Commissioners note impending state sales tax increase
By Bob Robinson 

GREENVILLE – Darke County Commissioners advised residents at their July 15 public meeting that the state sales tax increase passed by the legislature and signed into law by Gov. John Kasich will go into effect Sept. 1. The increase is .25 percent, raising the state tax from 5.5 percent to 5.75 percent. The county tax of 1.5 percent stays unchanged, for a total of 7.25 percent. 

According to a July 10 letter to the commissioners, postcard mailings to all taxpayers began July 2. 

Commissioners approved purchase of security equipment in the Darke County Juvenile court area of the Garst Government Complex. Total cost of cameras and installation is $2,887, with half of it coming from the Juvenile/Probate Court and half from the county General Fund. 

In their July 17 meeting, commissioners heard quotations from three vendors to handle Darke County’s annual Household Hazardous Waste Collection on Oct. 26. Clean Harbors Environmental, Sheboygan, Wis., quoted $10,966.11. Environmental Enterprises, Cincinnati, quoted $9,645, and Veolia Environmental Services, West Carrollton, quoted $10,123.36. Darke County Solid Waste Director Krista Fourman will review the quotes and recommend her decision to the commissioners. 

Commissioners awarded quotes for painting services to local painting companies for two county projects. Based upon Darke County Business Administrator John Cook’s recommendation, the contract for painting the Steel Building on Front Street went to Longfellow Painting for $4,350, and the contract for painting the Visitation House on Fifth Street went to Gower & Sons Painting for $4,860.