Pataskala v. Fop, Unpublished Decision (9-28-1999)

DECISION

Appellants, Fraternal Order of Police, Ohio Labor Council, Inc. ("FOP") and State Employment Relations Board ("SERB"), appeal the decision of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas ruling that appellee, city of Pataskala, was not a "public employer" and, therefore, exempt from Ohio's public employees' collective bargaining provisions. Because we find that the trial court improperly interpreted R.C. 4117.01(B)'s definition of a "public employer," we reverse.

The facts in this case are undisputed. On January 1, 1996, the village of Pataskala and Lima Township merged. According to the…