buildingcincinnati

From the 1/26/07 Ashtabula Star Beacon: Rock Creek to get rubber sidewalks By STACY MILLBERG [email protected] ROCK CREEK - - Possible new sidewalks will put a spring in the step of village residents. Village Administrator John Casalina has submitted a letter of interest to the Ohio Department of Transportation to participate in a program that would put 4,000 square feet of rubber sidewalks in the village. If selected for the program, ODOT will fund the total cost of the project, Casalina said. The rubber sidewalks are fabricated from recycled tires and come in two colors - - gray and terra cotta. They are resistant to salt and cold weather, Casalina said. http://www.starbeacon.com/local/local_story_026071533

^ I'm guessing the writer is paraphrasing someone she heard in the meeting (though she doesn't mention anyone), but, yeah, it looks weird in there.

Those are fantastic, man.

From the 1/26/07 Blade: * PHOTO 1 * PHOTO 2 HOSPITAL EXPANSION PROJECT REACHES MILESTONE Dwarfed by the work area around him, Gary Gordon, president of Toledo Hospital, speaks during a news conference as the hospital’s Renaissance Project reaches its enclosure milestone. Yesterday marked the point in the process where the bed tower for the hospital expansion was enclosed. In addition to the news conference, members of the news media were allowed to tour the $156 million construction project that began in the summer of 2005 and is scheduled for completion in January, 2008. Toledo Hospital and Toledo Children’s Hospital are members of ProMedica Health System, a Toledo-based, not-for-profit health care organization that serves 23 counties in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan. Full story at http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070126/NEWS32/70126006/-1/NEWS

From the 1/26/07 Dispatch: * RENDERING: A rendering of the proposed renovations to 90 N. High St., the headquarters of Experience Columbus 3D / GROUP INC. Experience Columbus at crossroads Squeezed for space, visitors bureau will renovate or move Friday, January 26, 2007 Mike Pramik THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Experience Columbus says it has outgrown its headquarters a block from Capitol Square and is considering a move to the Arena District. Then again, central Ohio?s convention and visitors bureau might stay put, thanks to a plan by its landlord to pump $1.4 million into the bureau?s building at 90 N. High St. [email protected] http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/contentbe/dispatch/2007/01/26/20070126-G1-01.html

Story includes photos. From the 1/31/07 Blade: Plan for cuts at spark plug plant has area Fostoria's residents on edge 520 of 650 jobs could go by 2009 By JULIE M. McKINNON BLADE BUSINESS WRITER FOSTORIA - Lee Carpenter was making $8 an hour at a Tiffin factory when he landed a job at Honeywell International Inc. Nearly two years later, the husband and father is paid $12 an hour at the Fostoria spark plug factory and is working toward $16 an hour. Senior Honeywell workers make about $20 an hour on average. "That's fantastic," Mr. Carpenter said of his current hourly rate. "I've done a lot worse jobs for a lot less money. It's a good job." But will it last? Honeywell plans to eliminate up to 520 of 650 jobs at the plant by 2009, after it opens a Mexican factory. That could be nearly 200 more jobs than expected three years ago, when the company and United Auto Workers Local 533 agreed to eventually end production of standard copper-core spark plugs in Fostoria and concentrate on premium parts... http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070131/BUSINESS06/701310381/-1/BUSINESS

From the 1/27/07 Blade: Spark plug operation moving to Mexico; up to 500 jobs to be lost FOSTORIA - Honeywell International Inc., whose Fostoria spark plug plant is the city's largest employer with 650 workers, plans to move work to a new plant it is building in Mexico and eliminate up to 500 jobs by 2009. Officials of United Auto Workers Local 533, which represents workers at the firm's Autolite unit plant in Fostoria, said this week that company officials told them on Jan. 19 that the plant work force would be cut to 130 to 250 jobs as work begins shifting south... http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070127/BUSINESS03/701270423/-1/BUSINESS

From the 1/25/07 Fostoria Review Times: Honeywell slashing jobs By SEAN CORP and RUSS ZIMMER staff writers Already staggered by the threat of ThyssenKrupp's departure, a union official is reporting Honeywell has decided to slash as many as 500 jobs from their Fostoria operation. During a Jan. 19 meeting between Local 533, which represents the employees of the local Honeywell plant, and management, union members were informed the company intended to scale down to an estimated workforce of 130 to 250 jobs " a sharp drop from the 650 people presently employed " by 2009, according to a union press release... http://www.reviewtimes.com/News/backissues/2007/Jan/ar_news_012507.asp#story2

From the 4/15/07 Gallipolis Daily Tribune: Gatling Ohio responds to rumors about mine By Beth Sergent Sunday, April 15, 2007 5:25 PM EDT RACINE - Nearly a year after announcing plans to develop a coal mining operation along Yellowbush Road and all the rumors that came with it, representatives of Gatling Ohio LLC are speaking. Ed Griffith with Gatling's Broad Run Mine in New Haven, W.Va., and Tim Myers, engineer with The Cline Group which owns Gatling, recently attempted to dispel some of the rumors about the Yellowbush Road operation. “We are not doing longwall mining and we are not mining under the village's water supply,” Griffith said unequivocally. Also not true, according to Griffith and Myers: the Yellowbush Mine is not owned by American Electric Power (AEP) and the seam they are mining, the Pittsburgh 8A, is a totally different seam than the Meigs 31 seam. MORE: http://www.mydailytribune.com/articles/2007/04/15/news/local_news/news00.txt

From ThisWeek Licking County, 4/15/07: ProLogis to erect $14M Building 3 Sunday, April 15, 2007 By LORI WINCE ThisWeek Staff Writer ProLogis, the company developing 220 acres north of U.S. Route 40 in Etna Township, will begin work on the third building this year. "We will begin Building 3 this year and hope to be done by the fourth quarter of this year," said Phillip Smith, a marketing representative for the company. The third building will be 524,187 square feet and is expected to cost $14-million, Newark records show. Smith said the company is working to secure a tenant but said no lease agreement has been signed yet. Read more at http://www.thisweeknews.com/?story=sites/thisweeknews/041507/LickingCounty/News/041507-News-337450.html

Conference center packs in people for opening Great Wolf debuts 40,000-square-foot facility that includes a 10,000-square-foot ballroom. By Denise G. Callahan; Thursday, March 29, 2007 A pack of people have already used the newly opened Great Wolf Lodge Conference Center. "Our grand opening was on March 15, but we had our first official group meetings the day before. As soon as we got our certificate of occupancy, we moved right in," said General Manager Jim Metzger. "I think that demonstrates there is a need for what we are doing in the marketplace." The 40,000-square-foot conference center on the north side of the lodge includes a 10,000-square-foot ballroom that can be subdivided into seven smaller sections or used as a whole. For the grand opening event, Great Wolf drove in several swanky sports cars and SUVs and set up a buffet to demonstrate the extreme capacity of the huge ballroom. Read full article here: http://www.pulsejournal.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/03/29/pjm032907confcenter.html

From the 3/16/07 Cincinnati Post: Great Wolf Lodge's problems not unique By Kevin Eigelbach Post staff reporter Health officials in Warren County hope that an investigation of upper respiratory complaints at the Great Wolf Lodge in Mason can provide answers to similar problems in other indoor water parks. Click on link for article. http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070316/NEWS01/703160351

Link contains photos. From the 3/9/07 Middletown Journal: More air tests called for at waterpark Buildup of chlorine levels and heat can become irritating, health officials say. By Tiffany Y. Latta, Denise Callahan Staff Writers Friday, March 09, 2007 MASON — Warren County and state health officials on Thursday requested additional testing be done at Great Wolf Lodge while continuing their investigation into health problems visitors said they suffered while staying at the indoor waterpark and conference center. Click on link for article. http://www.middletownjournal.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/03/09/mj030907greatwolf.html

From ThisWeek Delaware, 4/15/07: City-Berlin talks stumble again Sunday, April 15, 2007 By NATE ELLIS ThisWeek Staff Writer Three years after officials from the city of Delaware and Berlin Township began working on an annexation agreement, the two sides still haven't come to terms. In April 2004, officials from Delaware and Berlin Township opened talks to develop an annexation agreement to stipulate how about 1,000 acres of township land could be annexed to the city. Since that time, both sides repeatedly have touted progress in the talks, and at various points have signaled an agreement was pending. Despite this, no agreement has been reached and Delaware City Council has tabled legislation that would have authorized the execution of the annexation agreement. Days after the measure was tabled, Delaware city attorney Dan Bennington sent a letter to the township's attorney, Don Brosius, stating that because the legislation couldn't be passed "the issue is dead." However, Bennington's letter went on to state the city remains "very interested in pursuing an agreement with Berlin Township." That, according to city officials, is where the matter currently stands. MORE: http://www.thisweeknews.com/?story=sites/thisweeknews/041507/Delaware/News/041507-News-337342.html

From the 4/16/07 Enquirer: Smoking ban nears review BY JON CRAIG | [email protected] COLUMBUS - The meticulous, months-long hearing process over Ohio's indoor smoking ban could end this afternoon in a little-covered, obscure agency. The Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review - a branch of the Ohio General Assembly - holds a final public hearing at 1:30 p.m. today at the Statehouse. JCARR, comprised of 10 state legislators, can only strike down rules, according to committee director William L. Hillis. So if no legislator moves to invalidate all or part of the anti-smoking rules, the statewide ban can be enforced as early as May 1, according to Kristopher Weiss, a spokesman with the state Health Department. If the committee does strike down a rule, the matter goes to the General Assembly. Read more: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070416/NEWS01/704160392/1056/COL02

From Dix newspapers, 4/16/07: School voucher proponents address state lawmakers Governor's proposed budget eliminates program By MARC KOVAC Dix Communications COLUMBUS -- Middle school student Nicholas Craig recounted the spit balls, fist fights and mayhem that accompanied his days in the Columbus Public School system. He contrasted that learning environment with the private education he receives at a Christian school, made possible through a state voucher system. And he urged lawmakers last week to retain those vouchers, which would be discontinued under Gov. Ted Strickland's proposed biennial operating budget. "I think that if we did not have the EdChoice Program, I would not be able to attend a good school," Craig said. "Please fight to keep this program so that I can continue to focus on my education and to strive for my highest." The youngster was among the dozens of education advocates at the Statehouse, testifying before the House's Primary and Secondary Education Subcommittee. MORE: http://www.times-gazette.com/news/article/1863961 From the 4/16/07 Tiffin Advertiser-Tribune: Lakota officials talking about new amendment By Lisa Peer, Correspondent Lakota Local Schools District Board of Education is confronting the new issue of promoting awareness of the possible constitutional amendment to redesign the state’s funding for public schools, as discussed during their meeting April 9. The amendment has the possibility of being on the ballot this fall, depending on support from the public. Each school district has been given petitions, with a total of more than 402,000 signatures being needed to place the amendment on the ballot for the November elections. Lakota is to create a committee to pass out information about the petition and create a plan for getting signatures. One suggestion for gathering signatures includes setting up posts at sporting events and other school events. Although the signatures are to support putting the issue on the ballot, they do not show support for the issue itself. Along with this, only signatures of registered voters are to be used in the count. Lakota board members said the importance of this amendment is it will lower the number of property tax levies and require more financial support from the state government, essentially protecting the financial situations of school districts. MORE: http://www.advertiser-tribune.com/articles.asp?articleID=7620

From the 3/22/07 Beavercreek News-Current: Site plan approved by council By Doug Skinner Editor A specific site plan for a 68-unit condominium development was approved by Beavercreek City Council last week. Plans call for the development - which will be called Buckingham Village - to be located on 27.471 ares along the newly-created Park Overlook Drive, just south of the intersection of Grange Hall Road and Lujon Drive. "Planning commission recommended approval of the applicant zoning request for this project in August 2006," the staff report states. "The resolution passed by planning commission included conditions that there be a maximum of 74 units within the PUD, a 100-foot buffer to the north, south and west and did not allow any quad units on any of the perimeter buildings. When city council approved the applicant's zoning request, they further restricted the maximum number of units to 68, but changed the buffer to 60 feet to the north and south and 50 feet to the west and did not allow any quad units within the development." MORE: http://www.tcnewsnet.com/main.asp?SectionID=18&SubSectionID=263&ArticleID=143643&TM=47756.75 From the 3/21/07 Celina Daily Standard: Celina Daily Standard: Deciding not to take position on lowering lake water level (2/6/07) LIA wants master plan before lowering lake The nonprofit Lake Improvement Association (LIA) would consider agreeing to lowering the level of Grand Lake only if it were part of a master plan aimed at improving the lake. Jeff Vossler updated members of the LIA's Lake Restoration Committee Monday night about a meeting he attended last week with homeowners in the Northwood subdivision along state Route 703. Residents of the lakeshore community want the state to lower the lake's water level in the fall and winter months to lessen flooding. The area has flooded for years and more so in the last several months due to excessive rains. Vossler also said he told Northwood residents of an unsuccessful proposal the LIA and private Lake Development Corp. made to the state last year asking for $3 million a year for 10 years to restore the lake and for an Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) planner to be assigned to help coordinate the effort. The funds would pay for riprap along the lake's shoreline and around islands to lessen shoreline erosion, wetlands construction around lake tributaries to filter out sediment and attached nutrients that run off mostly from farmland, lake dredging and other management practices aimed at improving water quality. MORE: http://www.dailystandard.com/archive/story_single.php?rec_id=2463

Taken 3/21/07. Photos start with the north face of the tower and proceed counterclockwise.

From the 4/15/07 Blade: FORCED TO BLAZE NEW TRAILS Decision time for Maumee stamping workers By JULIE M. McKINNON BLADE BUSINESS WRITER TOM PRUSAKIEWICZ and his wife, Heather, had discussed whether he should retire before this fall from Ford Motor Co.'s Maumee Stamping Plant. The company's decision to shutter the plant next year left the 53-year-old Bedford Township resident with little choice. Staying with Ford after nearly 35 years by working at another plant had no appeal, especially because Mrs. Prusakiewicz has a job with Bedford Public Schools. So Mr. Prusakiewicz is taking a $35,000 buyout and retiring with his pension and health benefits for life. "I could transfer, but I don't want to go to Buffalo, and I don't want to go up to Detroit, and I don't want to go to Cleveland," he said last week... Contact Julie M. McKinnon at: [email protected] or 419-724-6087. http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070415/BUSINESS02/704140332/-1/RSS04

From the AP, 4/5/07: Ford CEO cites need for change Dealer consolidations, more competitive wages and benefits are goals By Ken Thomas Associated Press NEW YORK - Ford CEO Alan Mulally said Wednesday the company's sweeping turnaround plan remains on track, but the automaker needs to pursue consolidations in its dealership network to improve its fortunes. Mulally, speaking to reporters at the New York International Auto Show, also suggested "our wages and benefits are not where they need to be to be competitive.'' Significant contract talks with the United Auto Workers are scheduled this summer. "If there is not a competitive Ford, it's not going to be OK for anyone,'' Mulally said... http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/business/17030847.htm?source=rss&channel=ohio_business

From the 4/2/07 Lorain Morning Journal: Ford workers in Avon Lake approve competitive bargaining agreement ALEX M. PARKER, Morning Journal Writer 04/02/2007 AVON LAKE -- Workers at Ford's Ohio Assembly Plant yesterday overwhelmingly approved a competitive bargaining agreement, according to union sources. The agreement, which Ford said will boost the plant's productivity and efficiency, was passed by 82 percent of the members of the United Auto Workers Local 2000, according to Michael Donovan, a member of the union's bargaining committee. Several plants across the country have signed on to similar agreements, which are part of the troubled automaker's plan to return to profitability... http://www.morningjournal.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18157594&BRD=1699&PAG=461&dept_id=46371&rfi=6

From the 3/29/07 Lorain Morning Journal: UAW, Ford to vote on competitive operating agreement MEGAN KING, Morning Journal Writer 03/29/2007 AVON LAKE -- Union negotiators for workers at the Ohio Assembly Plant in Avon Lake have reached a tentative competitive operating agreement with Ford, according to an e-mail newsletter distributed yesterday by United Auto Workers Local 2000, the union that represents the plant's workers. The UAW membership is scheduled to vote on the agreement from noon to 1:30 p.m. Sunday at Southview High School, Lorain, according to the e-mail. UAW President Tim Donovan and first Vice President Jerome Williams were unavailable for comment yesterday... http://www.morningjournal.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18141553&BRD=1699&PAG=461&dept_id=46371&rfi=6

From the 3/28/07 PD: Ford may add work at local complex New vehicle to use Ohio-built engine Wednesday, March 28, 2007 Robert Schoenberger Plain Dealer Reporter Ford Motor Co. is scheduled to announce plans next week for a new crossover vehicle, raising to eight the number of products that will use the Ohio-built 3.5-liter Duratec V-6 engine. So far, the engine has been produced only in Lima, but with so many vehicles using the same power plant, Ford may have to start production soon at its Cleveland Engine Plant No.1 in Brook Park as well. "We think there's going to be enough demand to make the engine at both plants," said Chris Brower, an analyst with J.D. Power & Associates in Detroit. He predicted the engine could be in production locally as early as next year. Ford spokeswoman Anne-Marie Gattari declined to say which plant will produce engines for its new crossover, but she said, "Both plants have capacity." more at: To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: [email protected], 216-999-4059 http://www.cleveland.com/business/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/business/117507122446300.xml&coll=2

From the 3/15/07 News Sun: State officials are working to keep Ford in Ohio Thursday, March 15, 2007 By Jaime Anton The News Sun Last week: Last year was the toughest in history for the three Ford Motor Co. plants in Brook Park. There were buyouts, a stymied project to upgrade the smokestacks and lengthy shutdowns to catch up with inventory. "Our future relies on new technology and products to determine how long we stay open," said union president Tim Levandusky. Each year, the three Ford Motor Co. plants in Brook Park shut down in December for a few weeks, but this year, for the first time, they were shut down for a month or more. "That's all volume-related," said Tim Levandusky, president of the United Auto Workers Local 1250. "As we were losing market share, to adjust to the market share, we had to take down weeks." Plant No. 1 is still experiencing some down time, but it has disassembled the entire afternoon shift, which affected 180 employees, some 60 or 70 workers were laid off and others, who were younger, took jobs elsewhere in the plant. "Shutdowns help us balance the market share with volume reductions," Levandusky said... http://www.cleveland.com/sun/newssun/index.ssf?/base/news-0/1173981067228750.xml&coll=3

From the 2/24/07 PD: Ford Lima plant gets engine work Saturday, February 24, 2007 Peter Krouse Plain Dealer Reporter Ford Motor Co. said Friday that the engines for three of its new vehicles will be built in Ohio. The reintroduced 2008 Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable, along with the new 2008 Taurus X crossover, will be powered by Duratec 35 V-6 engines manufactured in Lima. The Taurus replaces the Five Hundred, the Sable takes the place of the Montego, and the Taurus X replaces the Freestyle. The Lima plant already makes engines for the Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX crossovers and for the Lincoln MKZ luxury sedan. Ford expects 20 percent of its vehicles to be powered by the 3.5-liter Duratec 35 engine by the end of the decade, Randy Ortiz, general sales manager for Ford, Lincoln and Mercury, said at a news conference at the International Exposition Center, where the Cleveland Auto Show starts today and runs through March 4... To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: [email protected], 216-999-4834 http://www.cleveland.com/business/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/business/1172309723111490.xml&coll=2