ThisWeek CW 07/16/2015

http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/canalwinchester/news/2015/07/13/groveport-madison-schools-new-contract-gives-teachers-base-pay-raises.html

The Groveport Madison Board of Education signed what was called a “historic” agreement last week with the Groveport Madison Local Education Association, setting in place a new contract with the teachers union.

The deal is for three years, plus a one-year extension.

The contract includes base-pay increases of 2.5 percent in years one and two and a 2-percent increase in year three for teachers, counselors, school nurses and other certified employees.

The one-year extension will give those employees another base-pay increase of 2.5 percent.

Board members voted unanimously Wednesday, July 8, to approve the union-ratified agreement, which includes base salary increases and new language to allow the district to begin hiring additional teachers beginning in January.

Union President Joy Bock said GMLEA members voted unanimously to accept the tentative agreement at the Tuesday, July 7, general membership meeting.

“Since 2008, teachers have received no base increase in salary except a 1.25-percent increase in March of 2011,” she said. “Also, in two of those years, they did not receive step increases. Teachers agreed to these sacrifices in their pay in order to help the district regain solid financial ground.

“Although GMLEA members didn’t get their steps reinstated, we are pleased that the administration and board of education recognized our dedication, hard work and sacrifices by agreeing to base pay increases.”

This is the first time in 38 years that an agreement has been reached prior to the contract expiration, Bock said as she and union Vice President Zac Casperson joined school board President Nathan Slonaker to sign the agreement.

The old contract was due to expire July 31. The new contract starts Aug. 1.

“I want to thank both negotiating teams and Joy we look forward to working with you and your team going forward,” Slonaker said. “This was a historic agreement in both breadth and length.”

The GMLEA also agreed to modify insurance payments, replacing a dollar cap with a percentage amount.

According to a joint statement released by the district and the GMLEA, this change will help the district save on health-care costs and allow for any savings to be used for educational purposes.

“I want to commend both teams,” Superintendent Bruce Hoover said. “They did an outstanding job coming together on an agreement and I think it represents the work of the district over the past five years getting us here today.

“I think it is fiscally responsible to the taxpayers and to the overall goals of the district as a whole, helping us stay competitive over the next four to five years.”

Bock added that she hopes that the agreement helps the district attract the best teachers when hiring opens up in January.

“Our hope is that this change will allow the district to attract the cream of the crop,” she said. “The teachers are very excited to be starting the school year with a ratified contract.”

ThisWeek CW 07/16/2015

http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/canalwinchester/news/2015/07/13/macintosh-nursing-home-project-clears-council-hurdle.html

It was a split vote, but the MacIntosh Co. received city council approval last week for zoning text changes related to construction of a skilled nursing and assisted care facility in Canal Winchester.

At council’s July 7 meeting, Councilmen Steve Donahue and Will Bennett both voted against a change to the site development text to allow for the facility, while members Bobbi Mershon, Marilyn Rush-Ekelberry, Joe Abbott and Rick Deeds voted in favor.

Originally, the 7.5-acre lot east of Gender Road and south of Fox Hill Drive was approved for 34 condominium units in 2006, but the faltering real estate market at the time halted those plans.

Valerie Gregger with Altercare of Canal Winchester, located near the MacIntosh location at 6725 Thrush Drive, said adding an additional 125 beds for assisted care and skilled nursing will overwhelm the market for these services in Canal Winchester, leading to potential job losses and facility closures.

Residents Julia and Nick Grilli, who have spoken out against the development at every public review of legislation related to it, reiterated their concerns last week and again called for more screening of the facility as well as the addition of a fountain in a proposed pond to help mask noise.

Project architect Russ Garber said he had already incorporated additional screening and a pond fountain into the plans but would be willing to consider further changes as the process continues.

“Throughout this public process, we’ve been grateful for all the concerns and a forum to address them,” Garber said. “MacIntosh strives to be a good neighbor, provide good services and be a good employer.

“We have listened to concerns and moved parking away from the back, increased landscaping and moved items,” he said. “We’ve included more mounding and landscaping. Also, we’ve heard about the need for the facility and the state-published bed needs as well as there being an independent study showing the need for these beds here.”

Although changes to the site development text have been approved, the MacIntosh Co. will still be required to submit development plans to the Canal Winchester Planning and Zoning Commission and complete that approval process prior to breaking ground.

ThisWeek CW 07/16/2015

http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/canalwinchester/news/2015/07/13/cars-take-center-stage-at-eighth-annual-cruise-in.html

Canal Winchester car buffs are invited to show off their rides at the eighth annual Cruise-In Car Show to be held in conjunction with the final Music & Art in the Park summer concert series on Friday, July 17.

The free event is scheduled from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Stradley Place, 36 S. High St. Food concessions will be available, although picnics are welcome and attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets because seating is limited.

One person who will be on the minds of many at the car show this year is the late Bob McDorman, longtime owner of Bob McDorman Chevrolet in Canal Winchester and a well-known collector of cars and automotive memorabilia.

McDorman sold his dealership in 2011 to Wyler Automotive, but retained a 15-percent interest so he could officially retire after 50 years in business. He died May 27, just a few months shy of his goal.

The Cruise-In Car Show is now sponsored by Jeff Wyler Chevrolet.

“In recent years, Jeff Wyler Chevrolet has graciously stepped up to take on the sponsorship of the Music & Art in the Park Cruise-in, providing awards and dash plaques for the registrants,” Mayor Michael Ebert said. “We really appreciate everything they are doing for Canal Winchester.

“We will be saying a few words about Bob McDorman as well, as a former sponsor, and how he is already and will be missed by our community in the future,” he added.

Cruise-In awards will include People’s Choice, Mayor’s Choice, Band’s Choice, Sponsor’s Choice and Farthest Traveled. Complimentary dash plaques will be given to the first 50 registrants.

Participants can register from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. the evening of the event or register online.

Ebert, who still owns the 1967 Pontiac GTO he had purchased in 1978, said he hopes the weather cooperates to encourage a good turnout. He said while he enjoys picking the Mayor’s Choice award winner, it is the People’s Choice that he sees as the real prize.

“I don’t get many opportunities to show my ’67 any more, but the very first time I did, it was early 1980 at the Cavalcade of Cars and Stars at the fairgrounds and I won the People’s Choice award over more than 300 other vehicles,” Ebert said.

“As a judge for the Mayor’s Choice, I generally lean toward originality of the ’50s- and ’60s-era vehicles, but I have chosen rods and custom cars in the past that have wowed me.

“All restored vehicles are a great pleasure to view as they truly are pieces of art.”

In addition to live music and other performances at Music & Art in the Park, several family-friendly activities are planned.

“The series concludes with musical entertainment from the Gas Pump Jockeys, performance art by Joy Unspeakable Productions, and balloon animals by BugaBoo the Clown,” said Amanda Lemke, events and communications coordinator for the city. “Other activities will include games and photo props by Canal Winchester pageant queens and children’s crafts, courtesy of Goddard School.

“Also, the Canal Winchester Art Guild artists will offer art displays and live demonstrations, as well as some pieces for purchase.”

ThisWeek CW 07/16/2015

http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/canalwinchester/news/2015/07/13/council-oks-zoning-code-changes-to-prepare-for-brewdog.html

Even as Canal Winchester officials prepare for potential zoning issues related to construction of a proposed BrewDog facility, some residents have begun voicing concerns about traffic congestion and smells that could result once the brewery is operational.

The Scottish craft brewer plans to invest $30.4 million in a project to build a brewery, U.S. headquarters, a restaurant and taproom in Canal Winchester.

Canal Winchester City Council members voted unanimously July 7 to approve language changes to the zoning text to specifically allow for artisan food and beverage production on site at commercial properties and to alter the setback and height restrictions related to storage silos.

“The proposed changes are driven by a number of downtown businesses that are more of an artist studio and that we do not have zoning code that specifically provides for producing items on site,” Development Director Lucas Haire said. “All of these handcrafted-type items are becoming more popular with people buying local — and the last item like that is local foods.”

Haire said the city wants to continue to promote that interest.

“What we’ve done is to include these changes in the historic district and limited manufacturing districts,” he said. “The last change is related to the silos such as we have at TS Trim, and now we need to change that in preparation for microbrewers.”

Previously, city code required that any silo had to be behind a building and 20 feet from the property line, according to Haire. He said the change wouldn’t stipulate the location of a silo in relation to a building, but instead would designate the setback be equivalent to the silo height.

“In the past, a grain silo would have had to be 20 feet or so from the property line, even if it was 60- to 70-feet tall, but now if it is 60- to 70-feet tall, it will have to be 60 to 70 feet back from property line,” he said.

A couple residents raised concerns over the potential for unpleasant smells coming from the brewery.

“I live in the Villages of Westchester and am very concerned about the smell related to BrewDog,” resident Steve Lukezich said. “How do you get someone to buy your house in a place that smells?”

Council President Rick Deeds said he hopes residents will bring their concerns to the Aug. 8 planning and zoning commission meeting when it is anticipated that BrewDog will begin the process of getting its plans approved.

Resident Andrew Beauseau, who lives near the proposed BrewDog site, said he’s concerned about truck traffic as well. He noted that changes to delivery schedules at TS Trim have caused him to awaken every day at 5 a.m. to the sounds of semi traffic.

Another resident, Susanne Rasoletti, said she appreciated the city’s efforts to bring more jobs and tourism to Canal Winchester, but besides being concerned about the smell, she also wondered about additional traffic congestion on Gender Road.

“My concern for you building this brewery was that first of all, we already have so much congestion on Gender Road. From Route 33 all the way to the Skyline Chili, you just brake and brake,” Rasoletti said.

Public Works Director Matt Peoples said the city will work with BrewDog on a closed system for its wastewater, but that until the company officially submits plans, he couldn’t comment on how it would be handled because he doesn’t have the details.

“The site details are expected to be presented at the Aug. 8 meeting,” Haire said. “Until then, we can’t comment because it will only be speculation.”

The Canal Winchester Planning and Zoning Commission meeting will start at 7 p.m. Aug. 8 at City Hall, 10 N. High St.

ThisWeek CW 07/16/2015

http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/canalwinchester/news/2015/07/13/mayor-council-pay-hikes-take-effect-jan–1.html

Canal Winchester City Council voted unanimously at a special meeting July 1 to increase the salaries for the mayor and council members effective Jan. 1.

Legislation to increase the salaries of the mayor and council members was introduced in April as part of a normal biannual review of the elected officials pay and benefits.

Every two years, council has the option of reviewing and voting on salary and benefits changes, which then take effect the following year after a new city council and — during mayoral election years such as this year — a new mayor have been elected.

“We have to have this taken care of in odd years with the legislation in place by July 1,” council President Rick Deeds said. “In the past, we’ve sometimes done a singular increase, sometimes a two-step increase and sometimes we’ve left it alone.

“Based on info we had, this was the recommendation: a 3-percent increase for the mayor and council members,” he said.

“If you look at council president, it has been about $500 over what council makes but we thought we’d adjust that to 10 percent, and then we also thought vice president deserved 5 percent over general council with how we’ve reoriented the meetings.”

As approved, the mayor’s salary increased from $85,000 in 2014 to $87,500 this year. It will increase to $90,125 annually beginning Jan. 1, 2016, running through Dec. 31, 2017.

City council members’ salaries increased from $6,200 in 2014 to $6,400 in 2015 and will be set at $6,592 per year from Jan. 1, 2016, through Dec. 31, 2017.

The council president’s salary was set at $6,700 a year in 2014 and $6,900 this year. It will increase to $7,251 annually for the period of Jan. 1, 2016, through Dec. 31, 2017.

The council vice president was paid $6,200 in 2014 and $6,400 in 2015. Starting Jan. 1 and continuing through Dec. 31, 2017, the annual salary for that office will be $6,921.

According to a report from the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission, which uses data from 2014, Canal Winchester is in the middle of the pay scale for both council members’ and mayor’s salaries.