Public Notice -Canceled

The Hebron Village Safety Committee has canceled the scheduled a meeting on:

Thursday, February 28, 2013 at 6 pm:

Topic: To discuss Fire/EMS Service with Representatives of Buckeye Lake.

Martha Snavely
Fiscal Officer

Public Notice – Meeting Cancellation

The Hebron Village Council has cancelled the scheduled Committee Meeting on Monday, February 18, 2013 at 6:00 pm.

Martha Snavely
Fiscal Officer

Public Notice

The Hebron Village Safety Committee has scheduled a meeting on:
Thursday, February 14, 2013 at 6 pm

Topic: To discuss Fire/EMS Service with Representatives of Buckeye Lake.

Martha Snavely
Fiscal Officer

Consumer Advocate

Top Scams of 2012
1/31/2013
Among the more than 30,000 complaints the Ohio Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Section received in 2012 were many reports of potential scams. They ranged from phony business opportunities or online vehicle scams to sweepstakes ploys and sweetheart scams.

The following scams — including one that cost victims nationwide more than $2 million — proved to be some of the worst:

•Sweepstakes Scams: Prize and sweepstakes scams have been circulating for years, and they continued to plague Ohio consumers in 2012. Reported scams typically began with a phone call or letter claiming the consumer had won a prize. Most consumers did not fall for the ploy, but a few sent hundreds or thousands of dollars, often via wire transfer, for a prize that didn’t exist.
•Business Opportunity Scams: During Older Americans Month in May, Attorney General DeWine warned Ohioans that elderly consumers were increasingly entering into Internet business opportunities that provided them nothing in return. In some cases, consumers paid hundreds or thousands of dollars for online business ventures that didn’t deliver. Unscrupulous telemarketers get in on the action, too. Recently, the Federal Trade Commission thanked the Ohio Attorney General’s Office for assisting with a case against a telemarketing operation that for years deceived consumers into thinking its services would help their home-based businesses succeed. The enterprises often charged several thousand dollars for tax help or customized planning but failed to provide promised services.
•Land Sale Scam: In June 2012, the Attorney General’s Economic Crimes Unit and the Miami County Prosecutor’s Office indicted 18 suspects on felony charges for running a national telemarketing fraud ring that stole more than $2 million from thousands of victims in 41 states. Since 2007, the telemarketing ring, made up of at least three different companies, targeted elderly victims and promised it would sell the inexpensive, vacant land the victims owned. These companies told victims their land was worth up to 15 times its assessed value and that they had eager buyers who wanted to purchase the land. Victims paid fees of $500 to almost $16,000 to guarantee the sale of the land, but the land was never sold. In fact, while the three companies were operating, there were never any buyers, closings, or sales.

Con Artists Favor Prepaid Cards

In 2012, con artists increasingly asked potential victims to send payment using prepaid money cards. Prepaid cards, which can be found at many retail stores, offer many of the same benefits as a credit or debit card, without requiring the user to have a checking account or credit card. They also lack the protections that accompany a credit or debit card.

The convenience and lack of regulation of prepaid cards make them a popular form of payment for con artists. A scammer may ask a victim to buy a prepaid card at a store and provide the card’s activation code. The activation code makes it easy for the scammer to access the money almost anywhere.

If someone asks you to purchase a prepaid card as the form of payment, be wary: It could be the sign of a scam.

To learn more or to report a scam, visit www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov or call 800-282-0515

Public Notice

The Hebron Village Planning and Zoning Board has scheduled a special work session on Monday, February 11, 2013 at 6 pm to discuss a request for a Used Auto Sales Business in the general commercial district.

Martha Snavely
Fiscal Officer

Mayor’s Court is ponponed until January 2,2013 at 7:30 pm. For more informaton contact Deborah Morgan, Mayor’s Court Clerk at 740-928-9402.

The Village offices will close at 1 pm on December 24th & 31st, 2012.
Offices closed on December 25th, 2012 & January 1ST, 2013.
Thank you and have a wonderful holiday.
Village of Hebron Staff

Consumer Advocate

Scam Alert: ‘Free’ Gift Cards

12/12/2012
As the holiday season approaches, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine recommends learning to identify scams targeting holiday shoppers.

In one scam, consumers receive a letter claiming they have won “free gift cards” to reputable retail and grocery stores. The letter prompts the consumer to activate the card by calling a phone number provided in the letter. Once the consumer calls, the “company” demands a bank account number to cover a $3.95 “activation fee.”

In reality, the letter is counterfeit. It may be printed on letterhead resembling that of a reputable store, but the gift cards do not exist, and consumers who respond to the letter risk revealing their bank account number, mailing address, name, and phone number to scammers.

Consumers also may receive text messages claiming they have won a gift card. To claim the prize, they are instructed to click on a link in the message or send a text message to a certain number. Despite the enticing claims in the message, the offer is phony, and if consumers respond, they are disclosing personal information to the senders.

Recent reports also indicate scammers are tampering with publicly displayed gift cards found in local grocery stores. Criminals use small, inexpensive magnetic-stripe scanners to quickly record and store account and PIN numbers located on the front and back of legitimate gift cards.

The criminals exit the store and then wait a few days for consumers to purchase the cards. Once the cards have been purchased, the criminals dial the number listed on the back of the gift card, then punch in the account and PIN numbers. The criminals use this information to access redeemable gift cards.

Unfortunately, consumers may not realize that the card balance has been stolen until after the holiday season. By that time, it may be nearly impossible to recover the money or catch the perpetrator.

How to protect yourself

If you receive an unsolicited letter in the mail claiming you have won a gift card, do not call the phone number listed or respond in any other way. By contacting the “company,” you are verifying that the address is valid and may be revealing other personal information.

You should not have to pay a fee for something that is “free.” Legitimate prizes require no purchase. If you receive a similar letter in the mail, contact the retail store — using information listed from a reliable source, not the letter — and report the scam.

Consider purchasing gift cards directly from retail stores’ websites. Ensure that the website address reads “https” — rather than “http” — prior to entering any personal information. The “s” indicates that the website is secure.

If you opt to purchase gift cards in-store, make sure to inspect the packaging prior to purchase. Do not purchase a gift card if the packaging is broken or torn.

Contact the Ohio Attorney General’s Office at 800-282-0515 or www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov for more information or to report a scam.

Consumer Advocate

The Best Way to Handle ‘Card Member Services’ Calls

11/14/2012
Consumers throughout the nation are reporting numerous calls from ‘Card Member Services’ or similar-sounding companies that violate Do Not Call regulations. The best thing you can do? Don’t respond.

The problem with robocalls

Robocalls generally are prerecorded messages sent using auto dialers, which can send thousands of calls per minute for a very low cost. The calls are easy to make but difficult to trace.

Additionally, scammers often use technology called Voice over Internet Protocol or “spoofing” to disguise the phone number that appears on the consumer’s caller ID. Through spoofing, a call appearing to be from your bank could be from a con artist in another country.

This technology makes it very difficult for authorities to trace the origin of a robocall.

Robocalls have become such a problem that the Federal Trade Commission– the national agency that maintains the Do Not Call Registry – recently announced a $50,000 reward for anyone who can develop an effective solution for stopping the calls.

What you can do

While authorities search for solutions to the problem, what can you do to limit the calls and protect yourself from scams? First, and most importantly, do not respond to the calls.

Don’t respond in any way, even if the call tells you to press 1 or 2 to “opt-out.” By pressing a button, you are revealing that the phone number is active and was answered by a person. Ironically, trying to “opt out” likely will lead to even more calls.

If you are not on the National Do Not Call Registry, visit www.DoNotCall.gov or call 888-382-1222 to sign up. Telemarketers covered by the National Do Not Call Registry have up to 31 days from the date consumers register to stop calling.

Even after you register, you may continue to receive robocalls from companies that violate Do Not Call regulations. Instead of responding to these calls, do not answer them, or hang up and report the calls to authorities. (See contact information below.)

Report as much information as possible about the call, including:
The phone number that received the call (likely your own phone number)
Time and date of the call
Number that appeared on your caller ID, if possible
Identity of the caller, if known
Content of the call
Although many unwanted calls are scams originating overseas, the Ohio Attorney General’s Office has taken action against businesses that violate Do Not Call regulations. In May, Attorney General Mike DeWine filed a lawsuit against a California investment-software business for calling Ohio consumers who were on the Do Not Call Registry. Similarly, in April, Attorney General DeWine sued a Florida telemarketer for Do Not Call violations.

To report an unwanted telemarketing call to the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, visit www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov or call 800-282-0515. You also can report Do Not Call violations at www.donotcall.gov.

Think you might have a solution to the robocall dilemma? Enter the Federal Trade Commission’s Robocall Challenge, which asks the public to create solutions to block illegal robocalls. The winner will receive $50,000 in cash. The deadline to submit an entry is Jan. 17, 2013. To learn more about the challenge, visit http://robocallchallenge.gov.

The Safety Committee meeting was scheduled to meet on Thursday October 18 at 7 pm, to discuss the 2013 Union Township Fire contract has been rescheduled for Thursday October 25, 2012 at 7 pm.

CONSUMER ADVOCATE
Text Message Scam: ‘You’ve Won a $1,000 Gift Card!’

9/12/2012
You’ve been a loyal customer for years, and now, unexpectedly, you receive a text message saying you’ve won a $1,000 gift card for one of your favorite stores. Is it too good to be true? You bet.

In the past year, dozens of consumers have reported text message scams to the Ohio Attorney General’s Office. The most common variation is a message claiming the recipient has won a gift card to a popular chain store.

The text message often asks consumers to call a phone number or visit a website listed in the message. If consumers call or click on the link, they likely will be asked to provide their personal information, such as their name, address, phone number, Social Security number, and/or bank account information.

If you receive such a message, do not respond. It is likely a scam. By responding, you are telling the scammer that your phone number is active and belongs to a real person. With this information, the scammer may sell your phone number to other con artists or begin sending you more scam messages. You also may be putting your personal information at risk.

Watch out for other variations of the scam, including text messages claiming that you:

Won money or a desirable item, such as a new smart phone;
Must confirm your bank account information because it has been accessed or deactivated;
Have been selected for a work opportunity; or
Owe money and must pay immediately or face serious harm.
Most consumers who report potential text message scams do not fall for the ploy. But in some cases, consumers say they responded to the message by clicking on a website link or calling a phone number included in the message. This can put their personal information at risk.

To protect yourself from text message scams:
Don’t respond to an unexpected or suspicious text message.
Contact your cell phone company and ask it to block the number that sent the text messages. Also ask about permanently blocking messages or calls sent via the Internet — the likely source of many scam text messages.
Beware of caller ID spoofing. Scammers can use technology to “spoof” or disguise the number that appears on your caller ID, so be skeptical of unfamiliar numbers that appear on your caller ID
Check websites’ privacy policies before submitting any personal information, including your cell phone number. Do not submit your cell phone number on websites that you don’t know or trust.
Register your cell phone number with the National Do Not Call Registry. Visit www.donotcall.gov or call 888-382-1222. Keep in mind that scammers may continue to contact you even after you register.
If you believe your personal information is at risk, consider placing an alert or freeze on your credit report(s), notifying your bank(s), and watching for any unusual mail or bank statements.
Report unwanted text messages by forwarding them to SPAM (7726), if accepted by your cell phone provider. You also can contact the Ohio Attorney General’s Office to report potential scams or learn more about scams.

Hello Everyone,
An extremely large log jam has been discovered just south of US 40 that is 175’ long and 75’ wide. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources is bidding a South Fork Channel Improvement Project to clean and widen the South Fork Licking River from the spillway on North Bank Road (SR360) to just east of the SR79 bridge. The log jam is approximately 200 yards from the end of this project. We have a chance to get this added to that project if we can send Senator Schaffer letters requesting the log jam be added as an addendum. If They don’t all the water from the cleanup will over flow the banks just past Hebron and cause the stormwater ditches, rivers and streams to back up and flood. This project could help us if its completed properly please print, complete, sign and mail this letter as soon as possible. We have successfully gotten the bid date extended to August 31, 2012 in order for ODNR to review the log jam. Our State Senator Tim Schaffer is the Vice Chair of the committee for Natural Resources. Let’s send a letter flood to his office within support of the removal of this log jam. If you would like a draft copy of a letter to submit email me at hebronadminasst@midohio.twcbc.com or call 740-928-2201. Thank you

The Honorable Senator Tim Schaffer
Senate Building: 1 Capitol Square, 2nd Floor
Columbus, OH 43215

CONSUMER ADVOCATE
Is Your Car a Lemon?

7/27/2012
Buying a car is a big decision. You have to consider price, efficiency, comfort, color, and other factors. Once you find your perfect car, what happens if it has serious problems and needs constant repairs? Is it a lemon?

What is a Lemon?
Ohio’s Lemon Law protects motor vehicles that have one or more problems, covered under the warranty, that substantially affect the value, use, or safety of the vehicle within the first year or first 18,000 miles, whichever comes first.

Even if a vehicle is new to you, it is only protected by the Lemon Law if the problems occurred during the vehicle’s first year or first 18,000 miles, whichever comes first. Most used cars are not covered by Ohio’s Lemon Law.

What is NOT a Lemon?
Ohio’s Lemon Law does not extend protections to the following:

Most used cars*
Vehicles with problems that occurred after the first 12 months
Vehicles with problems that occurred after 18,000 miles
Trailer or mobile homes
Recreational vehicles
Non-driving related parts of an RV (such as an appliance in the RV)
Trucks used for business or designed to carry more than 1 ton
Home appliances, such as a washer, dryer, or furnace
* The Lemon Law only protects vehicles with problems occurring within the first year or first 18,000 miles of use, whichever comes first, and most used vehicles are older or have higher mileage.

If You Think You Have a Lemon
If you have problems with a vehicle during its first year or first 18,000 miles of use, whichever comes first, take the vehicle back to the dealer. The manufacturer has a reasonable opportunity to repair the issue. If the problem could cause death or serious injury, the manufacturer has only one attempt to fix the problem. The manufacturer has three opportunities to repair a recurring problem that does not endanger the owner. If there are multiple problems, the manufacturer has eight opportunities to fix the problems. When the problems can’t be resolved after a reasonable opportunity, the vehicle may be deemed a lemon.

If the problem is not corrected after a reasonable opportunity, you might be eligible for a refund or replacement, even if the problem was discovered late in the protection period and the repair attempts extended beyond the protection period.

To request a refund or replacement, send a certified letter to the manufacturer listing your name and contact information, the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), the problems with your vehicle, the attempts to correct the problems, and whether you want a replacement or a refund. Keep a copy of the letter for your records.

For more information on what to do if you believe you have a lemon, refer to the Ohio Attorney General’s brochure on the Ohio Lemon Law here. Remember that most used vehicles are not covered by the Lemon Law, and you generally don’t have the right to cancel the purchase of a vehicle once you have signed the paperwork.

To file a consumer complaint, contact the Ohio Attorney General’s Office at www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov or 800-282-0515.

Public Notice – Meeting Cancellation

The Hebron Village Council has cancelled the scheduled Council Committees Meeting on Monday, July 16, 2012 at 6 pm.

Martha Snavely
Fiscal Officer

West Nile Virus Found in Licking County

July 10, 2012

LICKING COUNTY, OHIO – The Licking County Health Department reported the first evidence of West Nile Virus (WNV) in Licking County in 2012. Two pools of mosquitoes collected from traps monitored by the Health Department has tested positive for WNV. The infected mosquitoes were found in Newark on West Main Street near Tamarack Drive and in Pataskala near the intersection of York Road and State Route 16. The Health Department will conduct mosquito spraying in these areas in order to reduce the risk posed by the disease.

There have been no cases of WNV in humans or horses in Licking County so far this year.

“We expect to find West Nile Virus at some point during the mosquito season.” said Joe Ebel, Licking County Health Commissioner. “The Licking County Health Department works to control West Nile and other mosquito-borne diseases, and asks residents to take responsibility by eliminating mosquito breeding sites and taking personal protective measures to avoid bites.”

All residents are encouraged to take the following prevention measures against WNV and other mosquito-borne infections:

To avoid possible infection from mosquito bites
:

Avoid outdoor activities between dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active; if you must be outdoors, be sure to wear long pants, long-sleeved shirts, shoes and socks.

Wear light colored clothing as mosquitoes are generally attracted to dark colors.

Use insect repellent and follow the label directions.
To eliminate mosquito breeding sites near your home
:

Eliminate used tires, cans, and areas of standing water from your property and empty water from flower pots, bird baths, and other containers weekly.

Make sure all roof gutters are clean and properly draining.

Clean and chlorinate pools, outdoor saunas and hot tubs. Keep them empty when not in use and drain water from pool covers.
For more information, contact the Licking County Health Department at (740) 349-6535 or visit www.lickingcohealth.org

Contact Info: Joe Ebel, Health Commissioner, 740-349-6477 or jebel@lickingcohealth.org

Due to the storms and power outages the bid opening that was set for July 9th, 2012 at noon has been rescheduled for July 16, 2012 at noon. For more information contact Brian Coghlan at Bird & Bull Engineering 614-761-1661.

The Village of Hebron
Chipper Day- BRANCHES ONLY
Tuesday, July 10, 2012

In an effort to assist residents in clearing away branches from the recent storms the Public Works Department will have a chipper day. Residents should take branches of not more than five inches in diameter and leave branches as long as possible to the edge of the street where the Public Works Department will pick them up. The department will not go into private yards to retrieve branches. Please set out branches only - no shrubs, roots, leaves etc… If you have questions, please call the Municipal Complex at 928-2261.

Village of Hebron
934 W. Main Street
Hebron, Ohio

Skechers Refunds

6/15/2012
Did you buy Skechers Shape-ups, Resistance Runner, Toners, or Tone-ups shoes? You may be eligible for a refund under a recent settlement.

In May, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine joined the Federal Trade Commission, 43 states, and the District of Columbia in a settlement with Skechers USA, Inc. to resolve claims that Skechers overstated weight-loss and other benefits in ads for its “rocker-bottom” athletic shoes.

Co-led by Ohio and Tennessee, the state attorneys general investigated the health-related claims Skechers made in the marketing, packaging, advertising, offering, and selling of the shoes.

Skechers had claimed that the shoes would promote weight loss, burn more calories, fight cellulite, improve circulation, and firm muscles in the thigh, buttocks, and back; but the attorneys general alleged that the benefits were not adequately substantiated at the time Skechers made the claims.

Under the settlement, Skechers is prohibited from making such claims without adequate substantiation. Skechers is allocating up to $40 million for consumers who purchased the shoes and who file a refund claim.

If you purchased Shape-Ups, Tone-Ups, or the Skechers Resistance Runner, go to www.ftc.gov/skechers for information about how to obtain a partial refund through this settlement. The Federal Trade Commission is overseeing the refund process.

Tags: Consumer Tips, Consumers, Consumer Advocate

The Hebron Village Council will meet at 7:30 pm on Monday, June 4, 2012. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss is as follows:

A. Discussion concerning the Hebron Fire Station renovation project financing.

The meeting will take place at the Municipal Complex, 934 West Main Street, Hebron. The public is invited to attend.

Martha Snavely
Fiscal Officer

Swimming & Swimming Pool Safety
Drowning is one of the biggest causes of accidents, serious injury and death in children. Parents should
not think that kids are safe just because they know how to swim. In a lot of these cases accidents
happen even though the child knew how to swim. Accidents in the swimming pool can happen very
quickly. It is very important we all follow basic safety precautions especially if there is a swimming pool at
home.
Never allow a child to swim alone without any adult supervision.
Children develop cramps underwater or for accidents like hitting your head while diving to occur.
It is very important that there should be an adult around to help if an accident happens.
For good pool safety make sure that all kids above the age of four attend a swimming class, or at least learn
how to float.
Children younger than four should always be accompanied by their parents in the pool.
Enclose your pool with high fences, which can be locked.
Do not leave the pool open and easy to get at since children can fall inside.
Avoid leaving kids alone even with small portable pools or water bodies like buckets, fountains, and barrels.
Do not push someone under the water.
There is always a danger of drowning happening even in small amounts of water.
Make sure that anyone does not walk over the pool cover.
Never dive in an above ground pool.
For good pool safety, always make sure that there is always a life saving flotation device handy near the pool.
You should never push someone into a pool.