buildingcincinnati

Plans set for 117 improvements Lima News, 12/15/06 Residents and business owners along state Route 117 on Thursday saw what likely will be the final plans for improvements on the route. Ohio Department of Transportation officials outlined planned upgrades to the section of 117 running from Interstate 75 to Greely Chapel Road and state Route 309 east to Devonshire Drive, by the Super Wal-Mart store. About 40 people attended what probably will be the last public meeting before the project begins in 2009. The plans include placing a 6-inch median on part of the road east of I-75 to the Eastgate Plaza entrance, an effort ODOT Planning Administrator Kirk Slusher said was necessary to reduce accidents along the route. "Currently, this section of road ranks 54th statewide for what we call congestion hot spots," Slusher said. "This is something we need to act on." None of those attending Thursday’s meeting spoke against the project. Sandra Nettle lives along the project route. She said that, while she isn’t looking forward to the construction phase, she knows it’s needed.

The Square was slammed again today. I will just ditto montecarloss's comments from yesterday.

From the 12/17/06 ABJ: Soccer questions answered Where would money for stadium, retail complex come from; where would it go? By Phil Trexler and Bob Downing Beacon Journal staff writers State Rep. Brian Williams walked into his office last week to find a 50-page document on his desk. The pages contained proposed legislation that would allow Summit County government to levy a hefty cigarette tax to fund a new $170 million soccer stadium -- and the Akron Democrat was listed as the sponsor of the bill. Funny thing, though. Williams didn't ask for the legislation, nor is he yet a supporter of the proposal. Williams tried, but he was unable to find the person who left the bundle on his desk. "I thought, 'Something crazy's going on here,' '' he said. "I didn't ask for it. And I still don't know who did. I'm all for jobs and economic development, but I still have a lot of questions about this project.'' http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/16260136.htm?source=rss&channel=ohio_news

From the 12/13/06 ABJ: Stadium tax plan in hands of Senate Proposal would raise money for soccer arena from cigarette tariffs By Phil Trexler and Bob Downing Beacon Journal staff writers Time is running out on a cigarette-tax proposal to generate $7 million a year for a soccer stadium in northern Summit County. Supporters of the project were disappointed when the cigarette tax was left out of the state capital budget that left the Ohio House of Representatives last week. The budget bill is now in the Senate, and efforts continue to include the cigarette-tax measure before legislators go home for the holidays next week. If approved by legislators, the cigarette tax could then be considered by Summit County Council and placed before voters, perhaps as early as 2007. "It's alive and kicking, but it's on life support,'' state Sen. Kevin Coughlin, R-Cuyahoga Falls, said Tuesday. The tax is considered the financing centerpiece of a $170 million soccer stadium plan unveiled Nov. 30 to lawmakers and the public by developers Scott Wolstein and Paul Garofolo of Wolstein Sports & Entertainment Group of Moreland Hills. The 30-cents-a-pack cigarette tax is expected to raise $210 million over 30 years to pay off bonds issued to finance construction of the stadium. http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/16228150.htm?source=rss&channel=ohio_news

From the 12/8/06 PD: Summit may bypass voters on tax for soccer complex Friday, December 08, 2006 April McClellan-Copeland Plain Dealer Reporter Akron -- State lawmakers may bypass voters and impose a cigarette tax in Summit County to raise money for a proposed soccer stadium. Gov. Bob Taft, House Speaker Jon Husted and Senate President Bill Harris have agreed to consider a request by developer Paul Garofolo to give the county special permission to impose the tax instead of taking the issue to county voters, said Tasha Hamilton, Husted's spokeswoman. The tax legislation had not been drafted as of Thursday, Hamilton said. State law allows any Ohio county to impose a tax of up to 4.5 cents per pack of cigarettes for building a sports facility, according to Gary Gudmundson, spokesman for the Ohio Department of Taxation. http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/summit/1165571688326570.xml&coll=2

From the 12/5/06 ABJ: Stadium plan stumbles with some Flood of pro e-mail kicked back by state By Bob Downing Beacon Journal staff writer A flood of e-mail from supporters of a proposed $170 million soccer stadium in northern Summit County led state officials to cut off the messages and bounce them back to the company behind the project. The volume of incoming e-mail to the Ohio legislature reached 104 a minute and more than 420,000 messages may have been sent to Columbus. The deluge threatened the state's computer system, Tasha Hamilton, a spokeswoman for the Republican Caucus of Ohio House Republicans, said Monday afternoon. The state's computer system was "at risk of crashing,'' she said. The incoming e-mail was cut off only after state officials determined that the messages were not from individuals but were being sent out en masse and were considered spam, she said. The Wolstein Sports and Entertainment Group, the Moreland Hills company behind the stadium project, set up a new Web site on Thursday. Anyone going to www.neoprosoccer.com was encouraged to write positive comments about the project proposed for Macedonia and Northfield Center Township. The company's server automatically turned each message into 350 separate messages to members of the Ohio House of Representatives and the Ohio Senate and to other state leaders. More: http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/16166946.htm?source=rss&channel=ohio_news

From the 12/2/06 ABJ: Stadium plan's fans have clout Bipartisan support comes with caveat that funding would be closely watched By Rick Armon Beacon Journal staff writer The Summit County delegation to the state legislature is willing to fight for state tax money to help build a professional soccer stadium in the county, several lawmakers said Friday. But they warned they wouldn't support a local cigarette tax unless county residents vote on it. And they said the project will face intense scrutiny, especially when it comes to how it's financed. The Wolstein Sports & Entertainment Group unveiled the $327 million, 450-acre project on Thursday. It includes a 20,000-seat stadium with a retractable roof, medical campus and two retail developments to be built along state Route 8 in Macedonia and Northfield Center Township. The entire project is contingent on the stadium, which could host a Major League Soccer franchise. The facility, estimated to cost $170 million, would be owned by the Summit County Port Authority and paid for through a 30-cent per pack tax on cigarettes, ticket surcharges, $14 million in state grants, private financing and other sources, officials have said. More: http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/16147914.htm?source=rss&channel=ohio_news

All from the 12/1/06 ABJ: SUMMIT SOCCER STADIUM PLAN UNVEILED Public dollars part of financing By Bob Downing Beacon Journal staff writer MACEDONIA - It is the perfect site: the crossroads of Northeast Ohio. That's what drew Paul Garofolo and Scott Wolstein to northern Summit County as the proposed site for a 20,000-seat soccer stadium with a retractable dome and grass surface. On Thursday, Wolstein Sports & Entertainment Group of Moreland Hills unveiled a project estimated at $327 million that would have the stadium -- to be home for an expansion Major League Soccer team and other events -- two retail developments, a medical complex, at least one hotel and up to 15 restaurants. The 450-acre site is on the east side of state Route 8 between I-271 and the Ohio Turnpike in the city of Macedonia and Northfield Center Township. The project hinges on construction of the stadium, they said, and the stadium will require public tax dollars to make it work. More: http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/16138870.htm?source=rss&channel=ohio_news Outdoor retailer could be key to development A highly popular retailer of hunting, fishing and outdoor gear may be an anchor to a proposed retail development in northern Summit County. The retailer was not identified by name at Thursday's media event in Macedonia, although it is said to be Cabela's Inc., based in Nebraska. It has 18 stores in 16 states and an additional 12 stores in the works. This would be Cabela's first outlet in Ohio. At 250,000 square feet, it could occupy about 30 percent of the space in Chapel Hill or Summit malls, both of which are about 850,000 square feet. http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/16138888.htm?source=rss&channel=ohio_news About the complex 20,000 seats Soccer stadium with 20,000 seats. Could accommodate another 5,000 in suites and standing-room areas. Would have retractable roof and movable natural grass field. May be expanded to 30,000 seats. Would be home to an expansion Major League Soccer team, perhaps in 2009. Would be used for international and collegiate matches. Would cost $170 million. Would be used for concerts, basketball and other events. Could be surrounded by 25 lighted soccer fields. Medical complex Medical complex costing $30 million. Would have 24-hour urgent care center, medical office building, sports rehabilitation facility and wellness center. Retail areas One would cover 425,000 square feet on 45 acres. Would be similar to Crocker Park in Westlake and Legacy Village in Lyndhurst. The second retail area would cover 250,000 square feet on 30 acres for a retailer, believed to be Cabela's Inc. The two developments would cost $120 million. At least one hotel costing $7.5 million and perhaps up to 15 restaurants. Who's paying? A cigarette tax of about 30 cents a pack in Summit County. It would require approval of the Ohio Legislature, Summit County Council and perhaps voters. Up to $14 million in state grants. The money would be sought for the soccer stadium. More: http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/16138937.htm?source=rss&channel=ohio_news

From the 12/15/06 Newark Advocate: Grant recommended for Pataskala business park Money wouldn't go to road, traffic light improvements By MARK SZAKONYI Advocate reporter PATASKALA -- A planned Pataskala business park came a step closer to becoming a reality Thursday when a $3.4 million grant for the site was recommended by the state's department of development. The recommendation is expected to receive final approval Monday by the State Controlling Board, said Rick Platt, executive director of Heath-Newark-Licking County Port Authority. The proposed Pataskala Corporate Park could bring about 1,000 jobs to the area and have a $135 million regional impact, Pataskala Mayor Stephen Butcher said. The 305-acre site, which is south of Broad Street, east of Mink Street and north of Refugee Road, will open up the surrounding 1,000 acres if developed, Platt said. The state grant is $1.6 million short of the request made to the Job Ready Site Program by Savage, Pataskala and the Port Authority, Platt said. Full story at http://www.newarkadvocate.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061215/NEWS01/612150316/1002

From Worthington News, 12/13/06: State adds to arts center funding Budget includes $250,000 in state dollars for center's construction By BRITTINY DUNLAP Money from the state capital budget will bring the Worthington Arts Council one step closer to constructing the Peggy R. McConnell Arts Center. It was announced last week that $250,000 from the state's capital budget would be set aside for the center. Read more http://www.snponline.com/NEWS12-13/12-13_wostatefunding.html From same: Corporation will take reins at center By BRITTINY DUNLAP Worthington City Council spent more than an hour Monday night discussing four models to construct the proposed Peggy R. McConnell Arts Center of Worthington. In a 3-2 vote, with council members Mike Duffey and Bonnie Michael dissenting and John Butterfield abstaining, council approved the formation of a new community improvement corporation to handle the construction. Read more at http://www.snponline.com/NEWS12-13/12-13_wocicestablished.html

From the 12/12/06 Newark Advocate: ThisWeek Licking County: Pataskala, Etna working on details of TIF deal (12/10/06) ThisWeek Licking County: Thorough study planned for 310 corridor (11/26/06) Pataskala hopes TIF districts can help Ohio 310 By CHAD KLIMACK Advocate Reporter PATASKALA -- Pataskala hopes to curb future congestion woes on Ohio 310 by adopting a novel tax mechanism. The city council listened Monday to the second reading of separate ordinances implementing two Tax Increment Finance districts on the heavily-traveled corridor. Not everyone views the TIF districts as advantageous to the city. Former councilman Mike Fox said Monday the taxing mechanism would siphon off property taxes normally directed to the city's police levy, Southwest Licking schools, and others. "The developers should be paying for these infrastructure improvements," Fox said. Despite Fox's arguments, the city council voted 5-0 to listen to the second readings. Council members Pat Sagar and Bernard Brush were not present during the vote. Full story at http://www.newarkadvocate.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061212/NEWS01/612120314/1002/rss01

From the 12/15/06 Enquirer: Warren deputies may get ICE training, too THE ENQUIRER Warren County could follow Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones' lead in getting local deputies federal training so they can arrest illegal immigrants. Warren County commissioners on Thursday said they will urge their own sheriff to follow Jones' lead. Jones announced Wednesday that federal authorities granted his request for 10 employees to undergo five weeks of training from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The training gives those deputies authority to arrest illegal immigrants, whereas before only ICE agents could. MORE: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061215/NEWS01/612150372/1056/COL02 From the 12/15/06 Fairfield Echo: Three illegal immigrants indicted identity scheme By Staff Report Friday, December 15, 2006 The Butler County grand jury released a 67-count partial indictment late Thursday afternoon involving three illegal immigrants. Gregorio Lopez-Cruz, Nicholas Juan-Santiago and Ernesto Escalante-Bartolonon are charged with engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, forgery, identity fraud, tampering with records, and selling or distributing forged identification cards. All three men are illegal residents residing in Butler County. According to the Butler County Prosecutor's office, an illegal immigrant contacted the sheriff's office to request a routine background check. Sheriff's deputies realized the residency documentation provided was fraudulent, which investigation led investigators to an identify-for-sale scheme. MORE: http://www.fairfield-echo.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2006/12/15/fe121506indictments.html From the 12/14/06 Sun Messenger: Police arrest six illegal immigrants, release them to INS Thursday, December 14, 2006 Six men were arrested for illegal immigrant status within a three-day span last week. On Friday, four of the men were stopped after they appeared to be stealing items from the automotive section at Walgreens, 2135 Warrensville Center Road. After a search of the men, no items were found, but they were found to be illegal aliens, police said. On Sunday, the other two men were arrested after they were stopped in a car on Cedar Road. Police said the men, ages 20 to 27, are all from Mexico and were living in the same house in University Heights. They were picked up Tuesday by the Immigration and Naturalization Service. MORE: http://www.cleveland.com/sun/sunmessenger/index.ssf?/base/news-0/116611841933820.xml&coll=3

From the 12/8/06 DDN: Callers complain to food pantry, homeless shelter about serving 'illegals' By Carmen M. Hubbard and Denise Wilson Staff Writers Friday, December 08, 2006 HAMILTON — The anonymous phone calls began coming in regularly just as the holiday push to feed the hungry started. The callers said they were watching the food pantry at Serve City on East Avenue, and that they had photos of Hispanic-looking people seeking aid. Why, they demanded, were "illegals" being given food or assistance? "We've had calls saying they had been taking pictures of Hispanics getting out of cars," said Linda Kimble, executive director of Serve City. "We require identification but we are not going to refuse people for being Hispanic. That's racist. It's just an ugly environment." The nonprofit agency houses the Lord's Cupboard food pantry and the Church Hospitality Emergency Shelter Network homeless shelter. Services are for any needy person living in Butler County. Kimble said the messages and phone calls coincided with Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones' push for local enforcement of immigration laws. MORE: http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2006/12/07/ddn120806sheltercalls.html

From the 12/3/06 PD: Immigration enforcement stuns Cleveland families Government no longer willing to ignore visa issues residents working and living here for years arrested Sunday, December 03, 2006 Robert L. Smith Plain Dealer Reporter Those who shared Hasan Bakia's secret knew he was living in America on borrowed time. But they expected a warning, some chance at redemption, before a bitter end. The acclaimed geologist had earned his good-neighbor credentials after arriving from Albania in 1992. He found factory work, befriended seemingly half of Lakewood, and emerged as the leader of a growing Albanian immigrant community. Still, he lacked a more crucial credential: a current visa. On the night of Nov. 7, federal immigration agents seized Bakia and his wife, Mirjana, as they left their car outside a relative's apartment in Lakewood. As the couple sit in jail awaiting deportation, astonished family and friends despair at the harshness of the action. MORE: http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/116513955329880.xml&coll=2

From the 12/1/06 Enquirer: Immigrants plead not guilty 32 accused of lacking work permits BY JIM HANNAH | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER COVINGTON - With interpreters at their side, 32 Hispanic immigrants pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges they were illegally working in the Northern Kentucky construction trade. The 31 men and one woman appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Gregory Wehrman after spending the night in the Boone County jail. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested 13 of the immigrants Wednesday outside a Florence home improvement store where they reportedly congregated every morning looking for work. The remaining immigrants were arrested simultaneously in parking lots surrounding the Ascent at Roebling's Bridge construction site near Third Street and Scott Boulevard. MORE: http://news.nky.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20061201/NEWS0103/612010386

A story I missed from ThisWeek Hilliard, 11/23/06: Columbus OKs Chambrey development Thursday, November 23, 2006 By GARY SEMAN JR. ThisWeek Staff Writer Columbus City Council has given its blessing to Chambrey, a 1,554-unit housing development in a burgeoning area of Northwest Columbus. Council approved two pieces of legislation on Monday night that allow Dominion Homes to build the single- and multi-housing development on 317 acres on Cosgray Road in the Hayden Run corridor. Council approved a rezoning that changed the parcel from rural residential to planned unit development, or PUD, and limited institutional districts. Read more at http://www.thisweeknews.com/index.php?sec=hilliard&story=sites/thisweeknews/112306/Hilliard/News/112306-News-265861.html

Crew kicking around sites for bigger soccer complex Business First of Columbus - by Brian R. Ball, Business First Friday, November 10, 2006 The Columbus Crew is looking to build a new practice complex that could become an economic development engine for the community that lands the $20 million project. The city's Major League Soccer franchise has hired Pizzuti Solutions LLC to gather bids from area communities for the complex, which is expected to include a full-size indoor practice field and a sports medicine center. The operation also is expected to include 16 soccer fields that could host tournaments for youth and developmental leagues. Crew General Manager Mark McCullers said the team hopes to pick a site by mid-2007 so it can move into the complex by early 2010. A similar soccer complex in suburban Dallas attracts more than 700,000 guests a year to events outside MLS games, he said. Full article: http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2006/11/13/story3.html

From the 12/1/06 Dispatch: Ohio Egg’s permits pulled for not disclosing partner Friday, December 01, 2006 DISPATCH STATE SERVICE Assistant Agriculture Director Howard Wise revoked the permits of the state’s largest egg farm yesterday. The decision came after a state hearing officer ruled that the Agriculture Department had a right to revoke the 16 permits that allowed Ohio Fresh Eggs to operate 12 farms in Licking, Hardin and Wyandot counties. The state started the action because it said the owners of the egg farm failed to disclose on its application that a farmer with a history of environmental violations was involved in managing the farm. Ohio Fresh Eggs says Jack DeCoster, who has farms in Maine and Iowa, is merely a financial partner. The state says he is helping run the farm. If DeCoster’s name had been on the application, the state would have run a background check as required by Ohio law. Officials in Iowa gave DeCoster "habitual violator" status because he had so many violations on the farms in that state. Ohio Fresh Eggs bought the farm, formerly Buckeye Egg Farm, after the state revoked Buckeye Egg’s permits because of 10 contempt-of-court charges and a decade of environmental violations and complaints from neighbors about odor, manure runoff and fly problems. MORE: http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/12/01/20061201-B3-05.html

From the 11/30/06 Fremont News-Messenger: Mega objections Retired professor doubts big farms will create well-paying jobs By MATT SANCTIS Staff writer More than 150 people were on hand Wednesday night to hear John Ikerd, a retired professor of agricultural economics, talk about his experiences with large farming operations. The speech was part of a two-hour meeting organized by Sandusky County Citizens Protecting Our Resources, a group that is opposed to two proposed large-scale dairy farms that are expected to come to the area. The speech focused largely on issues such as the economic and environmental impact of megafarms on a rural community. Leo Peiffer of Madison Township said he lives just 3 miles from one of the proposed sites, both of which will hold as many as 2,000 cows. He said he was attending the meeting to get more information on what has happened in other areas. Among his chief concerns, he said, are health and pollution issues stemming from the large amounts of liquid manure that will be created, as well as how well the farms are regulated. “It’s just a whole quality of life issue,” he said. MORE: http://www.thenews-messenger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061130/NEWS01/61130001/1002/rss01

From the 11/18/06 Dispatch: OHIO FRESH EGGS State should close farms, official says Saturday, November 18, 2006 Kelly Lecker THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Ohio’s largest egg producer lost a big battle in its fight to stay open when a state hearing officer said the agriculture department should revoke its permits. The ruling against Ohio Fresh Eggs, which has farms in Licking, Wyandot and Hardin counties, could mean that the company would have to sell its chickens and close the farm. It is the latest action in a long fight between the egg farm, its neighbors and state officials who had previously shut down Buckeye Egg Farm, the company’s previous owner. The state started steps to revoke the company’s permits in September 2005. It accused Ohio Fresh Eggs of failing to disclose that an egg farmer with a history of violations was involved in managing the farm. MORE: http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/11/18/20061118-A3-03.html

From the 11/17/06 Lima News: Hardin County group questions mega-dairy under construction BY DOMINIC ADAMS - Nov. 17, 2006 MCGUFFEY — An environmental advocacy group in Hardin County wants to see manure maps in order to determine where an under construction mega-dairy could potentially spread its manure. Citizens for Respectful Agricultural Environmental Policies Inc. said it is imperative that it know the list of potential dump sites the Ohio Department of Agriculture has from the farm so the advocacy group can do some research. The group wants to install wells to test water before the 4,500-cow Van Deurzen Dairy begins operation near Alger. "We want to collect our information," said Ron Wyss, the group’s president who farms land about a half-mile from the dairy. "We have to do our due diligence and hope there’s no problems." Citizens for Respectful Agricultural Environmental Policies Inc. was formed a year and a half ago and has 42 paid members. Wyss said the group wants to educate the public and work to change the weak governmental restrictions on mega farms. MORE: http://www.limanews.com/story.php?IDnum=32265

From the 11/24/06 PD: Cuyahoga judges cutting down foreclosure backlog CSU study finds cases take under a year, not 18 months Friday, November 24, 2006 Thomas Ott Plain Dealer Reporter Cuyahoga County judges have begun to hack away at a huge backlog of foreclosures that left Common Pleas Court buried in scorn, a Cleveland State University study has found. The study, conducted for the county, says the court has cut the average foreclosure case from 18 months to less than a year, the Ohio Supreme Court's standard. More at cleveland.com http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1164361676108030.xml&coll=2

From the 12/14/06 Lima News: First two New Lima homes nearly built BY HEATHER RUTZ - Dec. 14, 2006 LIMA — Two homes under construction since this summer at the former Whittier Elementary site are nearly ready to be sold, New Lima Inc. Director Barb Massa said Wednesday. The homes, built as part of the agency’s mission to make people with low to moderate incomes homeowners, will be sold for about $50,000 less than their market value, Massa said. The homes are the first two of 12 to be built in the new Whittier Place subdivision, on the site of a former Lima elementary school razed in its rebuilding project. The land, at Reese and Holmes avenues, will eventually fill out with five homes from New Lima, two from Allen Metro Housing Authority, three from Habitat for Humanity and two from Miller-Valentine Homes. More at http://www.limanews.com/story.php?IDnum=33125

From the 12/7/06 Lorain Morning Journal: 3,700 new homes in the pipeline MATT SUMAN and ALEX M. PARKER, Morning Journal Writers 12/07/2006 ELYRIA -- The residential growth of Eaton and Carlisle townships is resting on a plan to build sanitary sewers to serve potentially about 3,700 new homes and include 1,300 existing homes, according to a plan by the Lorain County Rural Wastewater District submitted to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. The plan also said it anticipated an ''immediate pattern of growth similar to North Ridgeville,'' once the area is sewered by the district, also known as LORCO, according to the EPA. The townships are working on 19 potential development deals for 3,761 houses which are contingent on sewers, according to James McDonnell, chairman of LORCO's board. http://www.morningjournal.com/site/index.cfm?newsid=17566103&BRD=1699&PAG=461&dept_id=566374&rfi=8 From the 11/28/06 Lorain Morning Journal: Lowe's to anchor shopping center Morning Journal Staff 11/28/2006 AVON -- Lowe's home improvement store is set to be the anchor tenant for a new shopping center coming to Avon at Center and Chester roads, according to the city's planning coordinator, Jim Piazza. The shopping center, called Avon Crossing, is being developed by the Jacobs Group, and will be built on more than 35 acres. No other tenants for the center have been announced, according to Piazza. http://www.morningjournal.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17519663&BRD=1699&PAG=461&dept_id=46371&rfi=6

From the 12/7/06 Newark Advocate: Newark Advocate: Granville annexation expected to raise issues (12/4/06) Newark Advocate: Granville officials deciding on road maintenance (11/23/06) Granville takes step toward annexation GRANVILLE -- Granville Village Council took a legal step Wednesday toward the annexation of 514 acres in Granville Township by agreeing to take charge of maintenance of two sections of road. Council voted unanimously to take responsibility for snow removal and road repair and resurfacing for about a mile of James Road and 750 feet of River Road. Because the sections are about two miles and a mile, respectively, from the village boundary, and one of the sections is short, the village and township will work out a deal by which the township would continue maintaining the sections, possibly in exchange for some work the village could perform on behalf of the township, said Village Manager Don Holycross and Wes Sargent, chairman of the township trustees. Read more at http://www.newarkadvocate.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061207/NEWS01/612070338/1002/rss01