Firm seeks vote certification delay

FINDLAY — One Power Co. on Wednesday asked a judge to order the Hancock County elections board to temporarily refrain from certifying Allen Township voters' approval of a zoning resolution in Tuesday's primary. One Power is arguing the proposal's ballot language was incomplete and misled voters, making the election result "legally invalid." The ballot language, seen by voters, stated the zoning resolution would establish Allen Township as an "agricultural district," One Power's complaint states. "The certified ballot language at issue here contains an incorrect description of the zoning resolution," One Power stated in a court filing Wednesday. One Power also argues the zoning resolution singles out the company and was purposely crafted to "stifle" the company's future expansion in Allen Township. Hancock County Common Pleas Court Judge Jonathan Starn has given attorneys for the elections board until Friday to file responses to One Power's request. One Power would have until Monday morning to reply to the elections board's filing. The deadline for certification of the election results under Ohio law is May 27, but certification can be amended up to 81 days after the initial certification. Judge Starn set an additional pre-trial hearing for 1:30 p.m. Monday.