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From the 6/23/07 Western Star: 'We kept 1,200 jobs in county,' commissioners say By Tiffany Y. Latta Staff Writer Friday, June 22, 2007 LEBANON — Warren County commissioners touted their plans to expand the jail, balance residential and business growth and improve roads at a breakfast Friday morning with business and community leaders. Commissioners David Young and Pat South spoke for about an hour at the Lebanon Area Chamber of Commerce meeting. They said that the county's population has grown from 59,169 to 201,871 or 26.8 percent in the past decade, straining law enforcement, roads, schools and parks. They said local government officials helped collect $7 million in voluntary fees from developers last year to help schools provide services for the growing population and have budgeted about $400 million on road improvements and about $6 million to expand the county jail. http://www.western-star.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/06/22/ws062207breakfastweb.html

From the 6/23/07 Forest Hills Journal: District 3 sergeant tops in state Cincinnati Police Sgt. Eric Franz was named Ohio Crime Prevention Practitioner of the Year by the Ohio Crime Prevention Association. http://news.communitypress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/C2/20070623/NEWS01/706230304/

From the 6/23/07 Dispatch: MAP Landlords get hand in staving off crime Program focuses on enhancing security with police help Saturday, June 23, 2007 3:39 AM By Gavin Off THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH When the Sethi family took over the Pinetree Village Apartments in 1982, the bank representative refused to meet at the East Side property. Drugs and crimes plagued the 166-unit, 22-building complex. Now, Columbus Police Lt. Ty Brust, who supervises officers who patrol the area, can not recall any recent calls to the apartment complex. And today, Pinetree Village will become Columbus' first housing complex to complete something called the Crime Free Multi-housing Program. Full story at http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/content/local_news/stories/2007/06/23/pinetree.ART_ART_06-23-07_B1_3873GKP.html?type=rss&cat=21

From the 6/22/07 Florence Recorder: Florence Wal-Mart hearing set for July 5 BY ADAM ROSING | [email protected] On Thursday, July 5, everyone will get a chance to voice their opinion of a proposed Wal-Mart at the corner of U.S. 42 and Weaver Roads in Florence. The Boone County Planning Commission will hold a public hearing at 7:30 p.m. that night in the Burlington Elementary gym at 5946 North Orient St. to discuss the proposed Wal-Mart. The 26.1-acre site was annexed by Florence in May at a City Council meeting. Read more here: http://news.communitypress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070622/NEWS01/706220332/1002/RSS01

Antioch trustees seeking solution to crisis Changes may come to governance model as alumni, faculty seek answers to financial question. By Stephanie Irwin Gottschlich Staff Writer Saturday, June 23, 2007 YELLOW SPRINGS — Antioch University trustees told faculty and alumni on Friday they were willing to discard the university's governance model to ensure the system's financial health. The cave-in came after nearly 600 college alumni and faculty crowded an auditorium in historic Antioch Hall and confronted trustees on their decision to close Antioch College in July 2008 because of a lack of money. Alumni lambasted trustees and college president Steven Lawry for keeping the college community in the dark when there were earlier signs of a financial crisis. Lawry blamed the college's downfall and impending closure on the board's governance. "The college needs its own board focused on this campus if it's going to survive," he said. Full story at http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/06/23/ddn062307antioch.html

From the 6/23/07 Warren Tribune Chronicle: Delphi, UAW reach wage cut deal From staff, wire reports DETROIT — Struggling auto parts maker Delphi Corp. reached a tentative wage-cutting agreement Friday with its largest union in what may set the pattern for future pay in the U.S. automotive parts industry. The deal, which still must be voted on by Delphi members of the United Auto Workers, was signed just before a 1 p.m. meeting between the UAW leadership and presidents of the union’s locals. International Union of Electrical Workers-Communications Workers of America bargainers are scheduled to travel Monday to Delphi’s hometown of Troy, Mich., to get details of the agreement and begin efforts to reach terms for their 1,800 members. ... http://tribune-chronicle.com/articles.asp?articleID=19546 From the 6/23/07 DDN: Drought of details plagues many at Delphi Company not telling what 'comprehensive labor contract' will mean for four area Delphi plants. By Thomas Gnau Staff Writer Saturday, June 23, 2007 Where exactly the tentative agreement Delphi Corp. announced with its biggest union Friday leaves local Delphi plants is unclear. The agreement between Delphi, the United Auto Workers and General Motors Corp., Delphi's biggest customer and former parent, covers "site plans," the auto parts maker said in a statement. But the company would not say what those plans are. ... Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2390 or [email protected]. http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/business/2007/06/23/ddn062307delphi.html

Buckeye Central moving ahead with plans for new K-12 campus Tiffin Advertiser-Tribune, 6/17/07 Site clearing for Buckeye Central School District’s new K-12 campus may begin as early as October, architect Kent Buehrer said Thursday night. Board of Education President Gary Green and board member Roger Payne attended the community update, along with Superintendent Ron Cirata, administration and faculty representatives. The board also met Tuesday, having moved the scheduled monthly meeting ahead by two days. A construction bond levy won approval at a February special election, allowing the district to fund the 20 percent local share of the academic area, with the Ohio School Facilities Commission providing the other 80 percent. The levy also included a locally funded initiative for more gymnasium space and other requirements not included in the state’s basic calculations.

ANOTHER JED'S BARBEQUE ON THE WAY Toledo Blade, 6/17/07 A new Jed’s Barbeque & Brew takes shape in Perrysburg along State Rte. 25 just south of Roachton Road. The 4,600- square-foot restaurant and bar, which is next to a lake in the new Harbor Town Place commercial development, is to open August 1. It will be operated by brothers Michael and Peter Govito, who own the Jed’s in Bowling Green but are not affiliated with Ken Pompora, owner of the Jed’s location in southwest Toledo.

Kenton moving ahead on jail Post staff report The Kenton County Fiscal Court is moving ahead with plans for a new jail, even though it is still evaluating possible sites. At a special meeting on Tuesday, commissioners expect to approve advertising for a request for qualifications for architectural services to develop a plan for the Kenton County Detention Center. "We're required to seek an RFQ, and to advertise for architectural services," said Deputy Judge-Executive Scott Kimmich. "Whoever is chosen will design for whatever site is chosen." The county announced in December that it had selected the site for the new jail - about 800 yards south of Pelly Road on the east side of the Ky. 17 extension under construction. Opposition arose immediately, but so far, the county has stuck to its guns. Read full article here: http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AE/20070528/NEWS02/705280321/

Sandusky YMCA wants new facility, new location Sandusky Register, 6/14/07 The Sandusky Area YMCA wants to open a new facility at a new location, but can't do it alone. "To make a new YMCA possible, it has to be a community-sponsored initiative, meaning the foundations have to be on board, the corporations have to be onboard and the city has to be on board," said Brett Kinzel, board of trustees president. Over the last 18 months, the YMCA has been researching the feasibility of opening a new facility, which included finding an optimal location. "Part of the 22-step process was to do a site selection analysis. We originally started out with four sites, but based on demographics and geographics, we decided 2020 Hayes Ave. would be the best location," Kinzel said. The Hayes Avenue location is the site of the former Memorial Hospital. The YMCA has made an offer on the location, but so has the Erie County Health Department.

Cleanup plans for Tiffin Glasshouse site continue Tiffin Advertiser-Tribune, 6/14/07 Cleanup on the Tiffin Glasshouse property is moving ahead after a meeting in Columbus. Representatives of the city and the engineering firm Burgess & Niple, Columbus, met with several government agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency, May 30 to start to formalize engineering specifications for how the cleanup of the brownfield site is to proceed. A brownfied site is usually a former indusrial site that may be hard to redevelop because of hazardous pollutants, said Dina Pierce, Northwest District media coordinator with the Ohio EPA. The remediation, or cleanup, of the Tiffin Glasshouse property is being supervised by Burgess & Niple. Pierce said Burgess & Niple are submitting occasional reports to the EPA to keep them informed.

FCH to receive zoning permit Fostoria Review Times, 6/15/07 A zoning permit number will be supplied to ProMedica next week, allowing the operators of Fostoria Community Hospital to move forward with plans for a $4.6 million addition and renovation at the Van Buren Street facility. The planning commission approved a site plan, with conditions, submitted by the hospital and MBA Architects, the firm which provided the design plans. City engineer Dan Thornton requested the hospital make certain changes, such as expanding parking spaces and shrinking a storm water line, before they become problems down the road. "I had some comments, but it looks like they were addressed already," Thornton said at the beginning of Thursday's meeting.

Perrysburg Township Trustees approve new fire station Toledo Blade, 6/14/07 Perrysburg Township trustees have authorized construction of a fire station for $4.5 million. The station will be 28,235 square feet and located on the north side of the police station on Lime City Road, just north of the township administration building and current fire station. The new station will feature: • 1,408 square feet of administrative offices. • A training area of 1,900 square feet. • Living quarters of 3,831 square feet. • A 500-square-foot training hose tower. • Apparatus bays of 21,096 square feet.

From the 6/22/07 Urbana Daily Citizen: Douglas Inn will soon have new owners KATHLEEN FOX Assistant Editor The Douglas Inn on Monument Square is slated to be transferred from the Community Improvement Corporation to Miami Scioto Holdings, a for-profit arm of the Miami Scioto Development Company on Monday, according to representatives of CIC and MSD. The sale price is $80,000. John Doss, an MSD officer, said a for-profit arm of MSD had to be formed to take advantage of state tax credits that recently became available to redevelop historic properties. The window for applying for these credits is small. An Ohio Department of Development Web site states applications for this refundable Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit can be made July 2. Only 100 certifications will be granted this year to owners of historic buildings. Doss said he and partners Jon Umstead and Pat Thackery want to be among the first to apply for the tax credits. He said they should know by the end of July whether they have been successful. More at http://www.urbanacitizen.com/main.asp?SectionID=3&SubSectionID=5&ArticleID=144269&TM=57404.91

From Miami University, 6/22/07: Structural problems discovered at Lewis Place 06/22/2007 Renovations at Lewis Place, the home for the family of Miami University's president, were completed in time for the building to be used for public events during Reunion Weekend, but not without some major structural work, Richard Norman, senior vice president of finance and business services, told the Miami University board of trustees at its June 22 meeting. In fall 2005 when former President James Garland announced his intention to retire, the board of trustees charged Miami's administration with renovating the historic building. As is typical with many old homes, Miami staff found severe structural problems during the renovations of the home, which has served Miami presidents since 1903. Many overdue and much-needed renovations were designated for Lewis Place last year, but a growing list of hidden defects added significantly to renovation costs. As work proceeded, crews discovered there were no foundation footers under a section of the kitchen and extensive termite and wood rot damage was found in the floor joists at various locations throughout the home, Norman said. In addition, a cistern found underneath the garage needed to be removed and properly discarded. Because the home was built in 1839, Lewis Place needed considerable shoring to maintain the house’s integrity -- Miami's ultimate goal for the renovation, Norman added. In addition, the university was required to bring the house, which is a state building, in line with Ohio's handicap-accessible code regulations. Gift funds were used for the structural repairs and all other costs of the renovation except for changes requested by the university's catering services. The necessary repairs increased the cost of infrastructure renovations (a new heating, ventilation and air conditioning system [HVAC], electrical and plumbing improvements, life safety systems, improvements to the functionality and accessibility of the public area of the house) to more than $1 million. The catering/hosting renovations (on-site storage for catering supplies, a working area from which to stage 75-100 annual events) were requested by Carillon Catering and cost about $575,000 from housing, dining and guest services' contingency repair/renovation funds. In addition, residence renovations (refurbishing two bathrooms, reconfiguring one bedroom and converting one bedroom and a closet into a private family room) cost about $318,000 in gift monies. It is the first time in 43 years that the private area has been renovated. "Lewis Place is a multi-functional house serving as both a public university building for meetings and events and a private residence,” explained Norman. The building's 1928-vintage, below-ground-level garage that frequently flooded has been replaced and a new energy-efficient HVAC system will replace the five furnaces in the house that had been added over time. Sixteen fireplaces originally heated the home. The completed renovations include a three-car garage, an outside deck and patio area, and improved circulation and foot traffic pattern throughout the house for large events, indicated Norman. The renovations also reflect both the state codes for public buildings and "the home's original Southern Colonial architecture, thus preserving its historic nature." http://www.miami.muohio.edu/news/article/view/1979

From the 6/22/07 DDN: Beavercreek city schools board wants $89.3M for new schools Bond issue for three facilities to ease overcrowding may wind up on November ballot. By Christopher Magan Staff Writer Friday, June 22, 2007 BEAVERCREEK — School overcrowding forces students to attend classes in hallways and sometimes eat lunch on the cafeteria floor, board member Richard Eckhardt said. Situations such as those prompted the Beavercreek City School District to take the first step in its desire to build three schools to solve the overcrowding problem. The board decided Thursday night to ask voters to approve an $89.3 million bond request in November. "If the bond request is approved, district officials plan to build a preschool, elementary and middle schools. The high school also will be expanded and existing buildings will be renovated. The new middle school will be built on 89 acres near Indian Ripple and Alpha-Bellbrook roads. The exact millage and cost per $100,000 of property valuation needs to be determined by the state auditor, but district Treasurer Stephen Maag estimated it will be about 3.7 mills. MORE: http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/06/22/ddn062207bcreek.html New Senior Housing: Lyons Place Dayton Extra, 6/21/07 The Dayton City Commission has approved an agreement with the St. Mary Development Corporation that will allow development of Lyons Place, a 67-unit senior housing building planned for a now-vacant area of the Dayton VA Medical Center campus. The agreement will direct $440,000 in federal HOME funds to the project, which will bring a total investment of $9.6 million to the Southwest Priority Board area. Huffman Prairie Bikeway to open Monday with fanfare Xenia Daily Gazette, 6/21/07 The Huffman Prairie Bikeway will have its grand opening ceremony on Monday at 10 a.m. The bike path has been several years in the making. Many people helped secure funding, including Senator Mike DeWine and Congressman David Hobson. The value of this project was estimated at $1.7 million. The grand opening will have several elements. There will be a ribbon cutting, a plaque unveiling and an appearance by Hobson. The bikeway was conceptualized in 1991 and received Veteran's Administration/Housing and Urban Development funding. The original trail started at Central Avenue and ended at Skyline Drive at the Wright Brothers' Memorial. This new segment runs from the west end of the Fairborn Wright Brothers' Huffman Prairie Bikeway and ends at Huffman Reserve at Marl Road. The trail also features a bridge with a polycarbonate composite deck and a tunnel leading under State Route 444.

Evanston looks to tighten "Five Points" business district Building Cincinnati, 6/19/07 Evanston's NBD: Click to enlarge The City's Economic Development Committee will hear two rezoning cases at this afternoon's meeting which could alter the look of the Five Points business district. Recently, the Evanston Community Council received $2 million* to help implement the Evanston Five-Point Urban Renewal Plan, which was adopted in 2003. The plan recommended the concentration of commercial uses near the five-point intersection. The idea was to give the neighborhood business district (NBD) focus, to get more small businesses in existing commercial storefronts, and to help save some of the adjacent housing stock from being demolished to make way for undesireable commercial uses. At the time of the plan's adoption, the City's zoning code was being re-written. Since no zoning designations had been included in the plan, the Evanston Community Council asked for a zoning study from the City's Department of Community Development and Planning (DCDP). Based upon the goals outlined in the plan, the DCDP recommended in one ordinance that portions of the NBD between Fairfax and Holloway and along the eastern side of Woodburn (opposite of Merrimac) should change from CN-M Commercial Neighborhood-Mixed to CN-P Commercial Neighborhood-Pedestrian zoning. This designation would retain the commercial density of the area. It would also disallow any future auto-oriented development on the site. Existing auto-oriented businesses would be allowed to operate, but not to expand. In the second ordinance, the mostly residential properties along Woodburn between Gilpin and Fairfax would change from CN-M to RMX Residential Mix. This would have the effect of helping to shift commercial uses farther north to the Five Points intersection. Again, existing uses could remain. Zoning along Montgomery between Ruth and Duck Creek and along Woodburn south of Gilpin would remain the same. After a public discussion between community members and staff from DCDP eight days earlier, Evanston Community Council voted to support the rezoning on April 18. The City Planning Commission unanimously approved this rezoning on May 18. City Council's agenda has not yet been posted. WINDOWS LIVE BIRD'S EYE VIEW (looking north) GOOGLE AERIAL MAP * I do not know the source of this money. http://buildingcincinnati.blogspot.com/2007/06/evanston-looks-to-tighten-five-points.html Southgate weighs options for firehouse dilemma Fort Thomas Recorder, 6/21/07 A new firehouse may be in the future for Southgate's Volunteer Fire Department. Since an April report from city engineer CDS Associates showed the floor of the build is holding 64,000 more pounds than it safely should, city officials have met numerous times to discuss options. Mayor Jim Hamberg said there are three options: Reinforce the current floor to sustain the weight of the city's two fire trucks, build a temporary structure to house the trucks, or build a new permanent firehouse. "The only option I see that really works is building a new firehouse," said Fire Chief John Beatsch. Installing beams in the basement of the firehouse, which is used as a training and meeting room, would cramp the already small space, Beatsch said.

From the 6/22/07 Lorain Morning Journal: Yacht Club condo plan gets tabled By RICHARD PAYERCHIN, Sandusky Bureau Chief 06/22/2007 SANDUSKY -- The Sandusky Yacht Club will have to wait a month to learn if the club can build a 12-story condominium complex on its waterfront site. The SYC asked for a height variance so it could build above the 45 foot limit along the waterfront in Sandusky's Downtown Business District. The Sandusky Board of Zoning Appeals last night voted to table the issue, asking yacht club staff to work with developers of what could become the adjacent marina district. http://www.morningjournal.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18506707&BRD=1699&PAG=461&dept_id=46371&rfi=6

From the 6/22/07 Toledo Free Press: New low-income senior housing to open By Chase Purdy Toledo Free Press Staff Writer [email protected] As Toledo demand for low-income senior housing rises, the new Keygate Manor housing community plans to open its doors in about a month. The Harvest Management Group run project has accepted residency applications as of June 18, and will continue through June 29. The 59-unit building is a non-profit project that boasts a modern look with modern amenities, said Linda Lee, manager of Keygate Manor. The building was designed for the elderly and contains a library, multi-purpose room, exercise room and a community room with a large television. In addition, the two story building also includes an elevator and handicapped accessible rooming. Although all 59 units are currently available, Knapper anticipates the building to fill quickly, which is common with these types of projects, she said. More at http://toledofreepress.com/?id=5800

From the 6/21/07 Garfield-Maple Sun: Residents petition to get housing project finished Thursday, June 21, 2007 By Ken Baka Garfield-Maple Sun MAPLE HEIGHTS The in-limbo status of the Valley Ranch housing development prompted 22 residents to petition the city to use its laws to force developers to finish the work... http://www.cleveland.com/sun/garfieldmaplesun/index.ssf?/base/news-0/1182444215136360.xml&coll=3 From the 6/21/07 News-Herald: Bad application could mean snag in development Jeffrey L. Frischkorn [email protected] 06/21/2007 An incomplete application to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency could become a snag in moving forward with The Shoppes at Diamond Center project in Mentor... http://www.news-herald.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18501467&BRD=1698&PAG=461&dept_id=21849&rfi=6 Station plans moving Brunswick Sun Times, 6/21/07 City officials are in the process of purchasing seven acres of land on North Carpenter Road that will become home to the fire department's new headquarters sometime in the next 18 months...

From ThisWeek New Albany, 6/21/07: Community survey Opinions in on uses for performing-arts center Thursday, June 21, 2007 By GALE CADY WILLIAMS ThisWeek Staff Writer After about a month of reading and analyzing, experts are back with the results of surveys taken May 17-18 that assessed public opinion on possible acts and uses for the new performing-arts center. In letters mailed in early May, New Albany community members were asked to attend focus groups at the library or to complete online surveys defining what they'd like to see at the Jeanne B. McCoy Community Center for the Arts, 100 W. Granville St. The $15-million, 35,000-square-foot facility, due to open near Feb. 1, 2008, has been under construction for a little more than a year in the center of the village, near Dublin-Granville Road and U.S. Route 62. Ground-breaking was April 28, 2006. Read more at http://www.thisweeknews.com/?story=sites/thisweeknews/062107/NewAlbany/News/062107-News-375944.html

From Business First of Columbus, 6/22/07: Nonprofit building $11.5M apartments for homeless, mentally ill Business First of Columbus - 1:00 PM EDT Friday, June 22, 2007 by Matt Burns, Business First Franklin County Commissioners have allocated $500,000 toward a planned $11.5 million housing complex on Columbus' south side for families struggling with mental illness, chemical dependency and homelessness. The grant, provided through the local U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, was approved in a resolution Tuesday and comes weeks before construction on the Southpoint Place Apartments is scheduled to begin. Additional funding for the project includes equity on low-income housing tax credits of $7.3 million;, city of Columbus funding of $1.5 million; and funds from the Federal Home Loan Bank ($1 million). Developing the complex, near Obetz Road and South High Street, is Columbus-based Community Housing Network Inc., a nonprofit corporation that oversees about 1,200 housing units in Franklin County. The network provides what Executive Director Susan Weaver calls "permanent supportive housing," complete with subsidized leases and social services. Read more at http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2007/06/18/daily28.html

From the 6/22/07 Sandusky Register: PHOTO: Smoking, which is prohibited by law inside Markley's Restaurant, is allowed at designated tables in their new outdoor seating area. Register photo/ABIGAIL BOBROW Where there's smoke there's a patio By JENNIFER GRATHWOL | Friday June 22 2007, 3:21pm SANDUSKY Outdoor patios may be a breath of fresh air for area restaurants and bars. Under the recent Ohio Issue 5, smoking is banned indoors at all public places and places of employment -- but outdoors is another story. Some restaurants had plans to add patios long before Issue 5 took effect, but the smoker-friendly environments could very well be bringing back some customers who had been deterred by the smoking ban. Read more: http://www.sanduskyregister.com/articles/2007/06/22/front/319316.txt

Link contains a photo. From the 6/22/07 Blade: FEBRUARY 21 SLAYING Robert Jobe indicted in Toledo police detective's fatal shooting Teen could face maximum of life in prison on 2 counts By ERICA BLAKE BLADE STAFF WRITER After a months-long process to determine whether he would stand trial as an adult, Robert Jobe entered the Lucas County Common Pleas Court system yesterday after being indicted on murder charges. A county grand jury indicted the 15-year-old North Toledoan on one count each of aggravated murder and murder, each with a gun specification. He is charged in the Feb. 21 shooting death of Toledo police vice Detective Keith Dressel. ... More at: http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070622/NEWS02/70622001/-1/RSS

From the 6/22/07 Newark Advocate: SW Licking board seeks more data for ProLogis abatement By CHAD KLIMACK Advocate Reporter PATASKALA -- The Southwest Licking Local Board of Education needs more time to consider an abatement package that could lure hundreds of new jobs to western Licking County. The school board on Thursday listened to a presentation from representatives from ProLogis, a global developer of distribution facilities. The company, which operates inside ProLogis Park on U.S. 40, wants to expand to a 525-acre site near Mink Road in Pataskala and an 86-acre site on U.S. 40 in Etna Township, directly across from ProLogis Park. http://www.newarkadvocate.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070622/NEWS01/706220309/1002/rss01