ThisWeek CW 11/5/2015

http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/canalwinchester/news/2015/11/02/donations-will-furnish-renovated-interurban-building.html

Canal Winchester officials say the time has finally arrived for the renewal of the historic Interurban building, and thanks to several donations, period-appropriate, handcrafted Amish furnishings will grace the interior.

Destination: Canal Winchester Executive Director Bruce Jarvis asked Canal Winchester City Council Oct. 19 to approve the acceptance of about $10,000 worth of donations of new, Amish-built furniture, framed historical artwork and protective tabletop glass for some pieces.

Jarvis said the only contingency with the donations is that the space be made available to the public when not being used by the city. Council voted unanimously to accept the donations, agreeing to formalize an agreement similar to the rental of the community center space prior to the opening of the newly renovated building.

“In May of this year, one of my board members suggested we apply to South Central Power for a grant to get the furniture and the art paid for,” Jarvis said. “I wasn’t very hopeful, as this was the fourth time we’ve gone for one of their grants and we hadn’t been awarded before now.

“We’d gone out and gotten a quote for the furniture for $7,500 and asked for $10,000 to cover both the furniture and the art; and South Central Power awarded us $5,000,” he said.

Jarvis said donations of $2,500 each from the Wiser family and the Bob Wood Foundation made up the remaining balance. He anticipated an additional $2,000 for the protective table glass would come from the Destination: Canal Winchester board itself.

The building, which once served as a station on the interurban rail line, was previously owned by South Central Power, which used it as a warehouse before selling it to the city in 2003. Over the years, the city has stabilized the building, investing in a new roof, updating the utilities and improving the structure’s exterior appearance.

Earlier this year, council approved a city staff request to seek a contract to design meeting facilities inside the building and renovate the space. According to City Construction Manager Bill Sims, his staff expects to bid out the project before the end of the year, with the work being completed in early spring.

Mayor Mike Ebert expressed some concern over the investment in hand-built, craftsman furniture — not because of how it will look but because it will limit some use of the space and may attract vandalism.

“This is beautiful furniture, and it is expensive, heavy, well-built furniture; but my concern is that we put it in here and then we get into moving it in and out of the space, getting it torn up or have people intentionally abusing it,” Ebert said.

Council members agreed that while folding tables and chairs would provide greater flexibility, they believed the space, which has the capacity to hold almost 50 people, should be a “show piece.”

“This is a historic building that we should use this nice furniture in to keep the historic feel of it,” Councilwoman Bobbie Mershon said.

Officials anticipate awarding a renovation contract in December and opening the renovated building in April.

ThisWeek CW 11/5/2015

http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/canalwinchester/news/2015/11/02/groveport-senior-village-plans-call-for-50-more-units-of-subsidized-housing.html

Groveport City Council approved plans last week for an additional 50 units of subsidized housing at Groveport Senior Village.

Council members voted unanimously Oct. 26 in favor of constructing 11 more buildings: 10 for housing and one to be used as a community center as part of the second and final phase of the project. Ground was broken in late 2013 for the first phase of the development at 5120 Hendron Road.

The new buildings will be a “mirror image” of those in the first phase, with a slightly larger community building.

The development includes cottage-style units of nearly 1,000 square feet, with attached garages, along with a shelter house, community building and a dog park. Apartments are subsidized and only available to renters age 55 and older, based on income.

“This phase is basically a mirror image of Phase 1, with 10 buildings totaling 50 units and a new community building, which will be a bit bigger than the Phase 1 building to allow both communities to come together for meetings and events in one unit,” Chief Building Official Stephan Moore said. “There’s a road connecting the two phases which will also have sidewalks to make it look like one complete complex.”

Moore said the developer, LW Associates, is working with neighboring property owners to finalize a utility easement, but the easement is not necessary to move forward with the project.

“There’s a plan for a future water line but they’ll have the pond on site for fire suppression, which is what they were approved by the fire marshal to use for Phase 1 as well,” Moore said.

“The easement, though, would allow the city water line to be looped, which would help the city regulate water pressure, which will then also benefit those neighbors and other residents in the area.”

Todd Valentine, director of development for LW Associates, said he feels positive the company will be able to work out a deal for the easement.

Like Phase 1, proceeding with this part of the project is also dependent on receiving financing through the Ohio Housing Finance Agency, which offers a competitive funding process backed by federal housing credits.

If funding is approved by the OHFA, construction could begin as early as next summer.

ThisWeek CW 10/29/2015

http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/canalwinchester/news/2015/10/26/madison-township-county-says-no-to-traffic-calming-requests.html

The Franklin County Engineer’s Office and the county prosecutor’s office have halted Madison Township’s efforts to install speed bumps and traffic-calming on a couple of township roads.

Township officials announced at the Oct. 21 trustees’ meeting that a traffic study along Winchester Pike completed by the Franklin County Engineer’s Office found no reason to install further traffic-calming devices.

Similarly, a request by trustee Gary McDonald for an opinion about placing speed bumps along Sims Road also was denied by the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office.

Public Works Superintendent Dave Weaver said the traffic study was completed along Winchester Pike between Courtright and Schwartz roads.

“The county came out and took all their measurements and data and they said that speed-reduction wasn’t warranted at this time,” Weaver said.

Earlier this year, the township requested similar traffic studies in the Blacklick Estates neighborhood — with the same result.

McDonald said he and the other trustees are unwilling to give up. He said he approached the prosecutor’s office for a legal opinion to allow the township to install temporary speed bumps. However, McDonald said, the response was that the township does not have the authority to do this.

“I’ve been trying to get speed bumps out there on some of our roads to help calm the traffic and so far, everything has been negative coming out of the Franklin County Engineer’s Office; so back in August, I reached out to the prosecutor regarding the speed bumps and they also said it is a no-go due to our liability,” McDonald said.

“I want residents to know though that this board will continue to work to find a solution to our speeding problems and to make our residents safer.”

ThisWeek CW 10/29/2015

http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/canalwinchester/news/2015/10/26/veterans-to-be-honored-with-ceremony-parade.html

The Canal Winchester Senior Citizens Club and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10523 are planning the city’s second Veterans March and Ceremony Nov. 7 and are inviting veterans of all eras and their families to join in.

Veterans and their families are invited to enjoy a free pancake breakfast from 8 to 10 a.m. Nov. 7 at the Frances Steube Community Center, 22 S. Trine St. A short program specifically for veterans will begin at 9:30 a.m.

Following the breakfast, attendees will assemble for a parade march from the community center to Stradley Place Park. The Senior Transport bus will be available to help transport participants who have mobility issues.

Motts Military Museum also will provide military vehicles as part of the parade.

Breakfast will be prepared by the Bivens family with senior citizen club members and local Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts helping to serve the meal and clear the tables.

Organizer Bobbie Mershon, a Canal Winchester City Council member and Vietnam veteran, said she hopes the public will attend the parade and post-parade ceremony, scheduled at 10:30 a.m., to show their support of the city’s veterans.

“As an in-country Vietnam vet, I know what it is like to go unappreciated for your service,” Mershon said. “Canal Winchester has sent many of its young men and women to serve their nation in war and peace. I want each of them to know how proud of them we are.

“These are our hometown heroes and Canal Winchester does not forget,” Mershon said. “I hope all veterans, young and old, attend the free breakfast with their families, especially the Iraq and Afghanistan vets. It is always good to make connections with those who can relate to your experiences.”

The Veterans Day ceremony will include a raising of the colors and the national anthem performed by Mike Walker. Guest speakers will be the Rev. John Romig from Gender Road Christian Church; Dr. Tracy Fowler from Heritage Baptist Church; Warren Motts from Motts Military Museum; Canal Winchester Mayor Mike Ebert; and Maj. Gen. John Harris Jr., Assistant Adjutant General-Ohio Army National Guard.

The ceremony will wrap up with a rifle salute and a performance of Taps by members of the VFW.

Mershon said she expects this year to surpass last year’s successful inaugural event.

“The Senior Citizens Club sponsors the event through a city grant they applied for earlier this year and many businesses generously donated items for this event, as well as many people who are giving of their time. All are appreciated,” Mershon said.

“Because last year was so successful, all we needed to do was tweak it to make it better. I’m sure more veterans will turn out. I hope all citizens come to the march and ceremony and look at the veterans’ pictures, which will be displayed in the storefront windows around town.”

Event organizers are requesting submissions of veterans’ photos, including name, service dates and branch of service. Photos submitted last year will once again be presented and do not need to be resubmitted.

Photos should be copies of an original photo, show veterans or active military personnel in uniform, and should be no larger than 5-inches by 7-inches. They can be dropped off at the Canal Winchester Municipal Building, 36 S. High St., or the community center.

Submissions may also be emailed to bmershon@canalwinchesterohio.gov.

For more information, visit canalwinchesterohio.gov or call 614-837-8276.

ThisWeek CW 10/29/2015

http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/canalwinchester/news/2015/10/26/city-eyes-online-payment-options-for-utility-bills.html

Canal Winchester residents will have new options for paying their utility bills under an accounting system being rolled out in the city.

Finance Director Amanda Jackson said at the Oct. 19 Canal Winchester City Council meeting the new system will allow the city to begin accepting online payments once a payment processor is selected and council approves any necessary policies associated with the payments.

One reason for moving to the online payment option is to reduce the number of delinquent bills.

Public Works Director Matt Peoples said delinquent water and sewage bills leading to shut-off notices reached 953 in 2014 and are at 633 through September this year; each one takes an average of 12.5 man-hours to deal with.

“These tags are becoming very onerous, so we’re looking at doing things a little bit different,” Peoples said.

He said many residents claim not to have received the notice tag, which is usually stuck to the front door of their houses, until after they’ve already had their water shut off.

Peoples said that upon receipt of the tag, residents have three days to respond.

“We don’t shut people off when they’re working through an investigation of their bill or working with us like that,” Peoples said. “So we’re working with Law Director Gene Hollins to look at our policies and see if we can instead accomplish this through the billing statements with the new system. That will save us a lot of time and money sending guys around to tag.”

Jackson said many of the shut-off tags go to residents who repeatedly wind up on the list and don’t pay until they see the tag.

“We definitely have some households that will wait until they’re tagged and we know they won’t pay until we say we’re going to disconnect,” she said. “Another benefit of the new system is we can send bills to multiple locations, such as to the landlord as well as the resident so they know what’s going on, too.

“So going along with doing this through the billing, we want to start accepting electronic payments — which is one of the biggest complaints we have heard from residents.”

The city will continue to accept payments made by mail, in person or drop-box as it currently does; but once the online option is available, residents will be able to make payments using either a credit card or an electronic transfer from a checking account.

“There will be a convenience fee associated with this since the banks charge a fee,” Jackson said. “It won’t ever come to us, though. The fee goes straight to the processor.

“Right now, I’m shopping around for the best rates and some of it will depend on how many residents jump on board with using the online payment function.”

Jackson said she hopes to have the online payment option available by the beginning of 2016.