By accessing or using this website or enrolling in services offered through the Village website you acknowledge and agree to the following Privacy Policy.

 

1. INFORMATION THE VILLAGE MAY COLLECT

 

The Village may collect information that you voluntarily provide through the Village’s website, electronic forms, utility services, SMS/text-message notification program, or other communications with the Village.  Depending upon the service involved, this information may include name; mailing address; service address; email address; telephone or mobile telephone number; utility account or service information; information submitted through an electronic form; communications submitted to the Village; SMS/text-message enrollment and opt-out information; consent or notification preferences; and other information necessary to provide a requested Village service.

 

The Village or its service providers may also receive technical information normally transmitted when a person accesses a website, including, as applicable, internet protocol address; browser type; device type; operating system; date and time of access; pages or website functions accessed; and other technical information concerning interactions with the website.

 

The extent of information automatically collected may depend upon the configuration of the Village’s website and the systems used by the Village’s website and technology providers.

 

2. HOW INFORMATION MAY BE USED

 

The Village may use information it receives for legitimate governmental and administrative purposes, including, but not limited, to provide Village services; administer utility accounts and customer services; respond to questions, requests, and communications; communicate with residents, property owners, and utility customers; provide public-service, utility-service, and account notifications; send SMS/text messages to individuals who have opted in; maintain records of consent, enrollment, and opt-out requests; operate, administer, maintain, and secure the Village’s website and electronic systems; prevent or investigate unauthorized or unlawful activity; comply with applicable legal, financial, auditing, and records-retention obligations; and perform other lawful governmental functions. The Village will not use SMS opt-in or consent information to send communications unrelated to the purposes for which the individual enrolled, except as otherwise authorized by the individual or permitted by law.

 

3. SMS/TEXT-MESSAGE INFORMATION

 

If you opt in to receive SMS/text messages from the Village, the Village may collect and use your mobile telephone number, consent information, notification preferences, and associated account or service information to provide notices concerning Village services and operations. Messages may include:

 

• boil-water and other water-system advisories;
• water-main breaks and service interruptions;
• utility account and service notifications;
• shutoff or payment-related notices;
• construction and infrastructure notices;
• public-service announcements;
• emergency or time-sensitive community information; and
• other Village customer-service or informational communications.

 

The Village does not sell mobile telephone numbers, SMS opt-in information, or SMS consent information. The Village will not share or disclose mobile telephone numbers or SMS opt-in or consent information to third parties for their marketing or promotional purposes.

 

The Village may provide such information to contractors or service providers acting on the Village’s behalf when reasonably necessary to operate the Village’s website, utility systems, notification systems, or other governmental services. The Village does not authorize those providers to use SMS opt-in or consent information for their own marketing or promotional purposes. These limitations do not restrict disclosures required by the Ohio Public Records Act, court order, subpoena, or other applicable law.

 

Participation in the Village’s SMS/text-message notification program is voluntary. Consent to receive text messages is not a condition of receiving Village utility or other governmental services. By providing a mobile telephone number and opting in to receive text messages, you consent to receive messages relating to the Village services and operations described in this Privacy Policy and the Village’s Terms and Conditions.

 

Message frequency may vary. Message and data rates may apply depending upon your wireless carrier and service plan. You may opt out of receiving SMS/text messages at any time by replying STOP to a Village text message. After opting out, you may receive a message confirming your request. For assistance, reply HELP or contact the Village. Opting out of SMS/text messages does not prevent the Village from communicating with you through other methods when necessary or permitted by law.

 

4. SERVICE PROVIDERS

 

The Village may use third-party contractors, utility billing providers, telecommunications providers, hosting providers, and other technology providers to operate or support its website, utility systems, notification systems, and other governmental services. Information may be processed, transmitted, stored, or maintained by a service provider when reasonably necessary for the provider to perform services on the Village’s behalf.

 

The Village does not authorize its service providers to sell mobile telephone numbers or SMS opt-in or consent information or to use that information for their own marketing or promotional purposes. A service provider’s handling of information may also be governed by its contract with the Village, applicable law, and the provider’s own legally applicable policies.

 

5. OHIO PUBLIC RECORDS

 

The Village is a public office subject to the Ohio Public Records Act, including Ohio Revised Code Section 149.43. Information submitted to or maintained by the Village, including information submitted through the Village’s website, electronic forms, email, utility systems, or SMS/text-message notification program, may constitute a public record and may be subject to inspection and disclosure unless the information or record is exempt from disclosure under applicable federal or state law.

 

Nothing in this Privacy Policy is intended to designate information as public or confidential where its status is otherwise established by law; create a promise that information submitted to the Village will remain confidential; expand or restrict the availability of any public record;  waive or alter an exemption from disclosure; or alter the Village’s duties under applicable public-records, confidentiality, or records-retention laws.

 

The Village will evaluate public-records requests and any applicable exceptions from disclosure in accordance with applicable law.

 

6. RECORDS RETENTION

 

The Village will maintain and dispose of records in accordance with applicable federal and state law and the Village’s approved records-retention schedules. The Village may retain information submitted through its website or electronic communication services for the period required by applicable law or the Village’s records-retention schedules. This Privacy Policy does not create a right to require the Village to retain, return, modify, or delete a record contrary to applicable law or an approved records-retention schedule.

 

7. INFORMATION SECURITY

 

The Village takes reasonable administrative and technical measures intended to safeguard information maintained through its systems. The Village’s handling of its data, information technology, and information technology resources is also subject to applicable Ohio law and the Village’s cybersecurity program. However, no website, electronic transmission, telecommunications network, or information system can be guaranteed to be completely secure. The Village therefore cannot guarantee the absolute security or confidentiality of information transmitted to or maintained by the Village. Users should exercise care when submitting sensitive or personally identifying information electronically and should use another method of communication when directed by the Village or when electronic submission would be inappropriate.

 

8. COOKIES AND SIMILAR TECHNOLOGIES

 

The Village website or its service providers may use cookies or similar technologies that are necessary to operate the website, remember user preferences, assess website performance, or understand how visitors interact with the website. Browser settings may permit users to block or delete cookies, although doing so may affect the operation of some website features. The Village will not represent that it uses particular analytics, advertising, or tracking technologies unless those technologies are actually implemented on the Village website.

 

9. THIRD-PARTY WEBSITES

 

The Village website may contain links to websites or services maintained by third parties. The Village is not responsible for the privacy, security, accessibility, or information-handling practices of independently operated third-party websites or services. Individuals should review the applicable privacy policies and terms of those websites before providing personal information. A link from the Village website does not constitute the Village’s endorsement of the third-party website, its operator, or its privacy practices.

 

10. CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

 

The Village may revise this Privacy Policy as its services, technologies, practices, or legal obligations change. Any updated Privacy Policy will be posted on the Village website.