My Town Hustle

Latest Episodes:

EP 20 - Financial Impact on School Levies (Part 1) Nov 17, 2020

Show notes

Have you ever wondered how a school levy works? Have you passed one in your community? Has one failed in your community? In this episode, we discuss the financial implications of a school levy. Before we can do that, we will spend a few minutes defining what a levy is, who has the authority to place a levy, how it is connected to property taxes, and perhaps the biggest question of all – what the heck is a mill? Once we have an understanding of what a levy is, why should you vote for a levy? Why do folks vote against levies? What types of levies have success in small rural communities? We also give personal examples of levies that are active in our community, what the funding is being used for, and how you can find the same information for your own properties if you are interested. We close the episode by speaking about how property taxes and levy funds have been a topic of intense debate in the State of Ohio since 1997 when a supreme court case ruled that the public-school funding mechanism in Ohio is unconstitutional.

Who’s on it?
Jared Perry
Sam Tuten
Bret Allphin

Recorded
November 2020

Resources
Mill Levy - Investopedia
Property Tax Definition - Investopedia
DeRolph v. State – 1997 - Wikipedia

Questions?
Email us at support@mytownhustle.com

Shout Out!
As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify

EP 19 - Port Authorities, not just Boats, but Buildings & Jobs too Oct 29, 2020

Show notes

Does your community have a Port Authority? Better yet, does your community have an Economic Development agency that is working for your city or your county? Well, here in the State of Ohio, a port authority is a political subdivision formed by a local government - county, township, municipality, or combination thereof. They provide economic development benefits to a community. Yes, they can, do, and have managed various types of transportation facilities but for example, they also have the power to purchase, sell, or lease property, and can be used for general obligation bonds. As this economic development tool and because they have tax-exempt status, port authorities have the advantage of passing savings onto projects. Port Authorities are able to get themselves into a variety of economic development projects, such as public improvement projects, industrial parks, and of course, creative financing opportunities for businesses. Tune into this week's episode as we host Jesse Roush, the Executive Director of the Southeastern Ohio Port Authority located right here in the same building we produce these amazing episodes for you, our listeners. Southeastern Ohio Port Authority serves Washington County, Ohio. We ask Jesse about his organization, what they can do, what are some challenges, but more importantly, we wanted you to know that these types of organizations exist and people like Jesse, are here to help.

Who’s on it?
Sam Tuten
Jared Perry
Bret Allphin
Jesse Roush, Executive Director of Southeastern Ohio Port Authority

Recorded
October 2020

Resources
Southeastern Ohio Port Authority - Washington County Economic Development
LinkedIn of Jesse Roush
County Commissioners Association of Ohio

Questions?
Email us at support@mytownhustle.com

Shout out!
As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify

EP 18 - Can Trash Be Pretty? Oct 22, 2020

Show notes

Trash, you don't think about it until you are walking around town looking for a trash can. You also never really think about what goes into collecting that trash until you see it overflowing. In this week's episode, we'll explore two purviews of trash. One, trash cans throughout the town, can there be too many cans? How can it be managed by your local trash hauler or city? What new technologies are out there to notify your hauler that a can is full? Second, should cities be worried about dumpsters, and what are the outcomes of a lot of them in your alleys? Cities abroad and here in the United States have moved to underground dumpsters or trash compactors to consolidate trash collection. Smaller cities with bigger needs may not be worried about trash but here at My Town Hustle, we always advocate for smart planning and cities should explore the ways that their trash is being collected from both the residential and commercial side.

Who’s on it?
Sam Tuten
Jared Perry

Recorded
October 2020

Resources
Underground Dumpster by Underground Refuse Systems
Smarter Waste Management systems by Ecube Labs
Recycling Eco-Stations in Phoenix, AZ
Underground Dumpsters in Kissimmee, FL

Questions?
Email us at support@mytownhustle.com

Shout out!
As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify

EP 17 - Ideas for your Town (Session 1) Oct 15, 2020

Show notes

Here at My Town Hustle, we love ideas, we love talking about them and exploring how those ideas could work in our own community. Tune in to this week's episode to learn more about some ideas that both Jared and Sam are passionate about. Bret is out this week but the guys at My Town Hustle plan to continue having Idea sessions. Other not all ideas are new, we wanted to create a space where ideas can be shared, a space where those ideas can grow or learn, and in the end, provide you, the listener, with a concept that you would love to implement in your own town. Jared's goal would be for a community to strive for becoming the most kid-friendly community in the State and Nationally. How would you get that down? How does that apply to all types of development and policies in your community? Sam would love to see communities focus on alley redevelopment and revitalizing small neighborhood hubs through zoning reform. What needs to change for that to happen? Listen in and don't forget to check out some resources below to help you get these ideas moving in your community.

Who’s on it?
Sam Tuten
Jared Perry

Recorded
October 2020

Resources
A Guide to Value Added Alleys for Small Towns & Cities by UNC School of Government
Child-Friendly Cities Initiative
10 Things that make a City, Child-Friendly

Questions?
Email us at support@mytownhustle.com

Shout out!
As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify

EP 16 - Being a Public Servant Oct 08, 2020

Show notes

Have you thought about going into the public sector? Do you have a desire to help your community or you are interested in local, state, or federal government? Well, in this week's episode, Bret and Sam will discuss their own journeys to becoming public servants. What their experience has been like, how has it changed, what school was like, and so much more. We are missing Jared this week as he and his wife, Alaina have welcomed a new baby into their home. Join us this week to learn more about what it is like, why it is important, and who we feel should be in these roles. More importantly, we want our listeners to know that this field is powerful and provides so much good.

Who’s on it?
Sam Tuten
Bret Allphin

Recorded
October 2020

Resources
NASPAA or the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration
ASPA or the American Society for Public Administration
ICMA or International City/County Management Association

Questions?
Email us at support@mytownhustle.com

Shout out!
As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify!

EP 15 – Annexation In Cities Oct 01, 2020

Show notes

Do you live just outside the city? Do you live in a community that was formed like the City of Eagleton in Parks and Rec because they left a city like Pawnee to make something better? Are you missing out on an essential service because of where you live? Well, in this week’s episode, we’ll go over annexation. Annexation is the legal process in which municipalities can grow their boundaries into areas in which are not already incorporated into that particular municipality. Now, there are a lot of pros and cons which we’ll discuss in the episode like increase taxes or access to public utilities but one aspect that we look into is, should cities be wanting to grow? Do they have the resources to expand and offer more of their services to neighboring communities? Annexation in smaller rural areas versus bigger cities is different but why should cities limit themselves from growth, especially if there is an opportunity for new development or available land outside the city, which is more of the case in smaller rural areas. Although we discuss the process within the State of Ohio, every state is different but all annexations are a long process so be prepared and hopefully, if you are a city official, you are looking at growing your tax base and all the services that you provide.

Who’s on it?
Jared Perry
Sam Tuten
Bret Allphin

Recorded
September 2020

Resources
Ohio State Bar Association Information about Annexation
County Commissioners Association of Ohio’s Commissioners Annexation Manual

Questions?
Email us at support@mytownhustle.com

Shout out!
As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify!

EP 14 – What Is CDBG? Sep 23, 2020

Show notes

CDBG or otherwise known as Community Development Block Grants. Most communities have it but what exactly is it? Most people might know it because either their community uses those funds for sidewalk improvements or use them to help low-to-moderate income homes with improvements. Better yet, your community might use them for both. In this week’s episode, we’ll take a look at what CDBG is, why was it established, does reform need to happen?, and what we feel communities should be using these funds for. Each State administers this block grant to local communities differently and can have different or the same programs as other states, depending on their needs. Although we have only started the dig on what CDBG really is, the three of us can agree that there are small and large needs that communities can use these funds for but do you know what those projects are? Do you know that you have a voice in those projects or better yet, do you know what programs your community offers?

Who’s on it?
Jared Perry
Sam Tuten
Bret Allphin

Recorded
August 2020

Resources
CDBG Information via HUD Exchange
City of Parkersburg, WV Programs – Great Example of CDBG Funds being used locally for a community with a population under 50,000.

Questions?
Email us at support@mytownhustle.com

Shout out!
As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify!
To Mitch Loughton with the City of Norwalk, Ohio for our first fan mail over the summer.

EP 13 – TIFs in Small Towns Sep 17, 2020

Show notes

TIFs. Tax Increment Financing. What is that? Well, most developers or city planners are familiar with TIFs. TIFs are just one way to incentivize development in your community. This week, we explore how TIFS are typically used in Small Towns, and from our experience, they are used in a way that goes against what they were originally intended for. Most cities go after the big box retailers with new infrastructure which creates your “typical” on the border commercial district. When a TIF district is established, it is used to subsidize redevelopment or other infrastructure projects by diverting future property tax increases based on the redevelopment and is used to help pay off bonds or other costs of the project. We discuss rather or not this is the best way for small communities to incentivize development and should they be looking at other methods? Small Towns are always looking for the “next” big thing but why can’t these TIFs be used for current infrastructure like your downtown? Why not, right?

Who’s on it?
Jared Perry
Sam Tuten
Bret Allphin

Recorded
September 2020

Credits
Episode Artwork from Southeast Missourian

Questions?
Email us at support@mytownhustle.com

Shout out!
As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify!

EP 12 – Running For Office? Sep 09, 2020

Show notes

Thinking about running for office? Well, in this week’s episode, we explore the different positions in local government. We dive into those positions as they stand in the great State of Ohio but these positions are also found throughout local governments in the United States. Are people running to serve their community or are they running so they can have a job? Being an elected official is hard work and when you are voting on one, it is important to be informed about what their goals are, what their vision is for your community, and what kind of legislation they will advocate for. Also, it is important to know what officials have the responsibility to appoint administration staff. City officials are one aspect of a government running efficiently but what about the non-election positions. City officials should also be well informed and understand the potential and limitations of their staff and any legislation change could have an impact on their ability to run efficiently.

Who’s on it?
Jared Perry
Sam Tuten
Bret Allphin

Recorded

September 2020

Questions?

Email us at support@mytownhustle.com

Shout out!

As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify!

EP 11 – Geographic Information System (GIS) Sep 02, 2020

Show notes

GIS? What is it? Well, it stands for Geographic Information System and you can find it almost everywhere now. GIS is a great tool that provides the ability to capture, store, and display data spatially. It is way more than a pretty map, as it helps planners, public officials, and governmental organizations make decisions based on spatial patterns and relationships of data. If you wanted to know how many Maple Trees were in your neighborhood, you would have to go out and collect that data and place it geographically in GIS and now you will know how many Maple Trees are on your street. Just google COVID19 and you will find links and links to data and maps that show the COVID19 pandemic. Listen in to this episode as we discuss how we get data, how data is collected, and how it is used to tell a story through the power of GIS.

Who’s on it?

Jared Perry
Sam Tuten
Bret Allphin

Resources
COVID19 Data Maps for reference to GIS in the news from Johns Hopkins University of Medicine
Census & American Community Survey Data
How to Lie with Maps by Mark Monmonier (Book)
esri / ArcGIS
Ohio Data – OGRIP
Ohio URISA

Recorded

August 2020

Questions?

Email us at support@mytownhustle.com

Shout out!

As always thank you to The Saylor for the hot jams. Check him out NOW on iTunes and Spotify!