, until a ragtag group of doctors scattered across the Midwest and Texas decided to throw out the rule book. Working in makeshift laboratories and home garages, using medical devices made from scavenged machine parts and beer tubes, these men and women invented the field of open heart surgery. Odds are, someone you know is alive because of them. So why has history left them behind? Presented by Chris Pine, CARDIAC COWBOYS tells the gripping true story behind the birth of heart surgery, and the young, Greatest Generation doctors who made it happen. For years, they competed and feuded, racing to be the first, the best, and the most prolific. Some appeared on the cover of Time Magazine, operated on kings and advised presidents. Others ended up disgraced, penniless, and convicted of felonies. Together, they ignited a revolution in medicine, and changed the world.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.