Accomplishments

Saving Tax Dollars

Fighting Tax Increases

Transparency/Open Government

Economic Development/Business Friendly

Saving Tax Dollars:

Switched 911 Dispatching Service—Saved $100,000

In 2009, Derek led Waterville’s effort to change dispatching service from the City of Maumee to Lucas County. The sensible switch saves taxpayers over $100,000 annually. The same high-level of dispatching service has been maintained as well.

Reduced Public Works Department By 1/3—Saved $220,000

During Derek’s term, the Public Works Department staff went from 12 employees to 8 employees. On an annual basis, this saves taxpayers about $250,000 in salaries and benefits. The savings helped stabilize the general fund and has kept water/sewer charges relatively stable despite sharp price increases from the City of Toledo for water. The staff reduction was done through attrition. To help carry the load, Derek promoted privatizing some City mowing, leaf-pickup, snow removal on sidewalks, and water meter reading services. The current privatization costs range around $30,000. Derek believes it’s a lot better than replacing four employees though. Throughout the privatization process and decline of Public Works personnel, services have not declined, but many contend they have actually improved.

Buying Bulk Gas

Derek had the Police Department start using gasoline that was purchased in bulk. For years, the Public Works Department purchased bulk gasoline at a typical $.15 to .35 cent gallon discount. However, the Police Department never used it and paid market rate at local stations. This simple change has saved Waterville thousands of dollars every year.

Capping Government Spending

While a councilman, Derek supported placing a 115% cap on capital spending. This meant the capital budget could not budget to spend more than 115% than it anticipated receiving in revenue. Due to this measure, the five-year capital budget was readjusted and saved taxpayers over $600,000 over the five-year period.

Changed Refuse Carrier—Saved $30,000

For over 10 years, Waterville did not hold an open bid for its refuse and recycling contract. Derek changed that. When bidding process began, it was clear Waterville was not getting the best deal. Waterville changed companies and began saving $30,000 annually. Also, many residents claim the service has improved too.

Saving the “Old Fire Station” and $30,000

While on Council, Derek was the first elected official to oppose the demolition of Waterville’s Old Fire Station. After months of debate, the whole council abandoned its intent to spend $30,000 to demolish the building. The YMCA took possession and remolded the building into a first class facility. Today, hundreds of residents enjoy the facility at no cost to taxpayers.

Reduced Energy Costs

During 2010, Derek and Councilman Jeff Marty pushed for Waterville to reduce its energy costs. The preceding year taxpayers footed a $29,000 natural gas bill. In many buildings, thermostats were lowered, and measures implemented to reduce energy. With these reforms, next years natural gas bill was $16,000 dollars. Derek has credited Councilman Marty for many of the measures and for challenging City’s Department Directors to reduce energy costs.

Eliminated Council’s Slush Fund

In 2010, Derek successfully eliminated Council’s fund to pay for their conferences, training, and other reimbursement expenses. Unfortunately, the fund had been arguably abused by at least one member. Before the elimination, Derek never used the slush fund or reimbursed himself for any expenses.

Stopped Paying Chamber’s Electric and Gas Bills

As mayor, Derek supported revising Waterville’s contract with the Chamber of Commerce. The contract ended the practice of Waterville taxpayers footing the bill for the Chamber's electric and gas bills. The change has resulted in over a thousand dollars in annual savings.

Eliminated Longevity Bonuses—Saved $43,000

In 2010, Derek proposed eliminating employee bonuses based on years of service. By a 6-1 vote, council approved the measure saving $43,000 that year. Also, the measure reduced longevity bonuses by 50% for future years, thus adding to future savings.

Supported Eliminating 2.25% Deferred Compensation Match

In 2010, Derek supported Administrator Jim Bagdonas's decision to discontinue matching employees’ contributions to their 457 deferred compensation plans. Derek contended the City already generously contributes to employees' state retirement plans. For general employees (OPERS), taxpayers pay an additional 14% of their salary into their retirement accounts, police it's 19.5%, and for fire it's 24.5%. So, Derek believed granting them another 2.25% for their deferred compensation plan was wrong and outrageous.

Supported Limiting Use Of Employees Take-Home Vehicles

In 2011, Derek supported limiting the use of employees taking City vehicles home. As a councilman, Derek began questioning the practice and the fiscal impact to the city. Derek applauded the Police Chief’s decision to limit take-home vehicles to only on-call management personnel and the Public Works Director’s decision to stop the entire practice altogether in his department. With fuel costs alone, Waterville now saves thousands of dollars annually. Furthermore, the stopping of unnecessary wear and tear on the vehicles will likely save the City from replacing one or two vehicles over a decade.

Health Care Contributions—Saved Over $20,000

In 2010, Derek proposed raising employee health care contributions from 10% to 14%. That change saved Waterville taxpayer’s over $20,000 that year. In 2011, Derek proposed a plan to raise employee contributions to 30% over a six year period, but later withdrew the ordinance due to a lack of support. However, Derek propososed a new ordinance that would require new employees hired to contribute a minimum 20% toward their health care premiums. Council is currently considering the ordinance.

Eliminated Cash Payments for Unused Vacation Time

In 2010, Derek supported ending the policy of paying employees for unused vacation time. It saved taxpayers over $12,000 that year and continues to be City policy.

Gave Back 13% of Pay

In 2010, Derek donated 13% of his salary back to the general fund.

Freezed Employees Wages

In 2010, Derek supported across-the-board salary freezes of all City employees.

Offered 7 Cost-Saving Amendments

In 2007, Councilman Merrin offered seven cost-saving amendments to the budget. The amendments were defeated mostly by 4-3 votes. The accumulated savings would have been approximately $175,000. However, the majority of Derek’s common-sense amendments were ultimately instituted throughout the year due to fiscal necessity.

Exposed TARTA’s Waste

Derek’s expose Limos are Cheaper than Tarta was published by the Toledo Free Press. It quantitatively proved that Waterville could contract with private limousine companies rather than Tarta, public transit, for less money. The tongue-and-cheek article preceded Tarta’s public effort to expand its operation and enact a $10 million dollar tax hike in Lucas County. Derek’s work was cited as evidence by other elected officials that stopped the planned expansion and tax increase.

Discovered TARTA’s Corruption

Derek’s research found that Tarta illegally used over $66,000 of tax dollars to support multiple levies. State law forbids government entities from using public funds for political activity. State Auditor Dave Yost issued a finding for recovery and pressed Tarta to repay the money. To date, Tarta’s liability insurance has made taxpayers whole and Tarta’s political action committee is on a monthly payment plan to repay their insurance company'subrogation claim against them.

The scandal garnered state-wide attention. It was then discovered that Ohio law didn’t have a penalty section to punish government managers that illegally authorized public funds to be spent on political activity. Auditor Dave Yost pushed for the law to be changed. A bipartisan bill, H.B. 326, was introduced which makes the offense a first degree misdemeanor. The bill is under current consideration. Derek testified before the Ohio House of Representative’s Criminal Justice Committee on behalf of the bill.

Sick Day Reform

In 2011, Derek highlighted the problem of “sick day” usage. The City provided employees 18 paid sick days annually and allowed them to accumulate without limit. Many employees had banked more than one year’s worth of sick time. Also, there were provisions that permitted employees to cash-out part of the sick time upon retirement. In 2010, the average employee used 14.6 sick days.

Derek successfully reduced the number of paid sick days from 18 days to 10 days. Councilmen Jeff Marty and Jim Valtin helped in the effort. Also, Derek proposed that new employees would only be permitted to cash-out sick time at the rate of pay it was accrued and not at the rate of retirement. Unfortunately, the amendment was defeated. Additionally, Derek supported an amendment that Councilman Marty proposed that would have capped the hours of sick time employees could accumulate. It called for setting a 3,000 hour cap for current employees and 1,000 hour limit for new employees. The amendment was defeated.

Electric Aggregation Agreement

In 2011, Derek supported Waterville joining the Northwest Ohio Aggregation Coalition (NOAC). As a local-government electric consortium, its purchasing power provides residents an average of $30-40 savings annually for electricity. In 2000, Waterville voters, by a 76% margin, approved the agreement. However, Mayor Myerholtz and Council failed to pass necessary legislation that would have made Waterville an “official” member. Residents assumed Waterville had joined the electric consortium and were receiving the discounted electricity. Derek has expressed outrage and dismay that Waterville’s officials deliberately scuttled the legislation or by their own incompetence failed to join. A conservative estimate puts their error at costing Waterville residents and businesses around $1,000,000 over the decade. 

Toledo-Lucas Health Department Saved $442,281

Local governments, such as Waterville, fund about half the county’s health department’s budget. In 2010 and 2011, the Health Department tried to hike local government contributions to the department. As mayor, Derek took a firm stand against the increase contributions and publicly derided the public agency for poor fiscal management. Not only did Derek and other elected officials stop an increase, they forced an 8% percent reduction, saving local governments $280,814 in 2010. In 2011, the Health Department demanded a 5% increase. Along with admirable stances of Trustees Andy Glenn and John Jennewine, the Health Department agreed to a 0% increase negating a $161, 468 increase that year. Furthermore, they committed to a 0% increase in 2013.

Helped Eliminate Ohio’s Estate Tax

As mayor, Derek played a critical in role lobbying for the elimination of Ohio’s estate tax. Since local governments receive 80% of the tax’s revenue, mayors all over the state adamantly opposed repealing the tax. However, Derek saw the bigger picture—the tax was putting Ohio at economic disadvantage and was an inherently unfair tax. Derek was one of only two mayors that publicly advocated repeal. Furthermore, Derek testified before the Ohio Senate’s Ways & Means Committee supporting repeal. In 2011, Ohio’s budget repealed the estate tax effective Jan 1, 2013. For his efforts, Derek was presented a commemorative medallion by the End Ohio’s Estate Tax group for his work.

Fighting Tax Increases

Voted Against $250,000 Garbage Tax

In 2010, Derek opposed double-taxing residents for their refuse collection. City Council enacted an $8.65 monthly tax on residents that generates a quarter-million dollars in annual revenue. For decades, resident’s income and property taxes paid for refuse collection. Five years earlier, Council touted that the City’s income tax covered refuse collection in a campaign to make the Waterville’s entire 2% income tax permanent. In 2011, Council hiked the tax to $8.91, which Derek opposed too.

Voted Against Ambulance Transport Tax

In 2010, Derek opposed charging residents for emergency ambulance use. Derek pointed out that Waterville residents' taxes already covered ambulance service. Also, Derek claimed some residents would be reluctant to call 9-1-1 due to the tax and thus jeopardizing safety. Derek’s warning has proven valid; many communities across the country have cited this fear has come to fruition.

Opposed Sidewalk Tax Assessments

As mayor and a councilman, Derek has repeatedly voted against sidewalk assessments. Each year, Waterville assesses individual residents approximately $20,000 for constructing/repairing their sidewalks. Given that the City is responsible for the sidewalks that make-up public infrastructure, Derek believes repairs should be paid out of the general fund. Also, residents' assessments have historically been inequitable, where some residents are billed $1,000 and others $50 a year. Typically, residents cannot control that their sidewalks deteriorate or are damaged, thus Derek contends the assessment process is flawed.

Voted Against Lodging Tax

In 2011, Derek opposed establishing a 3% lodging tax. Whether a hotel or bed and breakfast, it is imposed on all lodging facilities. Due to there being no lodging establishments in Waterville, Derek didn’t see why establishing tax was necessary. Derek contended it sent a negative message to potential lodging investors. Also, Derek said Waterville needed to take a “wait and see” approach until such an establishment existed. Then, officials could examine whether the establishment imposed an additional burden that may warrant a lodging tax.

Stopped $75,000 Light Assessment Tax

In 2010, Derek provided the crucial vote to prevent the enactment of a street lighting assessment tax. Every property would have had the assessment put on their property tax bill. It would have generated approximately $75,000 in revenue annually. Of course, residents' income and property taxes pay for the street lights. Just think—by 2025, this silly tax would have cost Waterville taxpayers over $1,000,000 dollars.

Voted Against 25% License Plate Fee Increase

In 2011, Derek opposed increasing Waterville residents’ vehicle license fees from $15 to $20. The 25% fee generates an extra $27,000 annually for the City.

Defeated $15 Historic District Fee

While a councilman, Derek led the successful effort to block the proposed $15 application fee for businesses and residents requesting certificates of appropriateness. Derek contended it was an anti-business fee that was unnecessary.

Eliminate Bicycle Fee

Derek supported eliminating the fee residents were charged to register their bicycles. Also, Derek supported making registering bicycles voluntary.

Transparency/Open Government

30 New Appointees

Derek appointed over 30 new, qualified individuals to City committees, commissions, and boards. Before becoming mayor, over 30 committee members or their spouses had made campaign contributions to the former mayor. Derek put a stop to this pay-to-participate system.

Published City Budget Online

Derek believed that residents should easily be able to see how their tax dollars are being spent. So, Derek initiated and ensured the City's budget was made available online.

Held Public Town Hall Meeting

By holding a Mayor's Town Hall Meeting, Derek engaged the public on how the City could inprove services and the quality of life for residents. Also, it fulfilled a campaign promise Derek made.

Revitalized City’s Website

Derek had Waterville’s website brought up to 21st century standards. Many City forms have been added, navigation made easier, and aesthetics improved. The new website was built for less than nine times what other area communities paid for their website upgrades.

Reinstalled TV Coverage to Meetings

While on council, Derek spearheaded the effort to have cameras reinstalled which allowed Council meetings to be broadcasted to the public. Derek stronly believed that public viewing of meetings was important. His efforts succeeded by a 4-3 vote by council.

Supported Prayer at Meetings

While a councilman, Derek supported changing the “Rules of Council” to permit a prayer at the start of the council meetings. The measure was supported by a 4-3 vote. Today, council still has the prayer.

Created Leaf Pick-Up Schedule

Derek initiated the creation of a schedule that lets residents know when their leaves will be picked-up. Additionally, the schedule has benefitted the Public Works Department in organizing the leaf pick-up service too.

Honored Military Veterans

As mayor, Derek made it a priority to publicly honor Waterville veterans. He recognized and gave commendations to Iraqi Freedom, Korean War, and World War Two veterans. Also, Derek had an American flag that originally flew over Falluja, Iraq, fly proudly over Waterville in Pray Park.

Perfect Attendance

Derek believed it was important to show up to work. While mayor and a councilman, he never missed a council meeting in six straight years.

Economic Development/Business Friendly

Downtown Revitalization

Under Derek’s leadership, Waterville’s downtown community has been renovated and revitalized. Derek helped secure approximately $800,000 worth of grants to support the downtown redevelopment. Also, the grants helped over 50 downtown businesses and private residences make aesthetic improvements to their properties that have benefited Waterville. Among the many improvements, the downtown has seen the installation of new sidewalks, street furniture, public bathrooms, street lighting, and additional parking space. Also, streets were resurfaced and waterlines replaced.

Helped Save Waterville’s Post Office

In 2011, the United States Postal Service gave notice it was closing Waterville’s only post office. The announcement was framed that USPS and the building owner couldn’t reach an agreement on a new lease. Derek made contact with USPS and the building owner and encouraged an agreement. Fortunately, a consensus was forged and a new lease was signed, maintaining a post office in Waterville for the foreseeable future.

Asthetic Improvements: Upgrades and Repairs

As mayor, Derek made a committment to improving Waterville aesthetically by paying close attention to detail. His committment culminated into every street sign pole being repainted, many light poles being repainted, and new paint stripings for many streets that sharpened street appearances while enhancing public safety. Many street-name signs, stop signs, no-parking signs were replaced due to being faded.

Derek initiated many pot holes being fixed and patched. Also, Derek identified over 25 sidewalks that were badly damaged due to City trees or sewer man holes and ensured they were fixed. Furtheremore, Derek personally had over 70 street lights fixed throughout Waterville, including many downtown lights that hadn't worked for years.

Streamlining Sign Permit Process

As mayor, Derek made the City’s sign permit process quicker and easier. Applicants whose proposed signs meet guidelines are now administratively approved. This eliminated the arduous, time-consuming process of getting approval by the Planning Commission. Also, Derek reset the meeting schedules of the Planning Commission and Historic District Commission to help expedite businesses' requests within the Historic District.

Supported A-frame Signs For Businesses

As mayor, Derek supported allowing downtown businesses to use A-frame signs to publicize their businesses. The pro-business legislation was welcomed by many businesses who now use the signs for their advertisments and marketing efforts. Also, Derek paid for all applicants’ special sign permit fee himself.