buildingcincinnati

From the 1/21/07 Elyria Chronicle-Telegram: Can Midway Mall survive? It promotes itself as a 1.1 million-square-foot super-regional center with more than 130 specialty stores. But with 37 empty storefronts totaling more than 175,000 square- feet of unused space, one can’t help but worry ... Lisa Roberson The Chronicle-Telegram Six months after Centro Watt bought Midway Mall, businesses and customers are still wondering what the Australian-based company will be able to do that two previous owners couldn’t... Contact Lisa Roberson at (440) 329-7121 or at [email protected]. FULL ARTICLE AT: http://www.chroniclet.com/2007_Archive/01-21-07/Daily%20Pages/012107head5.html

Sales for Phase One, which covers the former Shuller's Wigwam property, have already begun. I would expect groundbreaking to occur when a substantial amount are pre-sold. The sale of land agreement for the former Kroger property is in the works and should come through within the next few months. On the southwest corner of the intersection, land is now under CHCURC control which will become the site of a metal gateway sculpture. This should be installed by the end of the year. A similar sculpture will go on the south side of the business district at Hamilton and Llanfair avenues. This sculpture will be installed after the City completes its new fire station on the site.

From the 4/24/07 Blade: Dana's '07 bankruptcy bills could be $180M, trustee warns Lawyers, consultants, and other experts involved in Dana Corp.'s bankruptcy could rack up bills totaling as much as $180 million by year's end, according to the U.S. trustee overseeing the case. The trustee, Diana Adams, warned the U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge in New York City that such bills were likely at the "current burn rate" in the case. ---- More at: http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070424/BUSINESS03/704240324/-1/RSS04

Both from the 4/24/07 Enquirer: Mayor criticizes likely killers list BY JANE PRENDERGAST | [email protected] Creation of a list of 1,500 likely murderers drew criticism Tuesday from Cincinnati’s mayor, who called it “a class-action lawsuit waiting to happen.” The politicians behind the list – City Council candidates Melanie Bates and Charlie Winburn, with help from Hamilton County Commissioner Todd Portune – hoped the city and other jurisdictions would use their list, which Bates called a roster of “people with the potential to kill in our neighborhoods.” http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20070424/NEWS01/304240054/ Cop accused of removing DUI record BY SHARON COOLIDGE | [email protected] A Cincinnati police officer is accused of helping an acquaintance by removing a drunken-driving citation from the record before it was sent to court, Police Chief Tom Streicher said Monday. Officer Clayton Neel was arrested Monday afternoon on a charge of tampering with records, Streicher said. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070424/NEWS01/704240406/-1/rss

From the 4/24/07 Times-Reporter: IV board supports school funding amendment By KYLE KONDIK, T-R Staff Writer PORT WASHINGTON – The Indian Valley Board of Education voted Monday night to support an Ohio constitutional amendment designed to change the way the state funds its schools. Supporters of the amendment, dubbed “Getting it Right! for Ohio’s Future,” are trying to gather enough signatures to put the amendment on the November ballot. If passed, it would establish that a “high quality education is a fundamental right for every Ohio child,” according to a campaign Web site, www.rightforohio.org. Amendment supporters say the amendment would reduce local property taxes and change a school funding system that the state Supreme Court has declared unconstitutional four times. Critics say the amendment is vague and could be pricey for state taxpayers. MORE: http://www.timesreporter.com/index.php?ID=66953&r=8&Category=5

From the 4/23/07 Dayton Business Journal: Ethanol boom seeds increase in corn production Dayton Business Journal - April 20, 2007 by Yvonne Teems DBJ Staff Reporter Tom Scott of Scott Farms in Darke County plans on harvesting more cash this year by planting more corn. Taking advantage of skyrocketing corn prices, Scott said he will plant 60 percent corn and 40 percent soybeans on his 2,500-acre farm this year, compared with the 50/50 split between the two crops last year. If corn prices stay high, Scott said he'll plant corn on two-thirds of his property next year and reserve just one-third for soybeans. More at: http://dayton.bizjournals.com/dayton/stories/2007/04/23/story5.html

Link includes photos. From the AP, 4/24/07: Getting out of the hole Delta set to emerge from bankruptcy; sales on rise THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Delta Air Lines Inc., a week away from leaving bankruptcy, reported Monday that it narrowed its loss in the first quarter on an 11.4 percent rise in sales. The nation's third-largest carrier said it lost $130 million in the three months ending March 31, compared to a loss of $2.07 billion for the same period a year ago. The year-ago loss included $2 million in dividends that accrued for preferred shareholders. Excluding reorganization and special items, Delta said it lost $6 million in the latest quarter. Delta's balance sheet did not list per-share figures. Revenue in the first quarter rose to $4.14 billion, compared to $3.72 billion for the same period a year ago. As of March 31, Delta had $2.9 billion in unrestricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments. Atlanta-based Delta, which filed for bankruptcy protection on Sept. 14, 2005, is expected to emerge from Chapter 11 next Monday. Its stock will be canceled, and it will issue new shares to pay creditors and generate new investors. A confirmation hearing on its reorganization plan is scheduled for Wednesday in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New York. Full story at http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070424/BIZ01/704240357/1076/BIZ

From the 4/24/07 Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: * PHOTO: Workers continue construction on the new WalMart store that is being built on Ety Road on Monday. E-G photographer Anthony De Young * PHOTO: Three construction workers put up the steel supports for the new Khol's Department store that is being built on Ety Road. Photos by E-G photographer Anthony De Young Ety Road excitement Construction of Wal-Mart, Kohl's continue on Ety Road LANCASTER - Not too long ago, residents learned a major shopping center would be constructed off of Ety Road and Memorial Drive. The city's first major retail development in several years is well under way. Construction crews are transforming the farmland into the Ety Pointe Centre - the future home of several big-box and regional chain stores. Wal-Mart, Kohl's department store and Menards Home Improvement Center will anchor the retail development not far from River Valley Mall - a regional shopping draw. Full story at http://www.lancastereaglegazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070424/NEWS01/704240301/1002/rss01

From Cincinnati.com, 4/23/07: Panera Breads, Huntington Bank open this week at Bridgewater Falls Contributed By Sue Kiesewetter | Enquirer contributor Panera Bread will open its 16th Southwest Ohio bakery and café at 6 a.m., Friday, in the Bridgewater Falls Shopping center in Fairfield Township. Ribbon cutting ceremonies will be held at 8:30 a.m., Wednesday for Huntington Bank and at 4 p.m., May 3, for Dream Dinners, a food assembly store. The bank is located on an out lot at the corner of Ohio 4 Bypass and Princeton Road. Paulette Helm will serve as the branch manager, said Laura Gorman, Huntington’s marketing specialist. The full-service bank will open for business following the ribbon cutting. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays; 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Fridays; and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. “This is a booming area with residential neighborhoods popping up everywhere,’’ said Lisa Jones, Panera’s marketing coordinator. The menu features artisan breads, pastry, baked goods, bagels, soups, gourmet coffees and other beverages for eat-in or carry out. Meal prices average $5-$8, with breakfast costing a little less. As part of its grand opening for the 4,700 square foot store, Panera is bringing in Ramblers, a Columbus area group playing big band music. They will be performing from 9:15 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Friday. The first 300 customers will be given gift cards valued at $2 to $100. The store is part of the company’s Generation II design, new to the Cincinnati market, Jones said. The décor includes purples, blues accented with pink and teal. Framed, gallery style artwork don the walls. There is also a fireplace. http://rodeo.cincinnati.com/getlocal/gpstory.aspx?id=100065&sid=111519

From the 4/24/07 Lorain Morning Journal: Land deal to split tax gets tabled by council KATE GIAMMARISE, Morning Journal Writer 04/24/2007 LORAIN -- Skeptical council members voted last night to table a proposed agreement between the city of Lorain and Sheffield Village to develop land in the village and split the income tax from potential new businesses. Council members said they didn't see the benefit to the city, at this time. Mayor Craig Foltin, who had touted the agreement as a way to attract businesses to the area, said the idea can be revisited if companies are interested in locating in the area. http://www.morningjournal.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18251352&BRD=1699&PAG=461&dept_id=46371&rfi=6

Fourth school plan approved Wapakoneta Daily News, 4/16/07 The Ohio School Facilities Commission (OSFC) approved a fourth possible plan for future building projects for Wapakoneta City Schools. The "green" plan calls for renovating and adding on to the high school, which would accommodate about 1,310 students in seventh- through 12th-grades, including a special junior high section. Also included in the plan would be the renovation and expansion of an intermediate school with about 750 students in fourth- through sixth-grade, and two new elementaries - one with 550 students and another with 350 students - for kindergarten through fourth-grades. "The plan limits the size of the elementary building and provides room for growth," Wapakoneta City Schools Superintendent Keith Horner said, "yet still reduces by one the number of buildings we have now, and it still provides for a building in Cridersville." Horner said there is potential growth in the district's second largest community, and he does not want to economically depress one of the district's communities, which in turn could impact the district's bottom line as well. "My goal is to get through this process without splitting the district apart," Horner said. "There are advantages and disadvantages to all the plans. "This just provides another option for people to discuss," he added. "We don't want to get so many plans that it gets confusing, but we don't want to be limited either. This is just an option for a different scenario."

From Business First of Columbus, 4/23/07: Retail complex set for Limited land Business First of Columbus - April 20, 2007 by Dan Eaton, Business First A long-vacant piece of land in Reynoldsburg is on its way toward becoming the newest location for several national retailers. The southeast corner of East Broad Street and Waggoner Road is being cleared to become the Shops at East Broad, a 51-acre retail center that would be anchored by a 138,600-square-foot Lowe's home improvement store. John Brandt, Reynoldsburg's development director, said the site has taken a long time to develop because it's oddly shaped and bordered by an agricultural easement to the south. Home Depot Inc. considered the site before Lowe's Companies Inc. stepped in, Brandt said. Lowe's is targeted for 15 acres at the eastern edge of the development for what would become its 12th Central Ohio store. Though the retailer has appeared before various boards in Reynoldsburg to get needed approvals for the store, Lowe's executives declined to acknowledge the project. A Lowe's spokeswoman said the Mooresville, N.C.-based merchant has not closed on the real estate transaction and would have no comment on the project until a deal is completed. MORE: http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2007/04/23/story10.html

From the 4/24/07 DDN: Bonnybrook Farms to move to Warren County By Katherine Ullmer Staff Writer Tuesday, April 24, 2007 WASHINGTON TWP., Montgomery County — The 95-acre Bonnybrook Farms property between Clyo Road and Spring Valley Pike has been sold. Bonnie Mercuri, co-owner of the farm with her husband, Joe Mercuri, said they plan to send a letter to "friends" of the farm today saying they bought a new 350-acre farm along the Todd's Fork stream in southeast Warren County. "It's about 25 miles, a 40-minute drive from the old site," Mercuri said. "We have broken ground and building has begun." She wouldn't give an exact location because the farm won't open again until 2008, she said. No business will be conducted this summer at the old site, which closed in February. The new site will have haunted hayrides, fall farm days, educational field trips and corporate picnics but no horse boarding or riding lessons, she said. You can follow the new farm's progress at www.bonnybrookfarms.com. MORE: http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/04/23/ddn042407farm.html From the 4/23/07 Dayton Business Journal: Plastic bottle manufacturer to relocate to larger home Sidney's Ring Container to move this fall Dayton Business Journal - April 20, 2007 by Tracy Kershaw-Staley DBJ Staff Reporter Ring Container Corp. has signed a lease to relocate its Sidney operations across town to an abandoned facility in the city's core. Ring Container, a maker of plastic bottles for mayonnaise, kitty liter and other products, will lease space in the former Monarch Machine & Tool facility, a 466,000-square-foot building on Oak Street just a few blocks outside of downtown Sidney that is being renovated by Don and Gayle Wright of Don Wright Realty. Gayle Wright is now overseeing a $4 million renovation of about of a quarter of the building for Ring Container. The move will give Ring an additional 50,000 square feet and room to grow the business, said plant manager Dane Felver. Felver said there are no plans to add employees with the move, but it will give them needed room to go after new business, which could lead to more jobs. MORE: http://dayton.bizjournals.com/dayton/stories/2007/04/23/story8.html Hi-Point, CIC propose idea for armory Urbana Daily Citizen, 4/24/07 The city of Urbana administration is giving serious consideration to a joint proposal of the Ohio Hi-Point Career Center and the Community Improvement Corporation to use the vacated armory as a place to train future workers and assist beginning businesses. This suggestion is one of a few posed to city leaders and the one that appears to have unofficial approval. "We're focusing on Hi-Point's and CIC's request," Director of Administration Bruce Evilsizor said, adding details of a contract that would go before city council are being discussed. "We want to see a beneficial use of the property," Evilsizor said. He said the idea of training people to enter the work force and creating new businesses and new jobs is a positive step for the city. The Ohio National Guard vacated the North Main Street structure last year and is expected to soon turn the 3.5 acres over to the city soon.

Link contains photos. From the 4/22/07 Blade: Hog farm plans breed anxiety Heath issues, lack of permits cause outcry By JENNIFER FEEHAN BLADE STAFF WRITER ARCADIA, Ohio - Across Hancock County, 20,000 hogs are being raised on small traditional farms and in highly mechanized confinement barns with 1,000 or more hogs each. None, though, has raised a public outcry like a Cass Township farmer's plans to breed and raise nearly 7,500 hogs in three facilities on his family's land just northeast of Findlay. Concerned about negative health and environmental effects, some neighbors contend that farmer Cecil Boes, Jr., is sidestepping the law by configuring the hog operation so that he does not need to obtain state permits. Mr. Boes, 52, disputes the allegation, saying that two of his five children - his 25-year-old son and 22-year-old daughter - are interested in farming and would each be the sole proprietors of separate, 2,450-head finishing barns, where hogs are raised for slaughter. Full article: http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070422/NEWS17/704220336/-1/RSS08

From the 4/17/07 Findlay Courier: Crowds turn out for meeting about big hog farm By JOHN GRABER STAFF WRITER Several hundred people gathered Monday night for an informational meeting about a large-scale hog farm that Cecil Boes Jr. is planning in Cass Township, northeast of Findlay. The big crowd spilled out of the Cass Township Hall, forcing people to gather around windows to try and hear what was being said inside. A group of Cass Township residents concerned about the 7,500-hog operation that Boes has in mind brought in a couple of outside experts to speak about the dangers of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO) at a meeting scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. However, an impromptu meeting of people supporting Boes' plans met at the township hall at 5 p.m. and stayed for the second presentation. Gary Kapostasy, one of organizers of the 6 p.m. meeting, said the Boes supporters filled the room to overflowing and kept other people from coming inside to hear what was being said about CAFO concerns. MORE: http://www.thecourier.com/Issues/2007/Apr/ar_news_041707.asp#story2

From the 4/14/07 Findlay Courier: Hearing on hog farm planned By JOHN GRABER STAFF WRITER Cass Township residents are organizing against a large-scale hog farm that Cecil Boes Jr. intends to build just northeast of Findlay, and they're bringing in some heavy hitters to help them. An informational meeting about concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO), commonly called factory farms or megafarms, is planned for 6 p.m. Monday at the Cass Township hall, 2249 County Road 18, Arcadia. John W. Sproat, a Columbus attorney who helped arrange a settlement for neighbors of the massive Buckeye Egg Farm in southern Ohio, will give a PowerPoint presentation on current research related to the economic, environmental and health impacts of factory farms. Also speaking will be Karen Hudson, a consultant for The Grace Family Farm Project, an Illinois-based organization dedicated to opposing factory farms. There will be a question-and-answer session after the presentation, followed by a township Board of Trustees meeting at 8 p.m. MORE: http://www.thecourier.com/Issues/2007/Apr/ar_news_041407.asp#story3

From the 4/4/07 Findlay Courier: Megafarm restriction rejected By RUSS ZIMMER FOR THE COURIER WEST MILLGROVE -- Despite shouting protests from a number of megafarm opponents, Perry Township trustees on Tuesday refused to ratify a zoning provision that would restrict agribusinesses. "If we pass a zoning change like this, I don't feel we are fulfilling our duty as township trustees," said Gene Stoudinger, chairman of the trustees. The trustees cited legal concerns about passing the language, which would have limited a farm to only a few hundred animals. County officials had previously warned that the restriction could open the township to litigation. Trustee Jeff Stearns said the trustees have to work within the structure of Ohio law, which prohibits townships and counties from regulating agriculture in any form, as they swore to do when elected. "That is exactly the oath we took," Stearns said. "That is exactly the oath I intend to uphold." Stoudinger said the power to exert local control does not come locally. "If you want to change this, it needs to happen in Columbus," he said. MORE: http://www.thecourier.com/Issues/2007/Apr/ar_news_040407.asp#story5

From the 3/30/07 Fostoria Review Times: Megafarm opponents unmoved By RUSS ZIMMER staff writer An informational hearing sponsored by the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation featured three experts, but none of them seemed to win over megafarm opponents. Larry Gearhardt, director of local affairs for the OFBF, said he was not surprised that the meeting, which lasted more than two hours, failed to impress some of the approximately 40 attendees. "There are certain people who will never change their minds," he said. During a question-and-answer segment following the individual presentations, a number of people challenged the tenacity of the state's regulations. Questioners grilled the presenters on biodigesters for manure purification, which have yet to be successfully implemented in Ohio, township roads, which could be ravaged by the heavy traffic coming to and from the concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO), and the abundance of uncapped oil wells in Wood County. MORE: http://www.reviewtimes.com/News/backissues/2007/Mar/ar_news_033007.asp#story2

From the 3/24/07 Findlay Courier: Hog farm plans causing water, odor concerns By JOHN GRABER STAFF WRITER Not everyone is in love with Cecil Boes Jr.’s idea of putting a 7,500-head hog farm on his property in Cass Township, northeast of Findlay. Township Trustee Jerry Wolford says he’s gotten quite a bit of feedback on the plan over the past few weeks. Topping the list of concerns he’s heard is all the water Boes is going to need to run an operation of that size. The farm will be using wells, and many township residents have raised concerns that the farm will wind up draining everyone else’s water supply -- or lowering the quality of water available to them. Boes estimates that each of the two “finishing” barns will use about 6,000 gallons of water per day and the “farrowing” barn (where the sows will give birth to pigs) will take about 12,000 gallons per day to run. However, he figures the water table won’t be harmed because each of the barns will be connected to separate wells. Based on an average precipitation rate of 35 inches per year, he figures his property gets over 942,000 gallons of water per year -- compared to the 876,000 gallons the hog operation would require. MORE: http://www.thecourier.com/Issues/2007/Mar/ar_news_032407.asp#story3

From the 3/21/07 Blade: Planning agency withdraws permit to build Wood County dairy megafarm By TOM HENRY BLADE STAFF WRITER Residents opposed to the construction of a 1,765-head dairy megafarm near Cygnet, Ohio feel they have bolstered their case by getting the Wood County Planning Commission to revoke a floodplain permit it issued Oct. 10 for the proposed facility. A March 7 letter to Vreba-Hoff Dairy Development LLC of Wauseon said the planning board's decision for the proposed Naomi Dairy in southern Wood County was being reversed because the "physical footprint of the [proposed] facility has been altered considerably." The letter, signed by Wood County's planning director, Dave Steiner, warned Vreba-Hoff that "legal action, including stop work orders and fines" could be imposed if construction proceeds without the county planning board's consent. Full article: http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070321/NEWS17/703210413/-1/RSS08

Columbus home to 1.72 million people Business First of Columbus Thursday, April 5, 2007 Columbus saw its population grow 7 percent from April 2000 to July 2006, the U.S. Census Bureau said. In a report released Thursday, the bureau said Columbus - growing to 1.72 million from 1.61 million - ranked 32nd in largest numerical gain in population among the nation's 361 metropolitan areas. The bureau named the Cincinnati-area - with its population growing 4.7 percent to 2.1 million people - as the only other Ohio city among the nation's 100 metro areas with the largest gain. It was 41st on the list. Full article: http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2007/04/02/daily21.html

From the 3/6/07 Fostoria Review Times: Megafarm issue dominates meeting with commissioners By RUSS ZIMMER staff writer Few people came to talk to the Wood County commissioners about megafarms during Monday's public meeting, but that did not stop the controversial subject from dominating the discussion. About a dozen people attended the final installment of "Commissioners, Conversations and Coffee" and only two were residents of Perry Township, the potential site of a massive dairy operation, but more than 45 minutes of the hour-long meeting was spent on the subject of concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). Ellen Gatrell, a Perry Township citizen, said she was surprised to see the turnout of her neighbors so low when township meetings recently have been standing room only. "I can't believe (prominent megafarm critics) are not here," she said. Gatrell proceeded to ask the commissioners if there were ways to fight the arrival of CAFOs despite state law which prohibits the regulation of agriculture, a classification which applies to all forms of dairy collection. Commissioner Tim Brown said the board has not done anything to invite these operations, but is also limited in preventing their establishment. "The law is very clear in Ohio: Townships and villages do not have any right to zone agriculture," he said. Perry Township is exploring the possibility of creating a zoning requirement for agribusiness, but has been advised by the county prosecutor's office that action may be illegal. Brown said unless the new state administration and the general assembly move to restrict CAFOs, local government will have to find other ways to monitor their effect on their surroundings. MORE: http://www.reviewtimes.com/News/backissues/2007/Mar/ar_news_030607.asp#story5

From the 2/24/07 Findlay Courier: County man planning big hog farm By JOHN GRABER STAFF WRITER A Hancock County farmer is making plans to put in a large-scale hog operation on his property in Cass Township, northeast of Findlay. Cecil Boes Jr. intends to erect facilities that would house somewhere between 7,000 and 7,500 hogs. That would include one "farrowing" building with about 2,450 sows turning out the pigs, and two "finishing" buildings where the hogs would be raised for slaughter. He hopes to have the "farrowing" barn in operation by August, with the first hogs coming out in December. He intends to put the barns in separate wooded areas that are spread out over the 1,700 acres that he crop farms. That should keep them out of view of neighbors and help cut down on odors, Boes said. It also means he would not have to get a permit from the Ohio Department of Agriculture to operate a concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO), commonly referred to as a megafarm. The state normally requires a CAFO permit for any hog farming operation with 2,500 hogs or more weighing over 55 pounds each. However, a permit is not required if the facilities are spread out over a large enough area and the ownership of each building is put under a different name. MORE: http://www.thecourier.com/Issues/2007/Feb/ar_news_022407.asp#story2

Residential Market Buyer incentives continue to drive development of homes downtown Business First of Columbus - by Bill Shelby For Business First Friday, March 2, 2007 The emphasis on downtown Columbus revitalization through new housing starts has proven a huge success, as 4,000 units have been created close to the halfway point to Mayor Mchael B. Coleman's initiative to develop 10,000 new downtown homes by 2012. But as the initial demand for downtown housing is fulfilled, the city must focus on emphasizing the buyer incentives in place to keep demand strong. While initial downtown housing developments attracted buyers at an unusually rapid pace, the fact is that people who have been longing for years to buy new downtown real estate have already done so. As continuing developments - and those not yet even on the horizon - contend with the subsequent change in demand, shifting the focus to the benefits buyers can receive in downtown property purchases will continue to lure new investors from a cooling suburban housing market. Full article: http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2007/03/05/focus7.html

From the 1/31/07 Fostoria Review Times: Trustees refrain from zoning restrictions By RUSS ZIMMER staff writer Another informational hearing was planned after the Perry Township trustees indicated they would not pass zoning laws restricting megafarms with their current knowledge. More than 100 people - almost all were against the establishment of a dairy operation - crowded into the West Millgrove volunteer fire station Tuesday to pressure the trustees. Near the conclusion of the nearly three-hour meeting meeting, trustee chairman Gene Stoudinger said he took an oath to uphold Ohio law, which prohibits township control over agriculture, when he was sworn into elected office. "To me, this is doing the opposite," Stoudinger said. That statement sparked groans from the audience, many of whom earlier addressed the trustees with concerns of health risks, property value losses, water shortages and an overall drop in the quality of life. Pam Frankfather, like other residents in attendance, voiced her anger with the lack of influence those potentially most affected by this new neighbor had with elected officials. "If our local government won't protect us, who will?" she asked to applause. Most of the audience, which switched from applause to boos depending on the speaker's stance, were at the end of their line with a battle that has been ongoing for more than a month, beginning with official action at a zoning commission meeting in December. MORE: http://www.reviewtimes.com/News/backissues/2007/Jan/ar_news_012907.asp#story3