ThisWeek CW 10/8/2015

http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/canalwinchester/news/2015/10/05/canal-winchester-city-council-quality-of-life-future-growth-top-candidates-concerns.html

With three seats up for election and only one incumbent running again, Canal Winchester voters will see at least two new faces on city council after the Nov. 3 election.

In addition to incumbent Rick Deeds, candidates seeking election are: Bob Clark, Bruce Jarvis, Tim Waibel and Mike Walker.

Council members Joe Abbott and Marilyn Rush-Ekelberry decided not to seek re-election.

The candidates

Clark served as an assistant to three U.S. Congressmen over a 25-year career and spent more than two years as the economic-development director for Fairfield County.

“In terms of economic development, our location is our greatest strength, as you can reach 50 percent of the U.S. and Canadian population within a day’s drive,” Clark said. “Canal has the best of both worlds: We have a small-town flavor, vibrant downtown and good economic growth. And we are only 20-plus minutes to professional sports, great hospitals and major research institutions of higher learning.”

Deeds has served on city council for 16 years, including six as council president.

“Canal Winchester has many assets and strengths,” Deeds said. “We have our own water and wastewater plants — something that many towns in central Ohio can’t say. Having those allow us to control our destiny, how we expand, the rates we charge, etc.

“Our industrial parks provide a great commercial base to help offset residential taxes while creating local jobs,” he said. “Canal Winchester has a unique character and we’ve worked hard to retain the small-town feel as we grow by growing sensibly while investing in our downtown and providing support for entities such as Destination: Canal Winchester that help retain our character.”

Jarvis, who previously had served 14 years on city council, similarly pointed out community, control of utilities and strategic, developable land as assets.

“When it comes to utilities and developable land, Canal Winchester is poised for the future much better than many nearby communities,” Jarvis said. “Being close to the capital city but very far away in feel, we are extremely fortunate to have developed and maintained an irresistible small-town charm — especially in the historic districts of the city.

“There is a great sense of community pride here that engages people and draws tens of thousands of visitors every year but it takes deliberate planning and consistently appropriate actions to maintain that pride.”

Waibel sees community spirit as the city’s best asset.

“As an active, growing community, still maintaining that small-town atmosphere is what makes Canal Winchester unique,” Waibel said.

Walker expressed similar sentiments: “Our greatest asset is our heritage and sense of community.”

Concerns and plans

Walker said he is primarily concerned with improving water quality and better traffic flow off U.S. Route 33.

“I’d like to see a continuous improvement in the quality of our drinking water,” Walker said. “I would also like to see more convenient entrances and exits to our great city. The traffic coming in off 33 sure seems to get more backed up as time goes on. If I’m elected, I’ll stay strong and passionate about these concerns and hope to improve them.”

Waibel believes continuing the growth currently underway is important to the city’s future.

“I see BrewDog as promoting piggyback growth like we haven’t seen before, so continued communication will be important,” he said. “I’m willing to listen to the concerns of our citizens and evaluate each issue as necessary.”

Jarvis said Canal Winchester is a healthy community, but he hopes to create a stronger, strategic vision for the future.

“The city does well maintaining the current infrastructure, but from my perspective, there is not much evidence of real long-term, strategic planning for the future,” Jarvis said.

“We must also do a better job of planning and executing projects that add to the quality of life throughout the city,” he said. “Future public meeting spaces, parks and organized activities need to be in the queue now for them to be realities in the near future.”

Deeds said the most pressing issue over the coming term is related to external decisions.

“Entities outside of Canal Winchester can make decisions that directly impact us,” he said. “Some recent examples include: SWACO decides to have all solid waste sent to its landfill, costing Canal Winchester about $800,000 a year; the state of Ohio cut the local municipal funds, costing Canal Winchester thousands of annual budget dollars; the state is currently reviewing the calculation and collection of local income taxes, which may cost us thousands of dollars annually.”

Deeds agreed that long-range planning could mitigate some of these concerns.

“While we are in a good position financially at this point, it is important to have a long-range plan and work toward that plan,” he said. “While the economy has improved, the competition to attract and retain businesses is fierce. It will be important for us to compete … by being easier to work with and providing a better overall location where businesses want to come and stay.”

Growth also was a primary issue on Clark’s list. He said he wants to make sure income-tax revenue keeps up with future infrastructure needs and that the city takes advantage of grant money.

“I believe managing the proper amount of growth that makes sense for the city is a big issue,” Clark said. “We need to keep our focus on economic development that creates new wealth, bringing in new income taxes that pay for infrastructure needs of the future. I believe my past professional experiences in government and economic development has allowed me to build relationships in the political and business communities that I can put to use for the betterment of Canal Winchester.”

ThisWeek CW 10/1/2015

http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/canalwinchester/news/2015/09/28/nov–3-mayors-race-candidates-id-growth-as-top-issue-in-groveport.html

The nonpartisan mayor’s race in Groveport on Nov. 3 will give voters a choice between longtime incumbent Lance Westcamp and challenger Dave Gale.

Gale said his 35 years of management experience in both the public and private sector at J.C. Penney Logistics, WESCO Distribution and the Ohio State Highway Patrol, as well as his six years of service in the U.S. Army Reserves, are the foundation of what he would bring to the office.

Gale has lived in Groveport for the past 22 years and served on the Planning and Zoning Commission and Groveport Preservation Committee, chaired the Board of Zoning Appeals and served as both president and treasurer of the Groveport Heritage and Preservation Society.

He said the biggest issues over the next four years will be “reducing Groveport’s heavy dependence on the warehousing industry; establishment of a development plan that controls yet promotes growth and protects individual assets while benefiting citizens and business; establishment of outstanding customer service in all aspects of city government with a focus on putting our citizens and businesses as top priority; and establishing an excellent working relationship with our small businesses and work with them to solve their problems.”

Westcamp, who served on city council from 1988-1994 with a term as president, has been the city’s mayor since 1994. He is a lifelong resident of Groveport.

Westcamp said the issues the mayor will face in the next four years include “allowing for additional industrial growth in a responsible manner; responding to the needs of the business community as it relates to employee recruitment and retention, all the while insuring that Groveport maintains its hometown character and continues to provide excellent service to its residents.”

Both candidates said they believe residents are one of Groveport’s key assets, along with the community’s proximity to Rickenbacker International Airport and its ability to attract business development related to the transportation hub while retaining a “hometown” charm.

“These issues can be tackled by engaging and responding to the needs of our greatest asset, our residents, assembling the resources to address the needs of our businesses and maintaining an open line of communication with both communities,” Westcamp said. “I will provide leadership by continuing to manage an extremely talented administrative staff that I have assembled during my tenure as mayor, continuing to work in a positive and effective manner with our city council, and listening to the needs our residents and businesses.”

Gale outlined a four-pronged plan for the future.

“Groveport receives the largest portion of (its) income from the warehouse industry,” he said. “I will put together a development plan that seeks to diversify where this income generates from.

“The land that borders our residential areas … should be zoned for suitable neighbors that are more noise-friendly and contain buildings that blend more easily with the current landscape,” Gale said. “We will attract new small business by showing our current businesses that we value them and are here to do everything we can to make them successful. I will start from day one, cultivating that relationship by meeting regularly with the business owners and listening to and reacting to their problems.”

Westcamp said he would continue to push the city staff to provide excellent customer service to residents and to provide great value to the city.

Gale said he believes the current city government isn’t providing adequate service to residents and his administration would change that.

“People often wonder why we don’t have more places to eat in the city and (have) a lack of shops in the downtown area,” Gale said. “Our culture in city government is one of task completion, not providing help and assistance to our citizens and businesses. I will change this culture immediately.”

Westcamp hopes voters will recognize his administration as one that delivers on its promises.

“I’ve proven I can deliver,” he said. “Look at what my administration has accomplished in the last four years: excellent financial accounting and rating; received Auditor of State Award with Distinction; implemented an energy-reduction program for city buildings resulting in $101,413 of electric savings alone in 2014; purchased and renovated a building for the police department instead of building a new facility, saving more than $4 million to Groveport taxpayers; opened a new senior citizen-housing development; redeveloped blighted downtown property and brought Ace Hardware to spur additional downtown development; led management team that successfully negotiated the creation of 2,500 new jobs since 2011; and provided continued substantial increase in tax dollars for projects and essential financial assistance to the Groveport Madison schools.”

Gale hopes voters will look to him to be their advocate at City Hall.

“I have a record of continuous improvement throughout my career; a record of team-building, working with diverse groups of people and achieving outstanding results,” he said. “I know how to ignite business growth and I have new, fresh ideas and answers for the issues that face our city. I will be involved in every aspect of city business in our city on a daily basis.”

City council

Incumbent council members Jean Ann Hilbert and Shawn M. Cleary are running unopposed.

“I want to make sure that the right decisions are made so that we, the citizens, can have a city that we are proud of, raise a family in and grow old in,” Cleary said.

Hilbert also mentioned business investment as an ongoing priority, but said she is particularly concerned with keeping a focus on implementing the city’s comprehensive plan.

“We have an aggressive plant to maintain roadways, infrastructure and walkways that needs to stay on track,” Hilbert said.

ThisWeek CW 10/1/2015

http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/canalwinchester/news/2015/09/28/history-recounted-through-annual-ghost-tour.html

The ghosts of the city’s past will again wander the streets of Canal Winchester this October while enlightening guests as part of the 10th annual Historic Ghost Tour.

The Canal Winchester Area Historical Society will host the tour, a fundraiser for the organization, Oct. 9 and 10. Participants will walk to six different historic locations where they will be greeted by famous “ghosts” of Canal Winchester who will provide anecdotes and historically accurate information about themselves and the town.

Tours will depart from Faith United Methodist Church, 15 W. Columbus St., each night starting at 7 p.m. with the last one leaving at 7:30 p.m. Tickets may be purchased beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the church.

Tickets cost $10 per adult and $5 per student; there is no charge for children age 5 and younger. All proceeds will be used to support the historical society’s core programs and preservation projects.

This year’s stops will include the Town Hall building where current Mayor Michael Ebert will portray former mayor K.L. “Mike” Miller.

According to event organizer Elaine Thomas, Ebert won’t just be playing the role based on history books, because Miller was the mayor of Canal Winchester when Ebert was a boy.

“When I talked to Mayor Ebert about taking this on, I asked if he remembered how Mayor Miller dressed and carried himself,” Thomas said. “The mayor said he remembered it well and so I said, ‘great, you’ve got the part, now just find yourself an outfit like what you remember Mike Miller wearing.’ ”

The first stop on this year’s tour will be the Municipal Building, followed by the Frances Steube Community Center to meet Frances Steube and hear more about the life of one of the city’s most accomplished women. Steube was the city’s first female council member and was a founding member of the historical society.

Other stops include Dr. Williard Gayman’s former office along Waterloo Street. Gayman was one of the first Canal Winchester residents to own an automobile. Gilbert Guiler will greet guests at the park bearing his name to explain his role in the city’s history; Jedson Wynkoop, a veterinarian and educator, rounds out the evening.

Thomas said every stop will have re-enactors who will help tell the story of the place, the person and the broader city history to participants.

“I think our guests will really enjoy learning the history of Canal Winchester this way and with so many new people moving here each year, I’m sure many of them don’t even know about all of things that have been a part of our city’s history,” Thomas said.

“We’re much more than just what’s on Gender Road. Just coming down to walk through downtown and to take in the old buildings and the styles of buildings, you get a sense of how much history is here,” she said.

The last tour at 7:30 p.m. will be accompanied by the Human Services Senior Transport Van that allows those unable to walk the tour route to take part.

ThisWeek CW 10/1/2015

http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/canalwinchester/news/2015/09/28/gender-groveport-roads-city-wont-seek-opwc-funds-for-intersection.html

Canal Winchester officials opted not to pursue grant funding for upgrades to the Gender and Groveport roads intersectionthis year because of tight deadlines and concerns about the project’s competitiveness.

For the second year in a row, upgrades aimed at easing traffic congestion and increasing safety at the intersection are being put off, according to city engineer Adam Vorhis, who spoke to Canal Winchester City Council Sept. 21 about the staff’s concerns with the project.

According to Vorhis, the project design would increase the number of turn lanes, the layout of a bicycle path and alter a traffic signal pattern, but that’s not why the Ohio Public Works Commission declined the city’s application for funding in 2014. He said the minimal design changes that were planned for this year’s application also wouldn’t affect the project’s competitiveness.

“It wasn’t the design that wasn’t competitive, it was the project, because (the OPWC) gives points based on the economic reinvestment area. Something I don’t want to call a weakness, but worked against us here, is that there hasn’t been a history of big accidents there — even though anyone going through the intersection at rush hour would know the upgrades are needed,” Vorhis said.

Councilwoman Bobbie Mershon asked what would make the project competitive in the future.

“When we originally applied for the grant, it was competitive and scored well enough that it would’ve been funded in the past seven out of 10 years, but the changes to the formula related to economic development meant it didn’t quite score high enough,” Vorhis said.

He said that with the new BrewDog development going in, the project’s score could increase next year.

Vorhis said he and Public Works Director Matt Peoples have been meeting with Madison Township officials about the Gender Road fire station, which could result in a collaborative application next year; that, too, could increase the score, he said.

“We were right at the deadline when we started meeting with Madison Township so we couldn’t get this done properly and in time,” Peoples said.

“Madison Township was disappointed we weren’t trying to move forward with the project, though, as they’re having increasing difficulties with getting trucks out of the station when traffic is heavy there.”

Peoples said equipment used by emergency vehicles to change traffic signals is out of date and needs to be upgraded, which could become another way of increasing the scoring for an OPWC grant application in 2016.

Route 33 soundwall

In other infrastructure news, Vorhis reported that the Ohio Department of Transportation is moving forward with plans to build a soundwall along U.S. Route 33.

“ODOT said it is still moving forward and is programmed for fiscal year 2017, which means the design process should start next July,” he said.

He said residents and city officials should see some surveys regarding the wall’s appearance being sent out by ODOT in about nine months to help prepare for the design phase of the project.

ThisWeek CW 10/1/2015

http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/canalwinchester/news/2015/09/28/emergency-sewer-line-repairs-will-cost-1-2m.html

Emergency sewer repairs will be done this fall near Gender Road and Old Creek Lane after city employees discovered extensive corrosion to a main sewer line connecting the south Gender neighborhoods to Canal Winchester’s treatment plant.

Public Works Director Matt Peoples said the $1.2-million project will take place in two phases. During the first phase, the sections of pipe that are most deteriorated will be relined. That work is estimated to cost about $750,000, he said.

The second phase will deal with relining manholes and other lower-priority sections; that work is likely to take place later in 2016.

Water Reclamation Superintendent Steve Smith said the pressurized pipe used to transport wastewater for treatment is about 50 years old and is only a couple years away from a potentially catastrophic failure.

“This pressurized forced sewer main has deteriorated from about where the Grace Bible Church is on Gender Road to the intersection of Old Creek Lane, which is about 600 feet, and then again from a manhole near the curve on Old Creek Lane all the way across the golf course to the treatment plant,” he said.

In August 2013, the city cleared the pipe of about three cubic yards of mostly concrete debris using a heavy-duty vacuum truck, Smith said, and since then, workers have been monitoring the pipes while making plans for how to best repair them.

Smith said the chemicals associated with sewage breaking down in the pipe are corrosive to the concrete liner.

“Right now, there is no emergency but eventually, a break in the pipe will cause a sinkhole and we’ll have to excavate a big, expensive section of smelly pipe in the middle of a nice neighborhood — which will take a long time and a lot of money,” Smith said.

“So what we can do now is to use a process where they inflate what looks like a long plastic sock in the pipe and then impregnate that with a resin that relines the whole pipe without any digging.”

This process can add between 50 and 100 years to the life of the sewer, Smith said.

Peoples said getting these repairs started is also a priority because this is the sewer line that will service the new BrewDog headquarters scheduled to open next July, “so we want this to precede the opening of the brewery.”

Smith added that starting the work in late fall will lessen the impact on residents.

“We’d expect that in about November, we’ll do phase one, because there are less odors in fall and winter and we’ll have to cross the golf course, so we want to impact them as little as possible,” he said.

“We have plenty of capacity for BrewDog as long as we make sure our infrastructure stays safe. With this relining, we should have a long future for this sewer line.”