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From the 1/11/07 Athens News: University Estates clears hurdle with city, but lawsuit remains By Jonathan Hunt Athens NEWS Writer Thursday, January 11th, 2007 The large University Estates project on Athens' northwest side has moved closer to complying with city requirements, even though litigation between the developer and city remains unresolved. Events on three fronts in the saga surrounding the mixed-use housing/commercial project had city officials employing a unified strategy this week, after they suffered two possible setbacks in a federal lawsuit brought by developers. http://athensnews.com/index.php?action=viewarticle&section=news&story_id=27024

From the 1/8/07 Athens News: City charge dropped against developer Monday, January 8th, 2007 A judge has dismissed the misdemeanor code violation filed against University Estates principal Richard Conard by Athens code enforcement director Steve Pierson, apparently at the city's request. An Athens County Municipal Court entry dated Friday shows the dismissal, accompanied by a Friday not-guilty plea from Conard. http://athensnews.com/index.php?action=viewarticle&section=news&story_id=26998

From the 1/5/07 (OU) Post: Lawsuit delays approval for University Estates Rebecca Black / For The Post / [email protected] The Athens Planning Commission conditionally approved the amended map of the plans for University Estates, but did not approve the next step in bringing University Estates up to city code. The commission decided to postpone a decision about granting preliminary planned unit development approval— PUD, a classification that allows construction of multi-purpose buildings in a single area—until the issue could be discussed in executive session with legal counsel. http://thepost.baker.ohiou.edu/articles/2007/01/05/news/16481.html

From the 12/14/06 Athens News: Developer asks city to vacate three roads at Armitage site; council skeptical By Jonathan Hunt Athens NEWS Writer Thursday, December 14th, 2006 University Estates officials have asked Athens City Council to vacate three roads at the problem-plagued development on Athens' northwest side in order to avoid paying for required road-construction bonds. Because the roads are already platted, some City Council members on Monday night appeared perplexed about the request, or skeptical about the wisdom of accommodating it. http://athensnews.com/index.php?action=viewarticle&section=news&story_id=26861

From the 1/20/07 Findlay Courier: Megafarm meeting scheduled WEST MILLGROVE -- Teri Reinhart, who lives about a mile from the site of a proposed dairy megafarm in Wood County's Perry Township, hopes the West Millgrove Volunteer Fire Department building is packed with residents for a 7 p.m. Jan. 30 meeting about the megafarm. The township trustees and the township zoning board will discuss the megafarm proposal and the township's zoning options with area residents, who will have a chance to comment. Reinhart said the township's zoning commission has recommended zoning changes to the township trustees, who haven't acted yet. The changes would classify the proposed farm's 60-acre location as agribusiness, rather than agriculture. The Wood County Planning Commission has supported that change, which could give the township some oversight over the farm. This megafarm -- the fifth that's been proposed for Wood County -- "will only benefit a handful of people," Teri Reinhart said. She has urged area residents to contact state representatives and senators to voice their opposition. MORE: http://www.thecourier.com/Issues/2007/Jan/ar_news_012007.asp#story6

From the 1/18/07 Blade: Panel targets dairy plan; zoning changes mulled in Wood County case By JENNIFER FEEHAN BLADE STAFF WRITER WEST MILLGROVE, Ohio - The prospect of a fifth large-scale dairy coming to southern Wood County has prompted Perry Township to get creative. The township's zoning commission has recommended trustees adopt a series of zoning changes that would classify concentrated animal feeding operations as agribusiness rather than agriculture. Supporters hope that will discourage prospective dairy farmers, or at least give the township some oversight over any dairies that are built in the southeast corner of Wood County. "We know we cannot stop them," said John Bresler, a zoning commission member who lives less than a mile from a new proposed dairy site. "You just get a little local control so that you can limit the numbers and where they locate." Cecilia Conway, spokesman for Vreba-Hoff Dairy Development, said the company is working with a family from the Netherlands that has an option to purchase 60 acres on Portage View Road between Cygnet and Yates roads just a mile or so west of the village of West Millgrove. Full article: http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070118/NEWS17/701180374/-1/NEWS

From the 1/17/07 Fostoria Review Times: Perry eyes options to keep megafarm at bay By SEAN CORP staff writer Perry Township's plans to implement restrictions in its zoning code were put on hold Tuesday after questions about the legality of the actions and the liability of the zoning commission and trustees were left unanswered. The zoning commission was considering changing its zoning restrictions in order to regulate a megafarm which may be constructed in the area. However, after hearing from the township attorney Linda Holmes, and insurance agent Bob Miller, it was decided the most prudent action would be no action at all. The trustees and zoning commission were considering adopting an insurance policy called the Ohio Township Risk Management Authority, which is a risk management pool of townships within Ohio where all premiums are pooled together, according to township attorney Linda Holmes. MORE: http://www.reviewtimes.com/News/backissues/2007/Jan/ar_news_011707.asp#story6

From the 1/4/07 DDN: Dutch dairy farmers may house 5,428 cows Former Procter land in Madison County would become home to state's largest dairy operation. By Ben Sutherly, Staff Writer Thursday, January 04, 2007 MONROE TWP., MADISON COUNTY — — Orleton Farm, covering more than 8 square miles, may soon become home to the state's largest dairy farm. A Dutch family, the van Bakels, wants to build a $35 million dairy farm capable of housing 5,428 cows on the farm. Annual payroll for 35 employees would be $1.3 million, said the project's environmental consultant, Tom Menke of Menke Consulting in Greenville. The Procter family of Procter & Gamble fame formerly owned the farm, Menke said. The farm once housed thousands of beef cattle and one of the state's largest swine farms, he said. The van Bakels' Orleton Farms, LLC purchased the 5,290-acre farm in 2001 for $12.8 million, or $2,470 an acre. Orleton Farms will submit permit applications to state officials in a few weeks, Menke said. But when it does, the Nature Conservancy wants the state to stiffen regulations, given the proposed dairy's location in the Big Darby Creek watershed, home to 38 endangered species of fish and mussels. MORE: http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/01/03/ddn010407dairy.html

From the 12/30/06 Dispatch: Dairy farm might be put near Big Darby Saturday, December 30, 2006 Spencer Hunt, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH The ecologically fragile Big Darby Creek soon could have more than 5,400 new neighbors, all of which moo. A proposed dairy farm near Plumwood in Madison County would produce millions of gallons of milk. It would be the state’s largest dairy farm, according to Ohio Department of Agriculture statistics. Tom Menke, a consultant for Orleton Farms LLC, the company that wants to build the farm, said the Darby would be protected. "I think this is a very great opportunity to show farms can be environmentally sound in sensitive watersheds," Menke said. MORE: http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/12/30/20061230-B1-02.html

From the 12/28/06 Fostoria Review Times: Mega farming concerns By RUSS ZIMMER staff writer Rumors of a megafarm moving in to the area have raised the eyebrows of enough Perry Township citizens to warrant a possible change in the zoning code. A zoning commission meeting is expected to be well attended at 7 p.m. today as residents are to speak on the impact of concentrated animal feeding operations within the township limits. Teri Reinhart said she has been researching massive dairy farms since she heard one may be constructed about a mile from her home. "I'm not sure what we can do," she said. "But if I'm going down, I'm going down fighting." Teri and her husband Ralph, both retired from Honeywell, have lived in their Dindore Road home since 1992. The couple has made a significant investment in their home and are concerned a megafarm would make their housing value plummet, she said. MORE: http://www.reviewtimes.com/News/backissues/2006/Dec/ar_news_122806.asp#story2

From the 12/25/06 Madison Press: Orleton farm: Mega dairy planned for area Monday, December 25, 2006 By MAC CORDELL Press Editor As early as next year, the residents of Somerford, Monroe and Deercreek Townships could have some new neighbors — 5,428 of them to be exact. Menke Consulting, Inc., has informed the Madison County Commissioners of its intention to file a permit with the Ohio Department of Agriculture, possibly as soon as this week, requesting permission to construct a large confined animal feeding operation on the Orleton Farm, at the intersection of state Routes 29 and 38. “This would be the largest farm like this in the state, by far,” said Madison County Commissioner Chris Snyder. Menke is organizing the project for three brothers from the Netherlands who will take control of the dairy farm once it has been constructed. That construction is set to begin in the spring of 2007, with animals expected on site as early as next winter. The farm, which is 2.1 miles from both Plumwood and Choctaw Lake, is 5,290 acres. Thomas Menke said the farm would house 4,420 mature milking cows and 1,008 dry cows. MORE: http://www.madison-press.com

Evanston: Jonathan Meadows These pics are from January 20, 2006. A story from Xavier University follows. Khaki and brick. How original. Why so bland? Is this Kyles Station? Seriously...what's with the seam down the middle? First New Major Housing Development in 50 Years Opens in Evanston Xavier University Congratulates its Neighbors 12/19/06 Xavier University congratulates the Evanston Community Council on the grand opening of its first new major housing development with units for sale in more than 50 years. Known as the Jonathan Meadows Townhomes and developed by a partnership between the Avondale Redevelopment Corporation and the Walnut Hills Redevelopment Foundation, this development will be the largest cluster of homes built for sale in the Evanston community in the past 50 years. The homes are located on Jonathan Avenue. When completed the subdivision will consist of (22) 2000-square foot townhomes. Each townhome, designed with four levels, 3-bedrooms, 2 ½ baths, family room, fully equipped kitchen, rear deck and a 2-car garage, is targeted not only to the first time homebuyer but also to those current homeowners making plans to downsize. Jonathan Meadows Townhomes are centrally located near Walnut Hills High School and Xavier University and is five-minutes away from I-71. Though a dream of the Evanston Community Council for many years, according to Jim King, Executive Director of the Partnership, “it is due to not only the strong leadership of the community council but the investment efforts of the Cincinnati Development Fund, City of Cincinnati, LISC and the National City Community Development Corporation that this project has become a reality.” The groups have also worked with Xavier University and the Community Building Institute, which is a partnership between Xavier University and the United Way of Greater Cincinnati. The purchase of a unit comes with a15-year real estate tax abatement. National City Development is offering a 1 ½ percent reduction in the current interest rate to qualified buyers. The Jonathan Meadows Townhomes development is the first joint partnership of the Avondale Redevelopment Corporation and the Walnut Hills Redevelopment Foundation. For more information please contact Jim King at 513-281-7070. http://www.xavier.edu/news/news.cfm?news_id=4661&archive=no

From the 1/21/07 Hamilton JournalNews: Lowe's opens anticipated West Chester Twp. location By Matt Cunningham Staff Writer Sunday, January 21, 2007 With a few strokes of a ceremonial saw, Lowe's store manager Brian Boomershine sliced through a red-painted board and officially opened the home improvement chain's West Chester Twp. superstore Thursday. This is the 13th Lowe's location in Greater Cincinnati, and its opening has been much anticipated by West Chester Twp. residents. "It seems like the public is very welcoming to us," said Boomershine. The store actually opened unannounced Jan. 13, and he estimates that 400 people visited the 117,000 square-foot store that day." The West Chester Twp. store, located west of the Tylersville Road/Interstate 75 intersection, covers 117,000 square feet of indoor floor space and has a 32,290 square-foot garden center. The store will employ up to 160 employees in peak summer months, and district manager Carrie Joselyn said only six of the employees were transferred from other stores. Although he would not cite specific financial figures, Boomershine said that a Lowe's store of this size has an average of 2,000 transactions a day. During the opening ceremony, West Chester Chamber Alliance President and CEO Joe Hinson presented a commemorative plaque to Boomershine and Joselyn. "The greatest compliment you can pay Lowe's is that when you drive in it looks like it's always been there," said Hinson. Township board of trustees vice president Lee Wong also spoke. "On behalf of the trustees, I want to say congratulations," he said. He also noted the rapid construction of the building, which sits at the former Wal-Mart location on Tylersville Square Road. Contact this reporter at (513) 755-5127 or [email protected] http://www.journal-news.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/01/21/hjn012107lowes.html From the 1/15/07 Oxford Press: Hamilton JournalNews: Roadway plans fuel standoff with county (1/10/07) Middletown Journal: Oxford splits city for discussing highway plan (12/27/06) A perfect storm of transportation confusion Some Oxford Twp. residents upset over county agency's map. By Chris Dumond Staff Writer Monday, January 15, 2007 Oxford Twp. residents may get a desired reprieve from plans for a bypass three quarters of the way around Oxford. The partial beltway from Ohio 73 east of town to the south and back around the west side to U.S. 27 and Brown Road has been the subject of debate in Oxford and Oxford Twp. for months and is still under consideration there. When the road network showed up on a map from the Butler County Engineer's Office before the county planning commission Tuesday, residents there were irate. Although County Engineer Greg Wilkens told residents the lines on the map only represented future possibilities, township residents accused him of hijacking their local process. Commissioners Gregory Jolivette and Charles Furmon Friday said they're not in any hurry to short-circuit that process. "I don't see an urgency to it," Furmon said. "In this particular matter, I don't know that we need to put those things down on the map until the people in Oxford are done." Jolivette said that while he's in favor of taking the time to understand the concerns of those who fear that such a road network would ruin the rural character of the township, a balance needs to be struck between economic development and preservation. It's a moot point until the Butler County Prosecutor's Office renders an opinion on whether the planning commission can consider the thoroughfare plan, Wilkens said. The planning commission deadlocked earlier this week over whether they could even make a recommendation to county commissioners in favor or against its approval. The idea of a bypass around Oxford dates back at least 50 years. Although it has been shown on planning maps in various incarnations, it also has always met with opposition from residents in the township. Against this history of conflict, the latest flap came as a perfect storm of transportation officials working to implement one phase of the road network while the city and township debated one thoroughfare plan and the county presented another. "The whole process has been contorted, and I'm not sure the process is one that builds communities, and that's unfortunate," said Bill Brewer, vice chairman of the Oxford Planning Commission. Oxford Vice Mayor Prue Dana said she believes that safety improvements reflected in the city's draft plan must be completed, regardless of the debate, but that it would be best if the county waited to include some of the larger items. Steve Snyder, executive assistant to the president and secretary to the board of trustees at Miami University, said as far as the university is concerned, a connector between Ohio 73, U.S. 27 and Ohio 732 and improvements to U.S. 27 south of town are foregone conclusions since federal money already has been committed to these projects. On the other hand, Snyder, who worked as an advisor for the county thoroughfare plan, said anything beyond this should be removed from the county plan until Oxford reaches conclusions at the local level. Oxford Twp. trustees approved a resolution earlier this week opposing the bypass plan. Trustee and Three Valley Conservation Trust Executive Director Larry Frimerman said the vote reflects not fear but opposition to the idea of a beltway as a solution for transportation problems in the future by encouraging high-speed transportation and sprawl. That the road network would be funded by private developers as the land along the road corridors is built up is attractive, Frimerman said, because it shifts the costs from the taxpayers. But Frimerman cautioned that the idea of a bypass doesn't work if you have a four-lane road to nowhere on either side of an undeveloped farm. Though the process has caused frustration for some township residents, many say it has yielded positive developments. Representing the Hopedale Unitarian Universalists' Green Sanctuary Committee, Orie Loucks said communication between township trustees, the city and constituents is greater than ever. "As more people have seen the aggressive sprawl on the east side of the county, they've begun to articulate an alternative for the western townships," Loucks said. "You could say the Oxford area has become culturally committed to smart growth. The western side of the county is just committed to a different path for development than the eastern side." Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2025 or [email protected]. http://www.oxfordpress.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/01/15/op011907thoroughfare.html

From the 1/20/07 DDN: Regency and Cornerstone getting new look, name Cleveland developer has purchased the apartment complexes; renovations to be done by April. By Lisa Bernard Staff Writer Saturday, January 20, 2007 DAYTON — A Cleveland-based development and property management firm, JED Investments, has purchased the Regency and Cornerstone apartment complexes on Central Avenue, near the Dayton Art Institute. Headed up by Steve Egger and Dan Barton, the firm is undertaking a $1.5 million renovation of the two buildings. From new roofs to completely restored apartments and appliances — the renovation is expected to be more than just a face-lift, according to the new owners. "These two buildings were basically the problems on the street," Egger said. "There's been some work to get out a lot of the criminal activity and prostitution that had been problems in this area. Now that these buildings will be restored we'll be doing criminal background searches, have a key-fob entrance and bumping up the standards." Located in historic Grafton Hill, the Regency and Cornerstone include 148 one-bedroom and efficiency apartments combined. JED is planning to change the complexes name to Chamberlain Estates to highlight the property's historic estate name. Valued at more than $2.2 million, the apartment buildings were purchased for $800,000 after their previous owner — Dwight Esch of California — fell into foreclosure, Barton said. MORE: http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/business/2007/01/19/ddn012007jedinvestments.html From the 1/22/07 Dayton Business Journal: Retail park denied $5M state grant Dayton Business Journal - January 19, 2007 by Yvonne Teems DBJ Staff Reporter A 1,500-acre industrial and retail park at the intersection of Interstate 70 and State Route 127 has hit a speed bump in its development. The Preble County project, dubbed Goose Creek Crossing, was denied a $5 million Job Ready Sites grant from the state last month, and officials now are rethinking their approach to the site's development. State officials said competition was fierce for the first round of Job Ready Sites funding, in which just 20 of the 63 statewide applicants received portions of the $60 million available. The project now will take longer since officials will have to take smaller steps in developing the first phase. The funds for Goose Creek, which Preble County officials would have matched with at least $1.25 million in local and private dollars, would have gone toward an $8 million infrastructure project for water and sewage so developers could begin the first phase. MORE: http://dayton.bizjournals.com/dayton/stories/2007/01/22/story2.html

From the 12/15/06 Enquirer: Cincy arts get middling rank Metro area rated 25th of 50 in U.S. for art scene's vitality BY JACKIE DEMALINE | [email protected] Cincinnati is the 25th largest metro area in the United States - and it's 25th in the vitality of its arts scene, according to "Cultural Vitality in Communities," a comprehensive statistical portrait released Thursday by the Urban Institute. Metro rankings of 50 cities across the United States were measured in seven categories: arts establishments; employment in the arts; arts nonprofits; nonprofit community celebrations, festivals, fairs and parades; nonprofit arts expenses; nonprofit arts contributions; and artist jobs. Click on link for more information. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061215/NEWS01/612150360/1025/rss05

From the 12/10/06 Enquirer: City arts in trouble Cultural institutions face financial peril BY CLIFF PEALE | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER Despite a $65 million operating endowment and a literally priceless collection, the Cincinnati Art Museum is "stretched to the limit and living at the edge of a crisis," its new director says. Aaron Betsky, on the job at the Eden Park museum for only two weeks, told a group of business leaders last week that he wants to at least double the museum's operating endowment and raise money for an expansion with a price tag that could top $100 million. Priorities include new space for educational groups and galleries, better signs around the building, and in one "crazy idea," perhaps even a warehouse in the suburbs that would help more people see the museum's collection. Click on link for more information. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061210/BIZ01/612100354/1076/BIZ

PHOTO UPDATE Carthage: Cincinnati Central Credit Union This appears to be nearing completion, at least as far as the exterior goes. This building replaces a truly horrible building with asphalt siding. The redevelopment project is by Cincinnati Housing Partners, who has been doing a lot of positive, quality work in and around Carthage. LAST UPDATE (9/25/06) Round-up: City of Cincinnati AVONDALE 3161 Reading Rd, vacant and now condemned, has had work being done on it until just recently. This basically included doors, windows, roofs, etc. The City saw that the work was being done without a permit and condemned the building due to the shoddy work. The owner and contractor must now find an architect to plan this thing out. The property will stay vacant for now. COLUMBIA TUSCULUM A new home is going to be built at 3634 Columbia Pw. Priced at $415,000, the two-story home will have 3 BR/2.5 BA and a front side, 2 car garage. It's being built by Andrew James Builders. CORRYVILLE The two-family at 2811 Highland Ave is currently being gutted and rehabbed. It has been vacant and barricaded. EVANSTON Queen City Habitats has rehabbed 3326 Trimble Ave. FAIRVIEW 2871 W McMicken Ave has been rehabbed. They're asking for an ambitious $157,000. FAIRVIEW 2365 W McMicken is set for a massive renovation, pending permits. This three-unit rental building has been vacant, on and off, for the last few years. MT AIRY 2606 Kipling Ave has been rehabbed for resale. $112,000 may be pushing it, though. MT WASHINGTON Vacant gas station fuels controversy Forest Hills Journal, 1/16/07 The status of a former gas station is in limbo. The boarded up building on Beechmont Avenue has been a matter of contention for a number of months. Mt. Washington Community Council members call the vacant gas station an eyesore and say its owner, Marathon Petroleum Co. LLC, refuses to sell it. However, a representative for Marathon said no appropriate offers have been made. "It seems to be a kind of permanent situation of not being sold or developed in any way," said Greg Schrand, board president of the Mt. Washington Community Council. The building has been vacant for several years. The city did not approve an effort to build a Smokes for Less business at the location by Marathon after the station closed. NORTH FAIRMOUNT 2539 Cummins St has gone criminal. The condemned house has major problems, mostly involving the roof, gutters, and windows. Apparently the owner has severe mental conditions and is delusional. The City will find a way to separate this man from this property. NORTHSIDE 4042 Colerain Ave has been ordered barricaded. The problems with this property are too many to mention. The owner is an out of town bank, LaSalle Bank. What do they care? WESTWOOD 2738 Montana Ave has been rehabbed. Round-up: Metro DELHI TWP Delhi business association looking to spruce up intersections Delhi Press, 1/10/07 A proposal to spruce up designated spots in the township business areas will go before trustees Jan. 31. Without trustee approval and financial support, Ron Robben said the project won't be implemented. Robben is heading up the Planting Pride project for the Delhi Business Association. Plans call for large pots to be placed at proposed intersections. Most are along the Delhi Road business corridor with the exception of Rapid Run and Neeb roads and Cleves Warsaw and Ebenezer roads. All the proposed sites have to be approved by Hamilton County officials, Robben said. FAIRFIELD Old Fairfield Greens clubhouse razed Fairfield Echo, 1/18/07 The metal jaws of the large trac hoe tore into the old Fairfield Greens clubhouse Monday morning. To Councilman Tim Meyers, this is a sign of progress. Around 9:30 a.m. crews from Dayton Demolition, a subcontractor for general contractor CR&R, began razing the first of the two buildings — the club house and banquet facility — that make up the golf course operations. The demolition is to make way for a new $2.2 million clubhouse. "When they started digging dirt on this stuff, it's a big deal," said Meyers, council's representative to the parks board. The demolition started at the southwest corner of the clubhouse, and within hours, the 35-year-old facility was reduced to rubble. By mid-February, the building's foundation will be poured, Larry Ashland said, on-site superintendent for CR&R. After excavation and other preparatory work, construction should start around March, he said. FOREST PARK Cameron Park targeted by Forest Park for condos Hilltop Press, 1/16/07 Could Cameron Park Elementary School become condos? That could happen under a plan in the city's market study that is moving toward completion. The second phase of the market study, entitled strategic planning, was presented during council's Jan. 8 work session and focused on the redevelopment of Cameron Park and the Forest Park Activity Center into condominiums. Community Development Director Chris Anderson said the site is still being evaluated by the city, and that cost will be a deciding factor in the purchase and redevelopment of the site. "This is not a done deal, but that would be the direction we go in," Anderson said. FORT MITCHELL Council hears building plan Cincinnati Enquirer, 1/16/07 City Council started its first meeting of the new year Monday thinking about what the future could hold by way of new digs for city offices. Council heard a presentation by Robert Ehmet Hayes & Associates on a revised, scaled back version of an approximate $3.5 million city building expansion that would include more space for city, police and fire/EMS personnel. The city has toiled with details of an expansion for several years. An expansion bid provided to council last year was an estimated $2.9 million, City Administrator Steve Hensley said. The higher cost, according to Ehmet Hayes, a representative of the architectural firm, is because of a dramatic increase in construction products and labor in the past couple of years. The expansion would include additional fire/EMS bays, meeting space, men's and women's bunk room areas, restrooms, parking and storage space. There would also be an additional access point to the site off Silver Avenue. The look of the addition would match the existing (brick) building, Hayes said. GLENDALE Princeton residents providing input on new schools Tri-County Press, 1/19/07 Preliminary results of surveys from Princeton City School District's first four community input sessions show that a majority of residents favor building a new high school and middle school, district officials said. The sessions are being conducted by district officials to outline the conditions of the schools and to gauge support for a bond issue that may be on the ballot this November to raise money to replace the middle and high school. So far, four community input sessions have been conducted - at Springdale, Sharonville, Lincoln Heights and Stewart Elementary schools. At each session, attendees fill out a small survey when they walk in the door, view a presentation about the conditions of the middle and high schools, break out into facilitated small group discussions and participate in an electronic survey. Information from the surveys and community input, in addition to a formal districtwide survey of registered frequent voters, will be compiled to assist the Princeton school board when it makes a decision on asking voters for a bond issue. HILLSBORO Plans under way to demolish Washington Hillsboro Times-Gazette, 1/15/07 Plans for former, current and future facilities were the main topics of discussion Thursday at the Hillsboro City Schools Board of Education monthly and organizational meetings. The board also unanimously voted to elect Laura Bagshaw to her second one-year term as board president and to keep Darrell Wilson as board vice president. Regular board meetings for 2007 will be held at 7 p.m. the third Wednesday of each month at Hillsboro Elementary. After an executive session, superintendent Art Reiber said the board decided to proceed with paperwork to demolish the Washington building. "Just looking at the appraisal and possibilities, we felt the land would be more valuable vacant than with the building on it," Reiber said. HILLSBORO Condo, sports complex plans discussed Hillsboro Times-Gazette, 1/18/07 The Hillsboro Planning Commission held its regular session Tuesday and opened the meeting with the yearly election of officers. Acting vice chairperson Eric Smith asked commission members for nominations for chairperson. Incumbent chairperson Fran Cole, who was not present at the meeting, was nominated and elected unanimously. Following the nomination process, a request to change the city's zoning was again a topic of discussion. Rusty Fite made a request for the city's zoning to be changed in the area behind Roberts Avenue and Sherwood Avenue from Industrial C, one of the least restrictive zones, to Residential B, one of the more restrictive zones, for the purpose of constructing senior housing, such as condos. INDIAN HILL Nature Re-emerges from Old Gravel Pit Cincinnati Enquirer, 1/20/07 Col. William McQueen ties a concrete block around an old Christmas tree and tosses it from a small fishing boat into the cold, 120-acre lake. He'll do that about 200 times in coming weeks, creating habitat for small fish in the village's new Grand Valley Park. "It gives them a chance against the larger bass," said McQueen, who recently retired as Indian Hill police chief and is now the city park manager and ranger. McQueen's work is just one part of an undertaking to turn a 300-acre former gravel pit into wildlife habitat and a park. Indian Hill bought the land for $7 million in 2002 to fend off a planned 600-home development along Ohio 126 and the Little Miami River in Symmes Township. It contained 12 man-made lakes that are atop the aquifer that feeds Indian Hill wells. "That was the main purpose for buying it, to protect the ecology and the water system," said Indian Hill Project Manager George Kipp Jr., an engineer with 35 years experience. LOVELAND Loveland council approves Y tax increase for ballot Loveland Herald, 1/15/07 It's official that voters will decide if Loveland should have a $9.25 million recreation center, which the city plans to for pay in a 25-year period. Council unanimously voted Jan. 12 to place a 0.2-percent income tax increase issue on the May ballot. The levy will pay for the costs of "acquiring, constructing, furnishing, equipping and operating a municipal recreation center." It will cover the costs of a recreation center even if the city doesn't pursue at partnership with the YMCA, City Manager Tom Carroll said. The income tax rate in Loveland is 1 percent. If the levy passes the tax increase will be effective in 2008, Carroll said. Carroll said 55 percent of employed Loveland residents pay city income taxes, while 45 percent of employed Loveland residents "receive an income tax credit from the city ... in recognition of the fact that they pay income taxes in the cities where they work, such as Cincinnati and Blue Ash." MT HEALTHY Voters asked to support bond Hilltop Press, 1/12/07 Mount Healthy School supporters are preparing for the final push leading up to the Feb. 6 special election. District officials want to issue bands to pay the local share of school construction under the Ohio Classroom Facilities Assistance Program, which will be about $33 million over 23 years. The bonds require a 5.6 mill levy. The district is also asking for a 0.5 mill levy to pay the cost of maintaining the facilities. If passed, the levy would cost the owner of a $100,000 home about $179 annually. The school district would like to replace its eight aging buildings with three new schools: two elementary schools and a grades 7-12 campus, allowing it to close the old buildings. Officials say the consolidation plan could save $1.5 million in operating costs. NORTH COLLEGE HILL NCH school building plans on course Hilltop Press, 1/13/07 The North College Hill City School District school board is close to hiring an architect to design three new buildings. The board will have a special meeting Jan. 25 to interview representatives of the two firms being considered. The interviews will follow visits to the proposed building site. Superintendent Gary Gellert said the two firms in the running are Cole Russell/Fanning-Howey and SFA. Gellert said the district should know by late summer its eligibility status for money from the Ohio Schools Facilities Commission. The state would provide 62 percent of the total building project costs. Early estimates put the cost of building the three new schools and renovations at the high school at about $41 million. RIPLEY Construction nears end at SHCC Georgetown News Democrat, 1/21/07 Although the project is nearly complete, the Southern Hills Career Center will have a new person overseeing construction and renovations at the vocational school. At the board's Jan. 10 meeting, superintendent Charles Guarino announced some restructuring in the project management company Resource International. "For the second time our project manager is being changed," said Guarino. The newest project manager, Bob Hart, was on hand to explain the situation and apologize on behalf of the company for the disruption. He said the previous manager, Steve Gillmore unexpected left Resource International on his own accord. Hart explained that SHCC's other contacts remain with the company and the project should still stay on track. "I can't apologize more for the changes," said Hart. "The job will not suffer because of it." Hart had only held the position of project manager for about 24 hours prior to the meeting, so he was not familiar with any specifics. Hart told the board that he wished to do a comprehensive review of all finances associated with the project in order to give the board an accurate report on where the district stands financially. He went on to say that a thorough financial overview will be important for the district in seeking contingency money being held by the Ohio School Facilities Commission, the major funder of the construction. SOUTHGATE Apartments still on track Cincinnati Enquirer, 1/18/07 Plans for a controversial development survived a city council vote Wednesday night. Southgate council tied 3-3 in a vote to approve a stage I development plan for a 230-unit complex slated on Moock Road and U.S. 27. That means Campbell County planning and zoning's recommendation to approve the plan stands. Indianapolis-based Herman & Kittle is developing the project. The three council members who voted against the development were newly elected in November. The three incumbents voted for the plan. Many Southgate residents in attendance shook their heads in disapproval after the vote. Opponents of the nine-building complex are concerned about water runoff, landslides and traffic. Fort Thomas Recorder: Southgate considers apartment plan (1/17/07) SPRINGFIELD TWP (Finneytown) Walgreens will begin building a new store at Winton and Galbraith this spring. SYCAMORE TWP Sycamore Twp. zoning change may fuel ballot referendum Northeast Suburban Life, 1/19/07 With a 10-space parking lot hanging in the balance, the Sycamore Township Trustees are stuck between a possible ballot referendum and a lawsuit. The trustees approved a zone change to 6840 Kugler Mill Road Jan. 18 from residential to planned office as part of a settlement with Ohio Valley Sports Medicine, which filed a $1.7 million lawsuit in 2004 claiming damages after the township denied the business's application to build an 18,000-square-foot-building on Kugler Mill in 2002. Sycamore fought with Ohio Valley over the building through the Court of Common Pleas and then the Court of Appeals before being denied a chance to get the case heard by the Ohio Supreme Court. Resident Joseph Smith, 6751 Kugler Mill Road, said concerned residents are attempting to block the parking lot by gathering signatures on a petition to get a referendum on either the May or November ballot. He said when the trustees approved the lot, they set a precedent that will allow other businesses to threaten lawsuits to get their way. "We need to say, 'No more of this in Sycamore Township,'" Smith said. TERRACE PARK Terrace Park restoration project on time, on budget Eastern Hills Journal, 1/18/07 Restoration of the Terrace Park Community Building and Fire Department is expected to be completed not only on time, but on budget. The $1.5-million restoration adds new heating and air conditioning to the building and will expand the area allocated for the fire department. Terrace Park Councilman Jeff Koreman, chair of the buildings and grounds committee, said the building had not been updated in years. "I think it's going to be a good legacy for the town," he said. "It will be a nice showcase, typical of Terrace Park. It's very understated." The building will include an updated community meeting area, also used by village council and mayor's court.

From the 12/28/06 Elyria Chronicle-Telegram: Ford investing $60M in Avon Lake Ailing automaker commits to Econoline vans Brad Dicken The Chronicle-Telegram AVON LAKE — Ford Motor Co. plans to invest $60 million in its Ohio Assembly Plant over the next two years as it gears up to refresh the Econoline vans built there. Ford informed the county of its plans as part of negotiations to convince the county Board of Revision to forgive $790,000 in interest on $4.7 million the automaker owed in back taxes. According to an e-mail to county Commissioner Lori Kokoski from Ford’s Gabby Bruno, the automaker plans to make $49 million in capital improvements at the plant — $33 million of that in 2007. The planned improvements include $28 million in upgrades to the plant’s body shop, $10 million for the final assembly area and $500,000 for the plant’s paint shop. The remaining $11 million will be for marketing and other expenses related to the redesign of the 2008 model of the Econoline.... http://www.chroniclet.com/Daily%20Pages/122806head8.html

From the 12/17/06 Lima News: Ford employees retiring or taking buyouts have goodbye party BY GREG SOWINSKI - Dec. 17, 2006 LIMA — A few hundred employees who accepted buyouts or are retiring from the Lima Ford Engine Plant after the first of the year celebrated as one big family Saturday. By far the hardest part about leaving is saying goodbye to friends. "I’ve spent over half my life there. It is like a second home," said Terry Shrider, a 61-year-old team leader on the D35 block line. For Sandy Johnson, an assembly line worker, she spent the night dancing and mingling with friends who seem more like members of her family. "I’ve worked on every assembly line out there and every shift," she said. Shrider said it’s the largest mass retiring of employees during his 34 years. Typically retirement in the past meant one to several employees, he said. "Times are changing. The company is trying to do well and go lean," he said. As many as 350 Lima employees have signed up for buyouts or early retirement, Johnson said... http://www.limanews.com/story.php?IDnum=33272

From the 12/16/06 Tri-County Press: Mayor not concerned about Ford cuts BY ANDREA REEVES | COMMUNITY PRESS STAFF WRITER SHARONVILLE - With hundreds of employees at the Sharonville Ford Motor Co. accepting buyouts from the company, Sharonville Mayor Virgil Lovitt says the buyouts won't affect the economy of the city. The plant provides $2 million in revenue to Sharonville, which operates on a $20 million budget. As of last month, about 38,000 hourly union employees nationwide accepted packages for voluntary separations from the company, according to Ford. On Sept. 15, Ford announced its intention to reduce its North American hourly workforce by 25,000 to 30,000 employees by the end of 2008... [email protected] 576-8246 http://news.communitypress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061216/NEWS01/612140391/1002/RSS01 From Community Journal Clermont, 12/16/06: Ford appraisal under appeal in Columbus BY LIZ VERNON | COMMUNITY PRESS STAFF WRITER BATAVIA - Batavia Transmissions, LLC, won't be closing until 2008, but the appraisal of the plant, which is currently under appeal with the board of tax appeals in Columbus, has been discussed during the past few months. The auditor's office had appraised the property at $38,970,990, said Phil Brown, deputy auditor in real estate administration with the Clermont County Auditor's Office. The appraisal is based on factors such as the type of construction, quality and size of the structure. In March, Ford gave an appraisal of $10,765,800, said Brown... [email protected] 248-7683 http://news.communitypress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061216/NEWS01/612150335/1002/RSS01

From the 12/15/06 Blade: Ford exec offers reassurance on Maumee plant site BLADE STAFF A Ford Motor Co. official told a Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce gathering yesterday that the automaker, which plans to close its Maumee Stamping Plant by 2008, is trying to "make sure that the end use of that property is in the best interests of the community." MORE AT: http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061215/BUSINESS06/612150337/-1/BUSINESS

From the 1/12/07 Springfield News-Sun: Bethel Township farm will survive urban sprawl, never be developed By Valerie Lough Staff Writer Thursday, January 11, 2007 The sprawling farm nestled at the end of the winding, tree-lined path off Union Road has survived a civil war, two world wars and the industrial revolution. And now, thanks to owners Don and Ellen Wallace, it will survive urban sprawl. The Wallaces donated the 116-acre farm in their family more than 200 years to the state as an agricultural easement to protect the land from development. "The whole thing still belongs to us," said Ellen Wallace. The easement ensures that the property will always be used for agricultural purposes, Don Wallace said. ....... http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/01/11/sns011207farm.html

From the 12/24/06 DDN: Bill promises continued protection of farmland The legislation would remove caps on the Clean Ohio Fund, started in 2000, ensuring funding past 2008. By Ben Sutherly Staff Writer Sunday, December 24, 2006 COLUMBUS State legislators last week dispelled some uncertainty over whether Ohio would continue to pay to preserve farmland. House Bill 699, sent to Gov. Bob Taft for his signature, removed legislative caps on the Clean Ohio Fund program, ensuring funding for the state's farmland preservation program will continue beyond 2008 assuming future elected officials are willing to appropriate the money. The Clean Ohio Fund was established after voters approved the issuing of $400 million in state bonds in 2000, of which $25 million was earmarked for farmland preservation. The rest of the money has gone toward brownfield cleanup and redevelopment, maintaining local watersheds, and developing bike paths and other recreational trails. ...... http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2006/12/24/ddn122406farmland.html

From the 12/21/06 New Carlisle Sun: PHOTO: Don Wallace will donate his farm as an agricultural easement. His farm is located in Bethel Township on Union Road. Amanda Kopp/Sun photos Preserving historic township farm By PHOEBE GASTON Special Writer BETHEL TOWNSHIP - Within Bethel Township sits a farm that has remained in the same family for more than 200 years. The house that still stands on the property was built with a windmill on its roof in 1901. The barns on the property may date back to the Civil War. This farm, with all its history, is currently under the ownership of Ellen and Don Wallace, who recently decided that they want to donate all 116.84 acres of it to the State of Ohio as an agricultural easement. "We'd like to try and keep it out of the hands of someone who will encroach on the land with something other than agriculture," said Don Wallace. ........ http://www.timescommunityofgreaterdayton.com/main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=4&ArticleID=142642&TM=40166.66

From the 12/14/06 Twinsburg Sun: Saving the farm Many would like to see Corbett's stay Thursday, December 14, 2006 By Lena A. Ina The Twinsburg Sun TWINSBURG When Jerry Corbett announced he was selling his farm to a developer in July, residents didn't take the news well. Some aren't ready to give up the pastoral tract the last of its kind in the city without a fight. On Monday, several attended the environmental and historic preservation commission meeting to show their support for a way any way the city can preserve the historic farmhouse built in 1826 and barn built in 1911 and possibly the entire 80 acres on Darrow Road at Glenwood Drive. Commission members reiterated their united front to find a solution. They said the farm has too much historic relevance and educational value to the community to lose it to another housing development. Their goal is to put the house and barn on the National Register of Historic Places. Summit County has 146 such sites, among them several farms. ........ http://www.cleveland.com/sun/twinsburgsun/index.ssf?/base/news-0/116611865933820.xml&coll=3