ThisWeek CW 06-18-2015

http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/canalwinchester/news/2015/06/15/groveport-madison-schools-3-year-pact-gives-oapse-members-pay-increases.html

The Groveport Madison Board of Education voted June 10 to approve a new contract with the Ohio Association of Public School Employees that gives union members their first base salary increases in eight years.

OAPSE locals 312 and 787 represent 203 non-certified district employees, including maintenance workers, custodians, food service workers, educational aides and secretaries.

Superintendent Bruce Hoover said the three-year pact will increase base salaries by 1.5 percent in the first year, 2.5 percent in the second year and 3 percent in the third year.

“First and foremost, thanks go to the OAPSE union for the work they provided us over these years and the partnership in working through this bargaining process to come to this ratified agreement,” Hoover said. “I’m pleased by how well both sides worked together to reach an agreement so quickly.”

Union President Pam Ling agreed the two sides had worked well together.

“As president of the union, I would like to personally thank you for making this an easy contract to ratify,” Ling said. “The negotiating team was a pleasure to work with and so was the administration.

“On behalf of the union, I want to thank the board of education for their support in ensuring both parties continue to maintain a great working relationship,” she added. “This was evident during the negotiation process, given the spirit of cooperation and collaboration that took place between parties.”

In a joint written statement, OAPSE and district officials thanked district employees “for recognizing the importance of working together and supporting this district through tough times.

“Your sacrifices have enabled us to provide the services necessary to help our students grow,” the statement said. “Along with the support of our community, we are now able to raise the standard of living for our employees in a financially responsible way that will allow us to prolong the life of the levy approved by voters last year. The spirit of collaborative negotiations is a positive step forward for the district.”

Following the vote to approve the OAPSE contract, the board went into executive session to continue discussions regarding contract negotiations with the Groveport Madison Local Education Association, the union that represents teachers. The current contract with the GMLEA expires July 1.

Both Hoover and board President Nathan Slonaker said negotiations with the GMLEA have been progressing favorably and they anticipate having a contract to vote on soon.

“I believe we will have a fair resolution on the table soon, and it would be nice to get it done before July 1, but we can roll over that date if needed,” Slonaker said.

Hoover said he was “pleased by the progress” and thankful for how well both sides are working to come to a good agreement.

ThisWeek CW 06-18-2015

http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/canalwinchester/news/2015/06/15/june-konold-named-to-citys-planning-and-zoning-commission.html

Canal Winchester Planning and Zoning Commission members welcomed a new member with a familiar name at their June 8 meeting.

June Konold, the wife of Dr. Dan Konold, who had been a longtime member of the commission until his sudden death May 14, was recommended by Mayor Michael Ebert to fill the vacant position through what would have been the end of her husband’s term Dec. 31.

Canal Winchester City Council unanimously approved the appointment June 1.

“I received written confirmation that June Konold was willing to be appointed to the planning and zoning commission to fill the term of her late husband,” Ebert said. “She is currently employed with NiSource Inc. as a finance executive.

“I think this is a good thing to do and I hope you’ll approve the appointment,” he told council.

Development Director Lucas Haire said Dan Konold had served on the planning commission since January 2008, following a five-year break after serving from 1996-2003.

The seven-member planning and zoning commission is responsible for oversight of the city’s zoning code and zoning map, and for reviewing all proposed development plans and providing recommendations to city council. The commission also oversees the city’s comprehensive plan, including layout of streets, bridges, utilities and public land.

Besides filling this vacancy on the commission, Haire said a search is still underway to find a new planning and zoning administrator following the resignation of Chad Flowers May 30.

ThisWeek CW 06-18-2015

http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/canalwinchester/news/2015/06/15/city-seeks-deal-so-it-can-maintain-sewer-line-access.html

The city of Groveport is hoping to broker an agreement between a local homeowners association and the Indiana & Ohio Railway Co. so the city can maintain access to a sanitary sewer line that runs beneath railroad property and serves the Founder’s Bend subdivision.

Unless the city is successful — and Law Director Kevin Shannon is optimistic it will be — Founder’s Bend residents could find themselves saddled with paying licensing fees to the rail company.

Shannon told Groveport City Council June 8 he’d been made aware that developer Rockford Homes had exercised a contract clause by which it passed licensing fees on to the Founder’s Bend homeowners association. The licensing fees are due to the railroad for permitting the city sewer line to run beneath Indiana & Ohio Railway property.

According to Shannon, the amount due on July 1 is $3,035 — and that figure is set to increase by 5 percent every year, forever, with no cap.

“The development didn’t go the way it was planned and Rockford Homes entered an assignment … to put this on the homeowners association,” Shannon said. “That’s not exactly our issue, but obviously, the association is being unduly burdened … and that is our sewer line that we can’t risk losing access to.”

He said he has been in touch with representatives from the railroad who, he said, are open to negotiations with the city and to the potential of allowing the city to take over the fees.

“We already have another agreement with them where we pay about $1,400 a year. We don’t know if we can get that same deal with a cap, but it’s a starting point,” Shannon said. “The problem is that Rockford entered into this as a financial agreement between the railroad and a company meant to make ongoing profits, but then threw it off on these residents.

“It is my understanding that the railroad understands the difference between a business and a municipality that just needs to take care of its public utilities,” he said.

Councilman Ed Rarey asked if there was anything that Rockford Homes could be held responsible for, but Shannon didn’t see that as a realistic option.

“The homeowners are responsible for this until we finish a deal, but I hope I can have it wrapped up this month,” he said. “We already paid $1,000 for the application fee to make this switch, so the railroad knows there is a good-faith effort being made.

“I don’t see any reason for either side to delay this,” Shannon added. “I think ultimately, both the railroad and the residents want the city to be responsible for this.”

Council members unanimously approved emergency legislation June 8 authorizing the city to enter into an agreement with the Founder’s Bend homeowners association and the Indiana & Ohio Railway Co. so the city “has immediate access” to the sanitary sewer line.

ThisWeek CW 06-18-2015

http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/canalwinchester/news/2015/06/15/city-donates-land-group-hopes-to-move-canal-era-building-to-wirt-road.html

Groveport City Council approved necessary zoning changes June 8 before donating city-owned property to the Groveport Heritage and Preservation Society for the relocation of an abandoned canal-era building.

Council voted unanimously to approve ordinances granting the society variances from the current residential use zoning for two parcels at 536 Wirt Road. Members then agreed to give the parcels to the society and approved changes regarding setbacks, parking and landscaping issues to make way for the possible move of a low brick commercial building constructed in the 1800s for the Ohio and Erie Canal.

A new warehouse development at the corner of Rohr and Pontius roads, approved Feb. 23, will be the end of the historic Sharps Landing property; however, a last-minute deal between the developer and the preservation society may have saved this one building.

Groveport City Administrator Marsha Hall said the society intends to disassemble the building, brick by brick, then reassemble it on Wirt Road across from Heritage Park and the historic log cabin.

The building would be landscaped in period style with visitors able to peer in the windows while listening to a pre-recorded history of the canal and the activity the building supported.

During negotiations, the preservation group secured up to $200,000 from the developers of the site at Rohr and Pontius roads for the purpose of moving the canal building.

Resident Carolyn Stuah told council she is concerned about the impact the building could have on her view of the park and log cabin. No other residents spoke either in favor or against the project.

Heritage and Preservation Society President Carla Cramer initially said the project would cost close to $325,000, based on estimates provided by architect Fred Hutchinson, who was retained by the group for the project.

“During the 1800s, this property was owned by the Sharp family and the building, which is divided into three sections, operated a bakery, a smokehouse and an ice house,” Cramer said. “Our intent is to make every effort to relocate this building … and we think we can disassemble it with this money.

“We’ll then need to solicit funds for our dream to rebuild it exactly as it was to preserve it as a museum and share what life was like on the canal,” she said.

ThisWeek CW 06/11/2015

http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/canalwinchester/news/2015/06/08/free-summer-food-program-available-at-local-sites.html

Summer vacation means a break from days of studying, but it also can mean days of hunger for children served by free breakfast and lunch programs offered through the schools.

The Groveport Madison Center for Human Needs, in conjunction with Groveport-Madison schools, is once again working to give all Groveport and Madison Township children the chance to enjoy their days off without worrying about where the next meal will come from.

Children ages 1 through 18 may attend the free summer food service through Aug. 7. Food is served Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. There is no charge for the meal and no financial or personal information will be requested.

Funding for the program is provided through a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and administered by the Ohio Department of Education.

“This program is serviced by volunteers that help hand out the lunches, visit with the children and assist in activities,” organizer Steve Shirley said.

“Volunteers are needed to continue this wonderful program for our children,” he added. “In the past, many volunteers have helped make sure lunches are available.

“We would like to invite any of the previous volunteers to help again this year, and also invite anyone that would have an hour and a half a week to contribute to this wonderful program to let us know. We have various schedules that can be arranged to accommodate your needs.”

Besides providing a lunch, children will have the opportunity to meet other children and play. Volunteers will engage the children in activities and games, and provide books that can go home with participants.

“The community has been very generous in donating books for this program,” Shirley said. “Any and all help would be appreciated.”

The summer food program will be offered at these sites:

•Groveport Madison Middle School Central, 751 Main St.

•Groveport Madison Middle School North, 5474 Sedalia Drive.

•Independence Village, (park shelter house), 3075 Arrowsmith Drive.

•Madison Grove (playground), 2800 Booty Drive.

To volunteer or for more information, contact Shirley at 614-835-0251 or rsteve43232@aol.com.