Upcoming Area Events
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Committee Meeting
The Village of Jacksonville Street Committee will be meeting on August 15, 2022 at 6:30PM at the Municipal Building.
DRIVE-UP DROP BOX NOW AVAILABLE!
Save that stamp and stay dry on a rainy day! You can now use the drive-up drop box accessible from Sixth Street for water payments, hall rent payments and any other correspondence. We do not recommend and are not responsible for cash payments placed in the drop box. Items placed in the drop box will be processed at 7:30A on the following business day. If you are paying on a delinquent account or are scheduled for shut-off, we recommend bringing your payment into the office for immediate processing.
Jacksonville Water Office Hours of Operation
The Jacksonville Water Office will be open to the public beginning April 5, 2022. Our new office hours are Tuesday through Friday, 9:00A to 3:00P. Our office is CLOSED on Monday.
You may pay with cash, check or money order in person at our office located at 34 S. Sixth Street, Jacksonville, Ohio. Water payments may also be mailed to PO Box 99, Jacksonville, Ohio 45740 or be made in-person at First National Bank in Glouster.
We are currently in the process of implementing online and telephone payment acceptance to give our customers multiple options for paying water bills. Information will be posted as it becomes available and will also be printed on the back of your water bill.
Please call the Water Office at 740-767-2400 if you have any questions.
The Jacksonville Water Office DOES NOT bill or accept payments for sanitary sewer service. For sanitary sewer questions, please call Trimble Township Waste Water Treatment District (TTWWTD) at 740-767-4334.
A Friendly Reminder Regarding Jacksonville’s “ATV Friendly” Status
What does “ATV Friendly” mean? Although the Village of Jacksonville is considered ATV Friendly by Ordinance, Ohio Revised Code MUST be followed for you to operate an ATV on Jacksonville’s roadways legally. THE VILLAGE OF JACKSONVILLE DID NOT CHANGE ANYTHING REGARDING THE ATV FRIENDLY ORDINANCE. HOWEVER, LOCAL ORDINANCES DO NOT OVERRIDE STATE LAWS. Please review the following information before operating an ATV on Jacksonville’s roadways to avoiding being ticketed:
Are side-by-sides street legal in Ohio?
Side-by-sides are street legal in Ohio after they pass the required inspection to obtain a title and registration. Some alterations might need to be made to pass this inspection, but the choice is ultimately decided by local authorities for when and where the side by side can be used.
You will have to go through a few steps in order to obtain a street legal side by side. Please refer to the requirements and steps below under “Obtaining A Street Legal Side-by-Side”..
Ohio’s Street Legal Side-by-Side Laws:
When driving your side-by-side around town, you do not want to run the risk of being pulled over and getting fined and ticketed.
You must understand Ohio’s laws for side-by-sides. The laws are different for each state, so you shouldn’t assume that the same rules will apply if you have just moved here from somewhere else.
Requirements for obtaining a street legal side by side:
- Have at least one headlight. The headlight should have enough brightness to illuminate any person or object in front of your vehicle within at least one hundred feet. This range should work during the hours of the night, or during times of poor lighting and visibility (such as rain and fog).
- Have at least one red tail light. This tail light should have enough brightness to be seen within five hundred feet behind the vehicle. This is so those driving on the road around you will be able to spot your side-by-side. This will help increase your safety and the safety of other drivers around you.
- Have a muffler system. This muffler system needs to be able to preclude the emission of smoke or exhaust fumes. It should also limit the engine’s noise.
You will need each of these items to obtain a street legal side-by-side. Without any one of these items, you may risk the safety of everyone on the road.
It would be so nice if your side-by-side could be used everywhere. However, the unfortunate truth is that there are some prohibitions on where you can drive it.
Just because your side by side is street legal, that does not mean that you are completely free to roam anywhere you want.
Some of the prohibitions on your street legal side by side in Ohio are:
- No use on limited access highways or freeways. This rule is exempt for any emergency purpose. The director of public safety can give you the ability for emergency traveling purposes.
- No operation on private property. This rule is not applicable if you have permission from the property owner.
- No operation on land or waters controlled by the state. If you are able to, there will be signs stating your allowance. However, without that, assume that you are not permitted access to the state’s land.
- No operation on tracks of any operating railroad. In addition to running the risk of being hit by a train, the law also states that you cannot ride on the railroad tracks.
- No operation between sunset to sunrise without lights on. To have a street legal side-by-side, you will need to follow the rules of the road. If it is dark outside, you will need and want your lights on.
Another thing to be aware of while you are driving a side-by-side in Ohio is the age law. You may not drive the side-by-side if you are younger than 16 years old unless you are driving on private land and have supervision from an adult (18+).
Obtaining a Street Legal Side-by-Side:
Although there are so many places in Ohio where you will not have to worry about having a street legal side-by-side, it is still a good idea to have one. Getting yourself certified early can prevent problems in the future.
Before you can obtain a certificate of title and registration, you will need your side-by-side to be inspected by local law enforcement.
The process will be fairly easy if you are prepared with what they need.
To pass your inspection, be sure that you have these items:
- Adequate brakes and braking system.
- Properly working brake lights, head lights, tail lights, and turn signals.
- Properly working steering mechanism.
- A windshield.
- A rear view mirror.
- Appropriate tires that are free from major bumps, bulges, breaks, or any conditions that could cause unsafe conditions.
If your side by side includes all of these elements, then you should easily be able to have a street legal side-by-side.
Along with all the things that your side-by-side will need, you will also need to have a few items on hand when walking into the office after your inspection:
- A completed inspection from local law enforcement.
- Application for certificate of title to a motor vehicle form.
- Proof of ownership (this can be manufacture certificate of origin, assigned title from this state, bill of sale from retail business, etc.)
- Sales tax on purchase price.
- Payment for title fees, including a lien holder notation.
Exceptions for the Agricultural Use Value Program:
Because of the number of farmers in Ohio, there is a law titled the Current Agricultural Use Value or CAUV. This is for property tax purposes. It is exclusive to commercial agriculture.
This relates to your street legal side-by-side in Ohio, because that is not a concern under this law. With this law, you will not need registration or a license to drive your side by side on the street.
As long as you are using you side by side for agricultural purposes, you will not need to obtain a street legal side by side through the normal process.
However, there are a few things you will need to require for this program. In order to obtain a street legal side by side under this law, you must meet one or more of these requirements during the 3 years preceding your application.
- Have ten or more acres devoted exclusively to commercial agricultural use.
- Have under ten acres devoted exclusively to commercial agricultural use, but produce an average yearly gross income of at least $2,500.
If you meet any of these requirements, then you will be able to ride your side by side street legally without your title and registration.
Again, just because your side by side is street legal, that does not mean that you are completely free to roam anywhere you want. You must understand local laws due to the legislative branch having the authority/choice to ultimately decided when and where the side by side can be used. Contact your local law enforcement agency to see where your vehicle can be driven.
Inspections are offered by the Athens County Sheriff’s Office. For more information, please visit their Vehicle Inspections web page at: https://www.athenssheriff.com/vehicle-inspections
Jacksonville Grant Award
On Wednesday, June 1, 2022, the Village of Jacksonville was awarded a $500 grant from Tomcat Bridgebuilders for playground equipment in the Jacksonville Park. The Village anticipates this equipment will be installed and ready for use in mid July 2022. Thank you Tomcat Bridgebuilders for your support of Jacksonville’s parks!
Local Graduate Recognized
At the May 26, 2022 Council Meeting, Mayor Smathers presented local graduate Tabor Lackey with a Mayor’s Proclamation. In recognition of Tabor’s athletic achievements, May 27, 2022 has been declared “Tabor Lackey Day” in Jacksonville, Ohio. Congratulations Tabor!
SAFETY ALERT!
There have been multiple vehicle break-ins in the area with items stolen. Please keep your vehicles locked at all times to protect your personal property. PLEASE REPORT SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY TO THE ATHENS COUNTY SHERIFF TIP LINE AT (740) 593-5172 OR CALL 911. IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING.
Jacksonville Named as One of Sixteen Green Power Communities in Ohio
SOPEC Community Liaison Erin Stevens was present at the April 28, 2022 Council meeting to present the Village of Jacksonville with signs announcing that Jacksonville was named as one of only sixteen communities in Ohio to have earned the “Green Power Community” designation for exceeding EPA guidelines for the purchase of clean renewable energy.
To learn more about SOPEC, please visit www.sopec-oh.gov.
2021 Water Consumer Confidence Report
Please visit the following URL to view the 2021 Consumer Confidence Drinking Water Report for the Village of Jacksonville:
Jacksonville Council Meetings
Village Council meets on the LAST Thursday of every month at 6:30PM.
If you wish to address Council, please email your topic of discussion no later than Tuesday before the meeting to: FiscalOfficer@jacksonvilleoh.com. Any information you wish to distribute at the Council meeting must be included for review in your email.
Currently Council meetings are being held in person.