The Chronicle-Telegram

Lorain County Community Action Agency's Winter Crisis Program is now available.

The program, which provides heating assistance for residents without heat, or threatened with disconnection, is in full swing, according to an LCCAA news release. The program runs through March 31.

It is available to individuals at or below 175 percent of the federal poverty level - about $52,500 for a family of four - who have had their heat disconnected, received a disconnection notice, need to establish new service, need to pay to transfer a service, have less than a 10-day supply of bulk fuel like wood, coal, pellets, propane or oil or have defaulted on a Percentage of Income Payment Plan.

Those situations can qualify someone for an emergency phone appointment with LCCAA staff. Those with a pending disconnection notice must provide their account number when scheduling their appointment so a hold can be placed on the disconnection, and the appointment must be at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled disconnection. Missing or rescheduling the appointment may result in service disconnection.

In-person, walk-in services are available 8-11 a.m. and 12:30-3:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at Second Baptist Church, 427 Chapman Lane, Elyria. In-person appointments are available 8-11 a.m. and 12:30-3:30 p.m. Fridays at the Office on Aging Wellington location, 105 Maple St. by calling (440) 731-2640.

Seniors can walk in for appointments from 8-11 a.m. and 12:30-3:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays at the Lorain County Office on Aging, 534 Abbe Road, South, Elyria.

A secure drop box is available at LCCAA, 936 Broadway, Lorain, for required documents, Second Baptist Church and the Wellington Office on Aging also have drop boxes available. Documents can also be faxed to (440) 457-0337.

Required documentation includes: Income information for all household members 18-and-older for the last 30 days; any member reporting "no income" must complete a no income form; Social Security numbers for all household members; proof of citizenship; most recent electric and gas bills.

The maximum crisis benefits are: $175 for regulated gas and electric utilities; $750 for unregulated utilities; $1,200 for bulk fuel, propane, heating oil or kerosene; $650 for coal or wood. The program can also fund up to $1,500 for heating unit repairs or replacement.

Residents without a disconnection notice who still need help paying bills may be eligible for the Home Energy Assistance Program. Applications for that program are taken at energyhelp.ohio.gove and no appointment is necessary.

For more information, or for questions on an existing application, call (440) 245-1870 or visit LCCAA's lobby at 936 Broadway, Lorain.

Notice is hereby given that on November 11th , 2024, at 5:00 pm a special meeting will be held regarding a new hire for the Road Department of Sheffield Township. The meeting will be held at 5166 Clinton Ave., Lorain, Ohio 44055, by order of the Board of Sheffield Township Trustees.

Laura Maltarich

Sheffield Township Fiscal Officer

Permits are required for sheds, decks, fences, garages, pools, etc., obtained before construction and must be posted in a front window. If you have any questions, please contact Zoning Inspector Dale Suppa at 440.212.0252 - Dale.Suppa@SheffieldTownship.com or 

Denise D'Agnese at 440.670.5430 - Denise.Dagnese@SheffieldTownship.com.

Please be aware that anyone soliciting within the Township must first obtain a permit. Solicitors must carry a copy of this permit and identification. Permits are valid for one year from the issue date. Groups such as schools and scouts are exempt. 

Brightspeed Internet Service Provider and AT&T currently have solicitation permits in our Township.

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Attention business owners and politicians:

According to the United States Postal Service (USPS), it's illegal to put mail in a mailbox without postage, and is considered a criminal offense. This is because the Postal Service wants to ensure its integrity, so only authorized personnel are allowed to place or remove mail from them. The law, known as the Mailbox Restriction Law, was passed by Congress in 1934 to limit competition from commercial users of postal services.

The 2023 Annual Financial Report for Sheffield Township is complete and available for viewing at the office of Fiscal Officer, Laura Maltarich at 5166 Clinton Ave. Lorain, OH 44055. Please call 440- 277-1392 for an appointment.

You probably received an invoice in the amount of $120 from the Lorain County Public Health Department.

You may find answers to common questions in the FAQ document at loraincountyhealth.com/sewage under Fact Sheets and Information for Homeowners. If you don't find what you need there, call 440.384.3240 and they will get back to you ASAP.

If you received an invoice from Lorain County Public Health and DO NOT have a septic system, please contact them at 440-322-6367 or 440-244-2209.

Call the Lorain County Sheriff's non-emergency number at 440.329.3710. To read the resolution, click here.

Rumpke will collect bulky items on your regular service day. You may place bulky items out for collection on one day during each calendar month at no charge. There will be a charge for collection of bulky items on additional days in the same month. Any item placed outside the trash cart will be considered a bulky item. Plastic bags for mattresses and other upholstered furniture can be obtained at 5166 Clinton Ave.

IMPORTANT UPDATE: NOPEC Electric Aggregation to Resume June 2023. Find out more here. It's up to each household to decide whether to opt-out. If you no longer have the mailer they sent, you can opt-out by calling 855-667-3201. The township is impartial.

Signs to Look For:

Most surfaces, such as countertops, sinks, stoves, and desks, are piled with items in the home.

The clutter may also have moved outside to the yard, garage or vehicles when there is no more room inside the home.

There are stacks of newspapers, magazines, or junk mail.

The person often moves items from one

pile to another without throwing away anything.

The person cannot throw things away, accumulating unnecessary items such as trash.

The person has difficulty managing daily activities and making decisions, organizing items, and has an extreme attachment to items.

The person often experiences shame or embarrassment

To learn more about available help, please contact

Lorain County Public Health

440-322-6367

Ask for Environmental Health

“The pandemic has increased the financial hardships our customers are facing, particularly as the cold weather approaches,” said Ed Shuttleworth, president of FirstEnergy’s Ohio Operations. “Customers who have lost income during this crisis and who are behind on their utility bills may be eligible for assistance that was unavailable to them before.”

Programs customers may be eligible to participate in include:

• The Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP): Allows customers to pay a set percentage of their income toward their electric bill, regardless of the balance. Customers who maintain their payment plans may be eligible for debt forgiveness. Eligible customers should have income below 150% of federal poverty guidelines. To apply, call 1-800-282-0880 or visit www.energyhelp.ohio.gov. 

• Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP): Provides eligible customers with cash grants for home heating bills and emergencies. Customers must have gross income below 175% of federal poverty guidelines. Call the Ohio Development Service Agency at 1-800-282-0880 or visit www.energyhelp.ohio.gov for more information.

• 2-1-1 Helpline: This nationwide resource and information helpline identifies locally available programs that may assist customers with utility bills or other needs. For more information, dial 211, text your ZIP code to 898211 or visit the 211 website.

• Customers who are having difficulty paying utilities, rent or mortgage due to the pandemic may apply for a Home Relief Grant. Visit https://oacaa.org/agency-directory/ for an agency near you.

• Additionally, the $175 Winter Reconnect Option allows residential customers who are disconnected or at risk of disconnection the opportunity to pay a designated amount to have their service restored or maintained. There is no income eligibility requirement. PIPP customers who use this option may be eligible to have a reset of their past due amount.

For a complete list of assistance programs for which customers may be eligible, including installment payment plans and budget billing, please visit www.firstenergycorp.com/billassist, or call customer service:

Ohio Edison 1-800-633-4766

Ohio Edison serves more than one million customers across 34 Ohio counties. Follow Ohio Edison on Twitter @OhioEdison, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/OhioEdison, and online at www.ohioedison.com.

The Illuminating Company serves 750,000 customers across Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake and Lorain counties. Connect with The Illuminating Company at www.illuminatingcompany.com, on Twitter @IlluminatingCo and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/IlluminatingCo.

FirstEnergy is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its 10 electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland, and New York. The company’s transmission subsidiaries operate approximately 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Follow FirstEnergy online at www.firstenergycorp.com. Follow FirstEnergy on Twitter: @FirstEnergyCorp.

Please be sure to properly prepare your bulk items before disposal.

Here's how you can help keep Rumpke drivers safe:

• Set your items curbside the evening prior to the scheduled service day.

• Appliances with Freon must have Freon removed by a licensed specialist and tagged accordingly.

• Carpet must be cut into rolls no longer than 4 ft. and no heavier than 50 lbs.

• Construction debris must be properly disposed of. Contact a Rumpke representative to discuss your options.

• ALL upholstered items, such as mattresses, box springs and couches, MUST be wrapped in plastic. Please bags should be available at 5166 Clinton Ave., call 440.277.4215 to check availability.

• Household hazardous waste does not belong in your trash or recycling. Items such as batteries, paint, tires, pool chemicals, propane tanks, syringes and electronics bust be disposed of properly. Contact your local solid waste district to find out how and where to properly dispose of household hazardous waste.