buildingcincinnati

From the 2/13/07 Dispatch: Brown County engineer named director of ODOT Tuesday, February 13, 2007 Mark Niquette THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Gov. Ted Strickland yesterday picked Brown County Engineer James G. Beasley to run the Ohio Department of Transportation, leaving the new governor six more cabinet positions to fill. Beasley, 57, has been the engineer in the southwestern Ohio county since 1980 and will assume his new duties March 5 in what is typically one of the most patronage-laden agencies in state government. Strickland said he has known Beasley for more than 30 years and "without a doubt" Beasley "has the character and integrity needed to manage this crucial department." ... [email protected] http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/contentbe/dispatch/2007/02/13/20070213-D3-01.html

Link contains photos. From the 2/11/07 Blade: GOVERNOR'S STRATEGIES Strickland favors more state control K-12 and college education, health care would benefit By JIM TANKERSLEY BLADE POLITICS WRITER COLUMBUS - Gov. Ted Strickland has settled on strategies to improve health care, education, and higher education in Ohio. The same strategy, in fact, for all three: more state control. The newly elected Democrat says the move will boost quality and cut costs for the state's $10 billion annual investment in schools, colleges, and hospitals. Mr. Strickland wants to resurrect state regulations on hospital construction, group universities under a chancellor who reports directly to him, and package new statewide school achievement standards with an effort to shift classroom funding from local taxing districts to the state budget. ... Staff writer Joshua Boak contributed to this story. Contact Jim Tankersley at [email protected] or 419-724-6134. http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070211/NEWS24/702110337/-1/RSS

From the 2/6/07 Dispatch: Web extra Attorney general promises quick response to veto suit By Mark Niquette The Columbus Dispatch Tuesday, February 6, 2007 Attorney General Marc Dann vowed yesterday to move quickly in answering a lawsuit brought by Republican legislative leaders challenging a veto Gov. Ted Strickland issued on his first day in office. "We think it's in the interest of people of the state of Ohio and the consumers of the state who have an interest in Senate Bill 117, but also to the operation of government, that we get this resolved quickly," Dann said. "So I can tell you that we will exceed the deadlines as we go forward." ... [email protected] http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/contentbe/EPIC_shim.php?story=244818

From the 2/3/07 Dispatch: GOP leaders sue Brunner, not Strickland, over first-day veto Saturday, February 03, 2007 Mark Niquette and Jim Siegel THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Republican legislative leaders sued Secretary of State Jennifer L. Brunner yesterday in an attempt to overturn Gov. Ted Strickland?s veto of a controversial bill his predecessor wanted enacted into law. The lawsuit, filed directly with the Ohio Supreme Court, seeks to overturn Strickland?s veto of Senate Bill 117, a businessbacked measure passed by the GOPcontrolled legislature in a lame-duck session at the end of last year. It would limit damages in consumer lawsuits and block cities from suing lead-pigment manufacturers. ... [email protected] [email protected] http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/contentbe/dispatch/2007/02/03/20070203-A1-05.html

From the 2/2/07 PD: So far, voters approve of Strickland, poll finds Friday, February 02, 2007 Mark Naymik Plain Dealer Politics Writer Less than a month into his first term, Gov. Ted Strickland is doing well in the court of public opinion. Forty-five percent of Ohio voters approve of his performance in office, and 60 percent support one of his first big moves, a decision to delay the executions of three men while he reviews their cases, a poll released Thursday shows. The phone poll of 1,305 Ohio voters, conducted Jan. 23-28 by Quinnipiac University, shows that just 12 percent of those surveyed are unhappy with him. Forty-three percent said they are not ready to judge the Democratic governor. The poll has a margin of error of 2.7 percentage points. ... To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: [email protected], 216-999-4849 http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1170409842299160.xml&coll=2 From the 2/2/07 Dispatch: Another Coleman staffer joining Strickland's team Friday, February 02, 2007 Mark Niquette THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Gov. Ted Strickland tapped another member of Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman?s administration, the Montgomery County treasurer and a former state representative for three state appointments yesterday. Strickland named Steve Campbell, Coleman?s senior adviser on regional affairs, as the chief of staff for the Ohio Department of Transportation, even as a search for the ODOT director continues. The new governor also named Hugh Quill, the longtime Democratic Montgomery County treasurer, to his cabinet to lead the Department of Administrative Services. ... [email protected] http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/contentbe/dispatch/2007/02/02/20070202-B7-02.html

From the 1/31/07 Dispatch: * PHOTO: The governor's desk drawer at the Statehouse bears the names of the past three officeholders, but Gov. Ted Strickland is undecided whether he will add his. Governors' old desk suits Strickland fine Will he carve his name? He's not sure Wednesday, January 31, 2007 Mark Niquette THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Gov. Ted Strickland hasn?t decided whether he will leave his mark the way three of his predecessors have. But he has time to sharpen his knife. Starting with George V. Voinovich and continuing with Nancy Putnam Hollister and Bob Taft, the previous officeholders have carved their names into the bottom of the top right-hand drawer of the 150-year-old desk in the governor?s office. Strickland, who took office Jan. 8, said he might add his name but hasn?t decided because the tradition is to do it right before leaving office ? and the desk is a part of the state?s history, after all. ... [email protected] http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/contentbe/dispatch/2007/01/31/20070131-B1-03.html

From the 1/28/07 Dispatch: * GRAPHIC: Turnaround plans * GRAPHIC: All the governor's men (and women) Governor's young staff snug in new office Strickland mixes things up, relocates to Statehouse Sunday, January 28, 2007 Mark Niquette THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Gov. Ted Strickland?s entire senior staff is crowded into two rooms at the Statehouse, with cubicle dividers separating some desks and others simply pushed next to one another. Staff members say they wouldn?t have it any other way. "We don?t like closed doors and closed offices," said John Haseley, Strickland?s chief of staff. "We like open space with all of us working within earshot of each other so that we can share ideas and yell across the hall." ... [email protected] http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/contentbe/dispatch/2007/01/28/20070128-C1-04.html From the 1/28/07 Ironton Tribune: Governor reflects on road to statehouse, looks ahead By Mark Shaffer/The Ironton Tribune Saturday, January 27, 2007 8:50 PM CST Not bad for a boy from Route 1 in Lucasville, Ohio. In November, Ted Strickland became governor of Ohio and swung the political balance in the state for the first time in more than a decade. Changing the balance For the first time in a long time, the person in the governor’s chair was not only rural, he was from southern Ohio and he was Democrat. That caused many political pundits to recall the era when Vern Riffe from New Boston ruled Columbus as the speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives. ... http://www.irontontribune.com/articles/2007/01/28/news/news708.txt

From the 1/25/07 Dispatch: Strickland to choose PUCO panelist Thursday, January 25, 2007 Alan Johnson THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH The state agency regulating public utilities, like much of the rest of state government, could be transformed by Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland. But it won?t happen overnight at the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, a fivemember panel that regulates electric, gas, telephone and water utilities, plus commercial transportation. During his four-year term, Strickland will put his stamp on the commission by appointing four of five members. The agency, by law, can have no more than three members of the same party. ... [email protected] http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/contentbe/dispatch/2007/01/25/20070125-D6-00.html

From the 4/12/07 Sandusky Register: * PHOTO: A locally-themed restaurant serving the full Starbucks menu is planned for the former Webers building at 129 W. Market St. in downtown Sandusky. Condos and coffee coming downtown By LAURA COLLINS | Thursday April 12 2007, 11:49am SANDUSKY The former home to Weber's Fine Fashions is being transformed into a restaurant with Starbucks on the menu and condos on the second and third floors. The building's ownership changed in February when Pamela (Baaske) Frisch purchased the property at 129 W. Market St. from Larry Aaron for $235,000. Frisch said she plans to open Yesteryears, a casual restaurant that will celebrate Sandusky with old town pictures and artifacts on the walls. Yesteryears will serve the full Starbucks menu, including its signature flavored hot and cold beverages. A 1973 graduate of Sandusky High School, Frisch hopes the restaurant will be a fun place for Sandusky natives to enjoy. "I want it to be a hometown restaurant. I think it will be cozier and comfier," Frisch said. More at http://www.sanduskyregister.com/articles/2007/04/12/front/241533.txt

From the 4/12/07 Dispatch: Fewer districts get aid boost in revised budget Thursday, April 12, 2007 Catherine Candisky THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH School districts received new estimates yesterday on how much state aid they would receive under Gov. Ted Strickland's proposed two-year budget. Budget analysts revised the figures after realizing mistakes had been made in the calculations influencing 425 of Ohio's 614 school districts. The bottom line: A slightly smaller number of districts would get an increase in state aid under the governor's plan than originally projected. Specifically, 302 districts would get more next school year, nine fewer than initially thought. The next year, 368 districts would receive more state aid instead of 371. Likely changes made to the budget as it moves through the House and Senate the next several weeks also will affect the figures. Under Strickland's budget plan, state aid would increase 2.4 percent next year and 3.9 percent the following year. MORE: http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/contentbe/dispatch/2007/04/12/20070412-D3-01.html From the 4/12/07 Lisbon Morning Journal: Columbiana staff will gather signatures supporting school funding change By MATTHEW SCHOMER Journal Staff Writer COLUMBIANA — Columbiana school officials will be asking school employees to gather support for a state constitutional amendment to reform school funding. Superintendent Ron Iarussi told the Board of Education Wednesday he and district Treasurer Lori Posey have had a good deal of discussion about the amendment, and he will be enlisting district employees to collect signatures for the petition to put the amendment on the state ballot. The petition would need more than 400,000 signatures statewide to put the issue on the November ballot, but backers of the amendment are aiming for 1.8 million — one signature per pupil in Ohio’s public schools. In Columbiana, that means collecting 1,039 signatures, or 11 per employee of the school district. MORE: http://morningjournalnews.com/news/articles.asp?articleID=5672 From ThisWeek Worthington, 4/12/07: Board seeks additional information on funding amendment Thursday, April 12, 2007 By CANDY BROOKS ThisWeek Staff Writer As the Worthington Board of Education begins to grapple with the complex ramifications of the proposed state school-funding amendment, one board member already knows for sure where he stands. "This amendment is bad for Worthington taxpayers, bad for Worthington Schools, and potentially devastating for Ohio's economy," board member Marc Schare said during Monday's board meeting. The board did not vote to support or oppose the amendment, but directed administrators to invite one of the movement's designers to come to a meeting and address both the board and the public. If enough signatures are collected, Ohio voters will decide this fall on the amendment aimed at guaranteeing a high-quality education for all Ohio students. The state legislature would then be required to fund what the commission dictates. It would shift the tax burden for schools from local property owners to the state, but does not specify how the state would raise that money. MORE: http://www.thisweeknews.com/?story=sites/thisweeknews/041207/Worthington/News/041207-News-336364.html

From the 4/3/07 Lima News: Strickland in Kenton talking about education David Trinko - 04.03.2007 KENTON — Gov. Ted Strickland visited Hardin Central Elementary School on Tuesday promoting his proposed solutions to the education funding problems. Visiting one of the poorer school districts in northwest Ohio, Strickland promised an educational plan that could add 6 percent to 6.5 percent state funding to the district’s coffers. “Any help you can give us is greatly appreciated,” said Kenton superintendent Doug Roberts, noting the district still needs support for its 0.75 percent income tax levy. “Kenton schools have cut 12½ positions in the last few years. It’s been tough.” MORE: http://www.limanews.com/story.php?IDnum=36952

From the 4/11/07 Lima News: Buildings up at ethanol site, company remains on target for November start Heather Rutz | [email protected] - 04.11.2007 LIMA — With five buildings under construction and more large pieces arriving daily, Greater Ohio Ethanol progress is full-speed ahead and still on target for a November start. “We got a lot done just today,” company President Greg Kruger said Tuesday. “It’s amazing what a 50-degree day with sunshine does, compared with snow.” Drivers on Interstate 75 can see progress made at the Hanthorn Road plant. The largest building is for drying the processed grain and storage. More at: http://www.limanews.com/story.php?IDnum=37228

From the 4/11/07 Tiffin Advertiser-Tribune: Courthouse three-step By Zachary Petit, [email protected] Longtime county resident Kenneth Davison described a new slogan to officials Tuesday about saving Seneca County’s courthouse slated to be totally or partially razed: “One, two, three.” “It means The Ritz Theatre, the Shawhan Hotel, (and) it means the county courthouse,” he said, noting the former two buildings were restored from poor conditions. “I think it’s utterly contradictory for us to rescue the theater and the hotel and then tear down the courthouse, which is the most important building in the county.” Following the Seneca County commissioners’ regular meeting, Davison described to the board reasons for saving the structure he said should be gradually restored. Among his different points, he said the failed 2002 vote for a 0.25 percent sales tax to fix the courthouse and other facilities was flawed. Davison said there was never a county vote to specifically demolish the building, and considered the issue in relation to a school levy: just because the levy fails doesn’t mean the school is torn down, he said. Full story: http://www.advertiser-tribune.com/articles.asp?articleID=7539

From the 4/12/07 Enquirer: Trustees hear from foes of impact fees Hamilton Twp. delays vote BY KATIE WEDELL | ENQUIRER CONTRIBUTOR HAMILTON TWP. - The township trustees decided to delay the first reading of an impact fee resolution until their next meeting after a lengthy public hearing Wednesday. The midday hearing saw a large turnout of residents and business owners, most expressing negative opinions of the resolution. "It's a disgrace to Hamilton Township," said 40-year resident Joe Rippe. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20070412/NEWS01/704120407/ From Community Press Mason-Deerfield Twp, 4/11/07: Complaint: Mason bond mailings false BY ERIC BRADLEY | COMMUNITY PRESS STAFF WRITER MASON - A Mason man opposing the Mason school district's May 8 bond issue to expand Mason High School has filed a complaint with the Ohio Elections Commission. John Meyer, president of the tax-accountability group Citizens for Accountability and Results in Education, sent the complaint April 10. In the complaint, Meyer said that mailings sent by pro-bond Committee for Preserving Quality in Mason City Schools violated a section of the Ohio Revised Code that prohibits knowingly sending out false statements regarding a campaign issue. http://news.communitypress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/C2/20070411/NEWS01/704110352/

Hadler plans Indianola Plaza renovations Business First of Columbus - 10:02 AM EDT Wednesday, April 11, 2007 The owner of Indianola Plaza in Clintonville is planning on giving the 42-year-old shopping center a makeover. Hadler Cos., which owns and manages the plaza, said it plans to update the design of the development. The 76,000-square-foot plaza is anchored by Weiland's Gourmet Market and a thrift store run by Volunteers of America. Columbus-based Ford and Associates Architects has redesigned the plaza and Hadler subsidiary Transamerica Building Co. will be in charge of renovations. Hadler representatives were unavailable immediately to say when the renovation would begin. Read more at http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2007/04/09/daily11.html?from_rss=1

Links contains a photo. From the 4/10/07 Miami Student: Municipal building to expand, relocate Kathleen Morton Issue date: 4/10/07 Section: Community Oxford city government will be seeing some changes, as plans are in the works for Oxford's Municipal Building to expand and relocate some of its facilities to the other side of High Street. Oxford City Council agreed to a decision March 20 to renovate the current Municipal Building and expand some of its facilities, with construction on the parking lot located on the corner of Church and Main streets. The current Municipal Building is located on 101 E. High St. on the corner of High and Poplar streets, and is expected soon to house only the city offices. The police and court facilities will be moved to what will be a new structure a block away, in the parking lot next to what used to be the uptown restaurant Pedro's. The floor plans for the two structures both include an option for parking garage, with approximately 20-30 parking spaces at each site, which would increase parking for Municipal Building employees. According to Vice Mayor Prue Dana, the benefit of approximately 60 city employees working in the uptown area is that they frequent the restaurants, banks and stores, adding diversity to the student orientation. MORE: http://www.miamistudent.net/media/storage/paper776/news/2007/04/10/Community/Municipal.Building.To.Expand.Relocate-2831697.shtml From the 4/12/07 Middletown Journal: Developer still pushing senior housing project By Ed Richter Staff Writer Thursday, April 12, 2007 MIDDLETOWN — The Cincinnati-based developer who wants to construct a 100-unit senior citizens housing complex off Lefferson Road says he will keep pushing to build the complex. Phil Montanus, managing partner for Towne Properties, said he believes "it's a good project," and said "there is a need for the project. "It would be an absolute asset for seniors in Middletown," Montanus said. The project is caught between the city's master plan, which seeks to revitalize some neighborhoods and its older housing stock, and city politics among members of Middletown City Council, Montanus said. MORE: http://www.middletownjournal.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/04/12/mj041207middcouncilnotebk.html Resthaven Barn deal ready for signatures Eastern Hills Journal, 4/10/07 The Woman's Art Club of Cincinnati is poised to present a check for $50,000 to the Village of Mariemont Friday, April 13, to finalize the purchase of the historic Resthaven Barn. "At one time our only option was to tear it down," Mariemont Mayor Dan Policastrosaid. The building which once served as a dairy barn for the Lindner family, founders of United Dairy Farmers, is now listed as a National Historic Landmark. Its second life will be as the headquarters of the Woman's Art Club of Cincinnati. The group plans to use the space for educational, instructional and gallery purposes. Mariemont Village Council and the foundation representing its funding efforts have agreed on a wide range of points to reach Friday's deal, including sharing the cost of asbestos removal and the amount of parking the facility will have. Residents oppose proposed zoning change Hillsboro Times-Gazette, 4/10/07 More than 30 people were in attendance Monday for a hearing held by the Hillsboro City Council on the possible rezoning of eight acres of property behind Sherwood Drive. The meeting was held so council could obtain comments and feedback from area residents on the issue, with all Sherwood Drive residents who spoke out at the meeting saying they are firmly against the rezoning. The issue was first brought to the Hillsboro Planning Commission during the latter part of 2006, with representatives of the property owner requesting a change from Residential A to Residential B zoning, so that the property might more easily sell. The proprietor of the property, according to real estate agent Rusty Fite, is John Dragoo. Leatherwood (LW) Associates has expressed intent to construct condominiums on the property, and needs the zoning change to facilitate the construction. Newport wants to move building for trail Campbell Community Recorder, 4/10/07 Tourists and bicyclists may soon have a new home in Newport if funding comes through for the Raymond Motors Preservation and Trailhead Project. The project consists of converting the old Raymond Motors gas station at the corner of Fifth and York streets into a trailhead, which is a place where people can park and easily access bike trails. The plan is to move the building from its current location to the corner of 10th and Saratoga streets and make it not only a trailhead, but also a kiosk for tourist information and possibly a transportation museum, said Robert Yoder, Newport's Main Street coordinator. "We have a great need for a place where people can find information about our city," Yoder said. "I really think it would be a nice addition to downtown Newport." Horse farm to become a park Cincinnati Enquirer, 4/10/07 To serve the growing population in its Warren County section, Loveland has bought a 10.5-acre horse farm and will convert it to a public park. The city paid $800,000 to Terry and Mary Christman for the property on Butterworth Road on the north side of Ohio 48. City Manager Tom Carroll said the park probably will have no athletic fields because many of those living in the nearby Brandywine on the Little Miami subdivision prefer more passive kinds of recreation, such as playground equipment, walking trails and picnic and meeting areas. But Carroll and Mayor Rob Weisgerber said nothing will be decided before city officials conduct numerous discussions with Loveland residents, recreation officials, sports leagues and any other interested parties about what the new park should contain. Loveland Herald: City buys Christman farm for park (4/9/07) Princeton to survey voters about bond issue Tri-County Press, 4/10/07 In the next few weeks 500 Princeton City School District voters will get a phone call. Princeton is contracting with a company called Triad to conduct a districtwide survey of randomly selected registered voters who have voted in the last two elections. The survey will gauge support of a possible bond issue to construct new middle and high school buildings. Results of the 40-question survey will be shared with the Princeton school board at its meeting at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 26, in Room 524 of Princeton High School. The survey, which begins Wednesday, April 11, will take about 10 to 12 minutes. The call will show up on residents' caller identification systems as Landings Research.

From the 3/12/07 Dayton Business Journal: Xenia Daily Gazette: Village receives $600,000 grant for McGregor project (1/25/07) First business park mapped out for quaint Yellow Springs Dayton Business Journal - March 9, 2007 by Yvonne Teems DBJ Staff Reporter The laid-back village of Yellow Springs is making room for its first business park. The town is getting a $15 million business and education park as an extension of the new Antioch McGregor University building that's under construction at the intersection of Dayton Yellow Springs and East Enon roads. The Center for Business and Education will be ready for new building construction mid-summer, said Dan Young, chairman of the Yellow Springs and Miami Township Community Improvement Corp., the group that owns the land and is working on the project. Development officials say they hope to attract businesses to the 34-acre park that will come to the region as a result of the Base Realignment and Closure Process of 2005. The park also comes at a time of economic struggle for Yellow Springs, which has watched its population shrink and has bled jobs in the past several years. MORE: http://dayton.bizjournals.com/dayton/stories/2007/03/12/story3.html From the 3/8/07 DDN: Dayton Daily News: South Park gets to build on vision (3/8/07) * MAP Developer's love for Dayton neighborhood leads to rehabarama Investors are planning to put about $2 million into Historic South Park homes. By Joanne Huist Smith Staff Writer Thursday, March 08, 2007 DAYTON — — Developer Theresa Gasper never forgot the old world charm of Historic South Park where she grew up and she's been searching for ways to uplift parts of the neighborhood that have declined over the years. She and developer Michael DiFlora, with assistance from neighborhood folks and the city of Dayton, now have a plan. They'll shine a spotlight on six to 10 homes in the city's largest historic district by backing a Rehabarama Home Show there Oct. 5 through 14. "I'm at a point in my life where I want to give back, and South Park is my target," said Gasper, owner of Full Circle Development, LLC. "I love this neighborhood. It's not so much the houses or the home tours. It's the people." Gasper and DiFlora, owner of The Home Group, LLC, have invested about $1 million to identify and buy homes for the show, then find contractors to rehab them. MORE: http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/03/07/ddn030807rehabarama.html Construction to begin soon Greenville Daily Advocate, 3/28/07 Get ready for a new look at Wayne Hospital. The Hospital Board of Trustees just approved a building project that will change the face of health care in Darke County. According to Wayne Deschambeau, President/CEO of the Hospital, ground will be broken sometime this summer on a construction project that will include a new emergency department, a new radiology department and new surgery suites at the Hospital. "Health care is changing at a rapid pace and we are making these very necessary changes to our physical plant to be able to meet the needs of our patients," Deschambeau said. After recording an almost 13 percent increase in patients seen in the Emergency Department in a single year, Wayne Hospital is addressing a huge need, Deschambeau said. The new construction will replace the current 10-bed department established 25 years ago. "This has been a trend we've identified over the past several years," Deschambeau said, "and it's reached the point where it is a critical need. The trend has been for an increase in the number of patients we see in the Emergency Department and a newly-designed ED will increase our efficiency." Hotel for pets in Sugarcreek Twp.? Suite! Dayton Daily News, 3/27/07 Pampered pooches and fussed-over felines will soon have their own local hotel with day care, boarding and "pawgress" reports at day's end. Doggies can lounge in private suites, watch pet-related TV shows, go to day camp or personal training to learn new tricks, or visit on-call vets, indoor parks for relief, and "bone booths" so their owners can call and chat. Cats will have their own air-conditioned/heated "cottage" and play areas. The area's first PetSmart PetsHotel is coming to Sugarcreek Twp., with a scheduled grand opening Nov. 17. It will be Ohio's first PetsHotel, one of 62 in the nation, said Jennifer Pflugfelder of PetSmart's Phoenix, Ariz., headquarters. "It's part of the humanization of pets, that whole trend," she said. "They're treated like family." Progress for development given thumbs up Greenville Daily Advocate, 3/25/07 Development at the Greenville Industrial Park continues to move forward, Mayor Greg Fraley told council members Tuesday. "Things are going very well at Greenville Industrial Park, especially in keeping up on infrastructure requirements," the mayor enthused. "Construction keeps going on at a rapid pace out there." And city council members approved two resolutions to help keep the progress moving forward. Council members approved a resolution authorizing the execution of an easement for electric right-of-way with DP&L for the installation of an electric service line at the Greenville Industrial Park. Council members also approved a resolution authorizing the safety-service director to advertise for bids and enter into contract for the construction of railroad infrastructure near the Greenville Industrial Park.

City council has passed unanimously an ordinance authorizing the City to enter into preliminary legislation with ODOT for improvements to Colerain Ave north of the Colerain-West Fork-Virginia intersection in Northside. This legislation will allow ODOT to program the project and to review environmental documents and plans. The project, tentatively scheduled for 2012, would include widening Colerain Ave to standard lane widths, adding street lighting, and removing on-street parking between Virginia Ave and Leeper St. As envisioned, the project cost would be $4.5 million. $3.6 million in federal funds has already been approved by OKI. The local share of $900,000 is expected to come from the state SCIP/LTIP grant program. WINDOWS LIVE BIRD'S EYE VIEW (looking west)

From the 4/11/07 Youngstown Vindicator: County failed to do cost studies on Oakhill fix-up, Cafaro says Commissioners don't realize how expensive it will be to renovate Oakhill, John J. Cafaro said. By PETER H. MILLIKEN VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER YOUNGSTOWN — The Mahoning County commissioners are woefully unprepared to take on undetermined costs associated with the renovation of Oakhill Renaissance Place to accommodate the county's Department of Job and Family Services, according to JFS' current landlord. "What the taxpayers should be concerned about is getting into a project that can cost millions and millions of dollars," said John J. Cafaro, executive vice president of the Cafaro Co... http://www.vindy.com/content/local_regional/293507713578585.php From the 4/10/07 East Liverpool Review: Renovations continuing at Columbiana County Courthouse By MARY ANN GREIER ([email protected]) LISBON — Air conditioners sticking out of windows on the first floor of the Columbiana County Courthouse won’t be needed much longer, but basement units will remain... http://reviewonline.com/news/articles.asp?articleID=7195 New schools wanted in Howland, Mathews Warren Tribune Chronicle, 4/9/07 Two Trumbull County school districts are looking at another state option because they are a long way from seeing dollars from the Ohio Schools Facilities Commission program... Lordstown looks at options for school Warren Tribune Chronicle, 4/9/07 Village elementary students would leave their more than 80-year-old school by the beginning of the 2008-09 school year, if district leaders have their way... School delays costing $315,000 Warren Tribune Chronicle, 4/6/07 The general contractor for the Willard School site has been given an ultimatum to resume construction or else the Warren School District will terminate the firm’s contract...

From the 4/7/07 Warren Tribune Chronicle: Delphi, union talks face long road By LARRY RINGLER Tribune Chronicle WARREN — Contract talks between Delphi Corp. and its second-largest union have a long way to go, the union’s chief contract bargainer says. Meanwhile, Delphi Corp. is staying mum about any Warren impact of the company’s decision to ship some finance-related jobs to an India-based company. ‘‘We’re somewhere around the third inning of a nine-inning game,’’ said Willie Thorpe, chairman of the IUE-CWA Automotive Conference Board said. ‘‘We’re trying to do plant sales. We’re trying to salvage a couple of smaller plants. Each local is working on their own to see what they can do. There’s a lot that goes into this.’’ ... [email protected] http://tribune-chronicle.com/articles.asp?articleID=16631

From the 4/3/07 Warren Tribune Chronicle: Lordstown to restart OT, 9-hour shifts By LARRY RINGLER Tribune Chronicle LORDSTOWN — In a sign of stronger sales, Saturday overtime and nine-hour shifts are scheduled to return to the General Motors Corp. Lordstown Complex, a union leader said Monday. The giant car complex is expected to work two Saturday overtime shifts, the first likely to be April 21 and the second set for April 28, United Auto Workers Local 1112 President Jim Graham said. In addition, workers are scheduled to resume nine-hour shifts right after Easter, he said. ... http://tribune-chronicle.com/articles.asp?articleID=16471

From the 3/30/07 Warren Tribune Chronicle: Area grad gives insight to GM ads By LARRY RINGLER Tribune Chronicle YOUNGSTOWN — A suicidal robot, flying trucks and a preemptive musical strike against a chief competitor — such are the tools a Mahoning Valley native is using to tell the world that giant General Motors Corp. has awakened. ‘‘We need to communicate more effectively. We know we build some of the best (vehicles) ever built,’’ Mike Jackson, GM’s vice president of marketing and advertising, told a gathering today for the Williamson Symposium Series at Youngstown State University. The Youngstown Ursuline High School graduate choked up a bit when he said many people he meets have no idea he comes from a troubled industrial basket area. ... [email protected] http://tribune-chronicle.com/articles.asp?articleID=16287

From the 3/29/07 DDN: Local UAW leader: There'll be no more concessions to Delphi By Thomas Gnau Staff Writer Thursday, March 29, 2007 DAYTON — — As leaders of the United Auto Workers discuss bargaining strategy in Detroit, a local UAW leader agreed with his president Wednesday that the union has already given plenty to automakers. "I don't believe it's talking tough. I believe we're at a point where we can't go any further," said Joe Buckley, president of UAW Local 696, which represents about 800 workers at Delphi's Needmore Road plant. A day after the UAW president said his union will shut down Delphi Corp. if it must, Buckley said his members are prepared to defend themselves. ... http://www.vindy.com/content/local_regional/359128995711992.php

From the 3/28/07 DDN: Local UAW at breaking point with Delphi By Thomas Gnau Staff Writer Wednesday, March 28, 2007 DAYTON — A day after the United Auto Workers president said his union will shut down Delphi Corp. if it must, a local UAW leader agreed that his members are prepared to defend themselves. "I don't believe it's talking tough. I believe we're at a point where we can't go any further," said Joe Buckley, president of UAW Local 696, which represents about 800 workers at Delphi's Needmore Road plant. On Tuesday, the Associated Press said Ron Gettelfinger, UAW president, vowed to strike if the bankrupt auto parts maker voids labor contracts in bankruptcy court. ... Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2390 or [email protected]. http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/business/2007/03/28/ddn032807delphiweb.html

From the AP, 3/24/07: GM chief gets 95,000 shares of stock worth $2.8 million Associated Press Saturday, March 24, 2007 DETROIT — General Motors Corp. Chief Executive Rick Wagoner and several senior company executives have received performance-based stock awards, according to documents filed with federal regulators. On Tuesday, Wagoner was granted 95,000 restricted shares of GM stock to be delivered in annual installments during the next five years, the company said Thursday in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The stock had an estimated value of $2.8 million on the day the shares were granted. Wagoner also on Tuesday received an option to buy 500,000 shares at $29.11, below the Tuesday closing price of $29.35. The option vests and can be exercised annually in equal installments over three years, but Wagoner can wait as long as 10 years to exercise the option, according to the filing. ... http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/business/2007/03/24/ddn032407gm.html