from Animal Control

A man impersonating an animal control officer has been reported in the Hilltop/Franklinton area. The man was wearing a dark uniform, carried a badge with a dog and cat in a white circle and drove a white vehicle.

Franklin County's Animal Control Deputy Wardens wear official uniforms and carry a metal shield with the state seal that identifies them as a Deputy Warden. They also drive a white and blue Animal Control van with yellow emergency lights on top, the same shield on both doors and Franklin County license plates.

• Read the Press Release

from Board of Elections

You may vote Absentee in person for the March 6, 2012 Primary Election at Memorial Hall, 280 E Broad St Columbus, OH 43215

• Request an Absentee Ballot

from Board of Elections

The Franklin County Board of Elections will be open for in-person absentee voting on Presidents' Day, Monday February 20, a recognized holiday for county employees.

• Read the Press Release

from Auditor and Animal Control

Just because the licensing deadline has passed, that doesn't mean you can't or shouldn't license your dog. The county still requires all dogs to be licensed and has made it easy to do with several licensing sites around Franklin County. It couldn't be easier!

• Auditor Licensing Page
• Animal Control Licensing Page

from Board of Commissioners

Franklin County, in partnership with The Ohio State University Extension Program will offer a series of free gardening workshops starting in February. Please see the fliers linked below for full details.

• Growing Our Own

from Board of Elections

Numbers released this morning by the Franklin County Board of Elections show 7,688 voters requesting absentee ballots by mail and 384 voting early at the board as of 5 p.m. yesterday. Early voting for the primary began Jan. 31.

• Read the Press Release

from Public Health

Cold and flu season is upon us once again, but you don't have to fall victim to the virus if you follow a few easy suggestions. Franklin County Public Health has posted tips and suggestions on its web site.

• Franklin County Public Health Website

from Engineer

When snow, ice, and sleet threaten your daily commute, more than 100 Snow Fighters from the Franklin County Engineer's Office work around the clock to make sure you and your loved ones get where you need to be safely. The extensively trained personnel are deployed in 12 hour shifts applying more than 10,000 tons of salt and 84,000 gallons of chemicals to keep the county's more than 800 lane miles of streets and roadways clear of snow and ice. For full information on Franklin County's snow fighters, visit the Franklin County Engineer's Office web site.

from Treasurer

Franklin County Treasurer Ed Leonard's office collected delinquent taxes totaling $5,050,209.89 in this year's ninth annual Tax Lien Sale. Money from the sale will be distributed to area schools, levy agencies, and local government early next year. Full details are available at the Treasurer's web site.

from Recorder

No one wants to think about the possibility of a fatal or debilitating injury or illness, but not being prepared can leave our loved ones with easily prevented problems during their time of sorrow. The Franklin County Recorder's office is making Living Will and Power of Attorney packets available and will record these documents on a wallet sized laminated card. Please visit the Franklin County Recorder's office for details.

from Emergency Management & Homeland Security

Franklin County Emergency Management & Homeland Security, in conjunction with The Ohio State University Emergency Management, will hold the annual Tornado and Severe Weather Spotter Seminar, taught by the National Weather Service. The class will be held at the Fawcett Center on the OSU campus on Saturday, March 3rd, between 9:00AM and 1:00PM. Full information is available at the EM&HS web site.

from Children Services

This past year the agency experienced an increase in demand for services with reports made to the Child Abuse Hotline reaching a record high of 28,311, up 11% compared to 2010. While this upsurge has also led to an increase in investigations, ongoing protective and placement caseloads of children have remained relatively stable.

• Read the Report

from Children Services

The Franklin County Children Services 2012 Resource Guide is a valuable directory of services for our families, social workers and community partners. This guide serves as only one of many avenues the agency has implemented to demonstrate our commitment to protecting children by strengthening families.

• Read the Resource Guide

from Children Services

The Nancy Fitzgivens Child Protection Award recognizes a direct service social worker that is committed to protecting children and strengthening families. Nominations are being accepted now until February 24, 2012.

• Download the Nomination Form

from Children Services

Child abuse related deaths are reaching near epidemic proportions. Franklin County Children Services, in conjunction with The Center for Child and Family Advocacy at Nationwide Children's Hospital, has launched a campaign urging single parents to consider carefully who they allow to care for and be with their child. For full information, go the Franklin County Children Services web site.

from Public Health

Radon is an odorless, colorless gas produced by naturally decaying uranium and can increase the possibility of lung cancer, even in non-smokers. The Franklin County Public Health agency, in response to this possible hazard, is making radon test kits available free of charge to Franklin County residents. Full information is available at the Public Health web site.

from Metro Parks

Registration is now open for volunteer training at Inniswood Metro Gardens. Registration will be open until March 1st, 2012. Volunteers will participate in all aspects of the park, including maintenance, education, and special events. Details are available at the Metro Parks web site.

from Fleet Management

Franklin County Fleet Management is proud to unveil their new web site. Please visit them.

from Metro Parks

Winter hikes are back! Metro Parks will open the 39th winter hiking season on January 7th at Blacklick Woods and will visit 13 different parks through February 25th. Hikers who complete seven different hikes will receive a decorative patch. For details please visit the Metro Parks web site!

from Soil and Water

Learn about stocking rates, algae control, pond installation regulations, pond stratification, and aeration among other subjects as the Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District presents its Pond Management Clinic on March 8th. The cost is $5 per person. Get details at the Soil and Water web site.

from Children Services

• Create A Sense of Order

from Soil & Water

Leaves. They aren't beautiful fall color when they are smothering your lawn and clogging your roof gutters. Try not to think of them as a nuisance but as a resource. Leaf compost is an excellent soil amendment, adding nutrients, creating soil structure and pore space in sticky clay soils, aiding infiltration of rain into the soil during wet weather and holding moisture for plant use during dry weather. Raking or blowing leaves into the street causes flooding from clogged storm drains and impairs streams with an excess of nutrients. If your community uses leaf-vacs for collection, keep the leaves on the tree lawn or in your yard and out of the street.

For free disposal of leaves, SWACO lists locations at http://swaco.org/YardWaste.aspx. For help with composting, call Franklin Soil and Water at (614) 486-9613.