buildingcincinnati

Link contains a photo. From the 6/8/07 Steubenville Herald Star: Working to save the bridge By DAVE GOSSETT, staff writer STEUBENVILLE — Susan Probert describes herself as a novice bicyclist. But Thursday, Probert was one of 12 people who met to discuss preserving the Fort Steuben Bridge as a pedestrian and bike trail span across the Ohio River. “Right now I have to pack up my bike and take it to a trail out of this area. We don’t have a lot of accessible bike trails in Jefferson County,” Probert explained. http://www.heraldstaronline.com/articles.asp?articleID=14496

From the 6/8/07 Youngstown Vindicator: Alli receives undisputed portion of severance The city won't pay the ex-police officer any more money until an investigation is finished. By DAVID SKOLNICK CITY HALL REPORTER YOUNGSTOWN — The city's board of control agreed to give $25,661.92 in severance pay to Rick Alli, which includes no money he accrued while on the police department's payroll and when he was not on active duty. The ex-police detective sergeant is seeking $29,340.07 from the city for unused sick and vacation time as well as hazardous-duty and longevity pay between Jan. 5 and April 24, when he wasn't working for the city. "This is the funding that isn't in question or dispute," said city Finance Director David Bozanich, a board of control member, of the pay approved by the board Thursday. Other board members are Mayor Jay Williams and Law Director Iris Torres Guglucello. More at http://www.vindy.com/content/local_regional/24969186170643.php

Link contains a photo. From the 6/8/07 Newark Advocate: Bayer MaterialScience opens $10 million addition By KENT MALLETT Advocate Reporter HEBRON -- Bayer MaterialScience unveiled its new $10 million Design Center on Thursday. The center will allow customers to leave with sample products after only hours at the company's Color Competence Center. The 26,000-square-foot addition to the company's facility in the Newark Industrial Park will help Bayer retain its 140 employees at the site and increase the work force in coming years. The expansion allows customers to help design their molded plastic products, choose colors and leave the same day with samples to take back to their companies. That gives Bayer MaterialScience a competitive edge, company officials said. Full story at http://www.newarkadvocate.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070608/NEWS01/706080301/1002/rss01

First link contains photos. Both from the 6/8/07 Blade: NORTH TOLEDO MURDER Jobe cleaned his gun after killing, court told; hearing recessed until Monday By ROBIN ERB BLADE STAFF WRITER In the hours after 15-year-old Robert Jobe shot and killed a Toledo police detective, he went to a friend’s house and cleaned his gun with alcohol, according to testimony today in Lucas County Juvenile Court. That, according to a clinical psychologist, is the kind of “sophisticated criminal behavior” that shows the juvenile justice system doesn’t have enough time before Jobe’s 21st birthday to rehabilitate him. “In terms of adolescent development, he was pretty calm and cool, in being able to do all that after this highly-emotional shooting,” said Dr. David Connell, an expert witness called by prosecutors who are trying to have the teen stand trial as an adult for the shooting death of vice narcotics Detective Keith Dressel. ... More at: http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070608/NEWS02/706080410/-1/NEWS PHOTO: Toledo police have not received any responses yet to the Patrol Vehicle Sponsorship Program. As illustrated at left, a company can have an ad placed on a police cruiser with a donation of $15,000 toward a new police vehicle. ( PHOTO ILLUSTRATION/TOLEDO POLICE DEPARTMENT ) Toledo police roll out 'marked car' ad plan to raise funds By CHRISTINA HALL BLADE STAFF WRITER Just been arrested by Toledo police? You might not have to look too far to find an attorney or bail bondsman - just glance at the rear quarter panel of the officer's marked cruiser. As of Wednesday, 466 letters have been mailed to businesses announcing a "Patrol Vehicle Sponsorship Program." ... More at: http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070608/NEWS03/706080411/-1/NEWS

From the 6/8/07 Elyria Chronicle-Telegram: Y wants help to replace closed facilities Adam Wright | The Chronicle-Telegram ELYRIA More than a year after YMCAs in Lorain and Elyria locked their doors without notice, the YMCA of Greater Cleveland is asking county residents to help it raise money to build two new facilities. Glenn Haley, president of the YMCA of Greater Cleveland, told the county commissioners Thursday that the organization has a three-year plan to raise $14.2 million to construct new facilities in Avon and Amherst and to renovate a YWCA in Elyria. Contact Adam Wright at 329-7151 and [email protected]. http://www.chroniclet.com/2007/06/08/y-wants-help-to-replace-closed-facilities/

From the 6/8/07 Lorain Morning Journal: Applebee's to open new location at Lighthouse Village KATE GIAMMARISE, Morning Journal Writer 06/08/2007 LORAIN -- An Applebee's restaurant will be joining the Home Depot and Kohl's department store in the Lighthouse Village shopping center, according to plans submitted to the city. Developer Tom Kuluris said he hopes the restaurant will be moving dirt at the shopping center at the intersection of Leavitt and Jaeger roads in as little as a few weeks, with an opening before the end of the year. ... http://www.morningjournal.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18446964&BRD=1699&PAG=461&dept_id=46371&rfi=6

Hospital preparing for $4.6 million expansion Fostoria Review Times, 6/12/07 A $4.6 million expansion to Fostoria Community Hospital is tentatively scheduled for completion in mid-January 2008, according to hospital president Tim Jakacki. "Before the end of the month, we should see some (construction) activity here," Jakacki said during a presentation at the hospital Monday evening. The project's primary addition will be a new diagnostic center, which would place radiology, MRI and other emergency department technology in close proximity to each other, Jakacki said. The expansion will create — on the eastern side of the campus — or affect more than 15,000 square feet, including a new lobby and a revamped, but consistent, decor.

From the 6/8/07 Tiffin Advertiser-Tribune: Nutter’s new courthouse designs By Zachary Petit, [email protected] A Seneca County commissioner unveiled a new plan to tear down the courthouse and replace it with a less expensive building Thursday, sparking heated internal and external debate that left open the possibility of silencing citizens on the issue at meetings. Commissioner Ben Nutter presented his plan to the board for a smaller replacement structure he said will be more affordable to the county than the four other options presented by Mansfield firm MKC Associates Monday. At the request of the commissioners, MKC investigated options for the building the board voted to raze in August to resolve a projected shortage of needed government operating space in the future. The company presented their findings for four paths Monday, which included the revelation that renovating the structure would cost about $9 million — $500,000 less than the next option of tearing it down and building a new 32,000-square-foot courthouse. Full story: http://www.advertiser-tribune.com/articles.asp?articleID=8596

From the 6/8/07 Blade: Dana seeks permission to drop supplier accord Toledo automotive-parts maker Dana Corp. said yesterday a bankruptcy court should let it out of “uneconomic, noncompetitive” contracts with a supplier whose performance has been “consistently abysmal.” Dana said it should be allowed to enter into cheaper, more-favorable contracts with other suppliers even though it still has seven years left on a deal with Sypris Technologies Inc., a unit of Sypris Solutions Inc., of Louisville. Dana contends that Sypris is trying to force it “to assume an indisputably uneconomic, noncompetitive set of contracts.” http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070608/BUSINESS03/70608004/-1/RSS04

From the 2/28/07 DDN: Homeless count provides glimpse of problem By Margo Rutledge Kissell Staff Writer Wednesday, February 28, 2007 DAYTON — As a first-of-its-kind assessment on homelessness was being unveiled in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, local officials provided a glimpse into the scope of the problem locally. A "point in time" count, conducted on the evening of Jan. 26 and early morning hours of Jan. 27 by the Homeless Solutions Policy Board and volunteers, found 785 homeless adults and children living in the area. Of those individuals, 719 were staying in emergency shelters or transitional housing programs; 66 others were living on the street... http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/02/28/ddn022807homelessweb.html

From the 2/27/07 Dispatch: Tax credit lures firm, 97 jobs Maker of high-performance material will move HQ to Columbus from Texas Tuesday, February 27, 2007 Monique Curet THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH A Texas company will move its headquarters to Columbus and create 97 high-paying jobs within three years after receiving a tax credit from the state. The Ohio Tax Credit Authority yesterday approved a five-year, 60 percent tax credit worth $856,745 for Zyvex Performance Materials Inc. The technology company creates high-performance materials used by others to make products for the sportinggoods, aerospace, defense and medical industries... [email protected] http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/contentbe/dispatch/2007/02/27/20070227-C1-01.html

From the 2/27/07 Blade: Bartley Lofts developers buy 4 units to remove lien By TOM TROY BLADE STAFF WRITER Developers of Bartley Lofts, one of the most visible of downtown Toledo's loft condominium and apartment projects, have had to buy four units to pay off a construction contractor and get a lien removed. Joseph Swolsky and Bob Gersten, partners in Bartley Lofts Investors LLC, which converted the seven-story warehouse at 745 Washington St. into a residential building, each bought two units for a total of just under $1 million in January. MORE: http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070227/NEWS16/702270355/-1/RSS10

Link contains a video. From the 6/7/07 Sandusky Register: SMOKE SIGNALS: Health commissioner follows up on complaints By TOM JACKSON | Thursday June 07 2007, 11:15am SANDUSKY Erie County Health Commissioner Pete Schade parked his pickup truck Tuesday morning at the Hy-Miler on west Venice Road in Sandusky and hurried into the store ahead of the rest of his group, hoping to catch a smoker. As he walked inside, he found a store employee puffing on a cigarette, confirming complaints telephoned to the health department that employees at the store have been smoking after the statewide smoking ban went into effect. "He had the door open," Schade said. "He was blowing it outside the door." "If you want to smoke, you have to go completely outside," Schade told the employee. Read more: http://www.sanduskyregister.com/articles/2007/06/07/front/303999.txt From the 6/7/07 Celina Daily Standard: Mercer County to check on illegal smoking at night Complaints about tobacco use above average for state; Auglaize County complaints lower By Shelley Grieshop Local health officials soon will be checking out the nightlife as they investigate an above-average number of complaints about violators of the new smoking ban. Chris Miller, sanitarian for the Mercer County-Celina City Health Department, said on-site checks to investigate possible violators have taken health officials to businesses and private clubs during daytime hours on seven occasions. But he has learned some establishments - particularly private clubs like VFWs, American Legions and Fraternal Order of Eagles Lodges - are banning smoking only during daytime business hours. Read more: http://www.dailystandard.com/archive/story_single.php?rec_id=3172

From the 6/6/07 Booster: Ground, glass to be broken By KATHLEEN L. RADCLIFF Two residents will be wielding rocks rather than shovels Tuesday when a groundbreaking officially kicks off renovation work at the Whetstone Recreation Center, 3923 N. High St. Todd Lucas and Clintonville Farmers' Market Manager Laura Zimmerman will be allowed to throw rocks through the rec center's old windows. They won the right by bidding in a silent auction held during the Clintonville Area Chamber of Commerce's awards dinner March 2. More at http://www.snponline.com/NEWS6-6/6-6_borecbreak.html

From the 6/7/07 Sun Star: Green light for Wal-Mart New supercenter is a go, but traffic signal debated Thursday, June 07, 2007 By Shelly Guerra The Sun Star STRONGSVILLE A major expansion that will nearly double the size of Wal-Mart has officials here gearing for the accompanying increase in traffic around the Pearl Road retail store... http://www.cleveland.com/sun/sunstar/index.ssf?/base/news-0/1181234867157380.xml&coll=3 From the 6/6/07 Ashtabula Star Beacon: Multimillion dollar projects get attention in Conneaut CVS gets planning OK; truck stop unveils plans MARK TODD Star Beacon CONNEAUT - - Two multimillion dollar commercial projects captured the attention of Conneaut's Planning Commission at Tuesday night's regular meeting... http://www.starbeacon.com/local/local_story_157082500 Senior housing plan is backed Sun Courier, 6/7/07 The Planning Commission recommended, by a 4-1 vote, that City Council approve current legislation calling for a senior housing district in a specific area of the city, with the provision council send it to a vote of the people... Suburb to Cleveland church: Not in our back yards Cleveland Plain Dealer, 6/7/07 A Cleveland Catholic church believes a 22-acre site on Brookside Road is a perfect place to build and expand. Neighbors and city officials, however, are of a different persuasion... Event will allow guests first glimpse of library Lakewood Sun Post, 6/7/07 Lakewood Public Library and the library foundation will celebrate the new 40,000-square-foot expansion with live music, a silent auction, hors d'oeuvres and cocktails...

From the 6/7/07 DDN: Condo plans again tabled By Katherine Ullmer Staff Writer Thursday, June 07, 2007 CENTERVILLE — The Springfield developer planning to put a 60-unit condominium complex at the southwest corner of Alex-Bell Road and Wilmington Pike will have to wait a bit longer. In May 2006, the Centerville Planning Commission tabled its decision on the special approval request to give developer Craig Crossley time to answer the commission's concerns regarding 19 conditions for approval, especially those regarding how emergency equipment will access the development and the need for completing James Karras Drive, a proposed road extension for added access. The commission took the case off the table at its May 29 meeting but, after lengthy discussion, tabled it again in a 5-1 vote. "We're looking exactly at the same plan that got tabled last year," said commission member James Durham. "This should have been a final plan, taking into consideration the recommendations of staff." MORE: http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/neighbors/2007/06/07/ddn060707z2plan.html Plan in place for CareFlight Field Dayton Daily News, 6/7/07 Once school's out, officials expect to get back to work on the $11 million partnership to build a medical and school office building and refurbish newly renamed CareFlight Field. "One thing at a time," Superintendent David Baker said last week during a brief break from tending to final details leading up to graduation. First on the agenda: installation of artificial turf in time for the start of football season in the fall. Once the turf is in place, school and Premier Health Partners' officials said they planned to refocus on the $9 million, 40,000-square-foot office building intended to house school and medical offices, on school grounds behind the stadium as well the rest of $1.9 million in improvements planned to the stadium. June 2009 is the target date for opening the building expected to house coaches, locker rooms, exercise rooms and other school facilities, as well doctors and specialists from Miami Valley Hospital, SureCare Medical Center, Fair Oaks Orthopedists and the Atrium Medical Center, the new Middletown Regional Hospital, two exits south on Interstate 75.

From the 6/7/07 Wilmington News Journal: PHOTO New hotel open and ready for business ... and pleasure Facility constructed so 32 rooms can be added to current 91 GARY HUFFENBERGER Staff Writer Those oohs and aahs you heard last week on the east side of town came from people taking tours through the Wilmington Hampton Inn & Suites after it opened its doors for business ... and pleasure. The four-story, 91-room hotel is the newest prototype for Hampton Inn & Suites. Douglas L. Steinke is CEO and partner of S&S Management Inc. which developed the Wilmington Hampton Inn & Suites and will manage it. Ten years ago, S&S Management built its first hotel, Holiday Inn Express in Wilmington. The Wilmington Hampton Inn & Suites is the 10th hotel developed by the company. The new Hampton virtually is next door to the Holiday Inn Express, both of them on Holiday Drive off Rombach Avenue. The Web site is www.wilmington.hamptoninn.com. MORE: http://www.wnewsj.com/main.asp?SectionID=49&SubSectionID=156&ArticleID=155769 Symmes Twp: Symmes Green Site plan: Click to enlarge The Symmes Township Board of Trustees will hold a public hearing on June 5 regarding a rezoning for the Symmes Green subdivision. Rhein Properties (applicant) and Enyart Road Development (owner) are proposing 35 single-family lots on just over ten acres off of Enyart Road between Donwiddle and Bristol. The rezoning from "A" Residence to "B CUP" Residential Community Unit Plan is necessary to accomodate the planned density of 3.86 units per acre. "A" zoning allows only up to 2.17 units per acre. On May 3, the Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission (HCRPC) ruled that the change to "B CUP" zoning was not consistent with the Symmes Township Land Use Plan and with the existing surrounding land uses. Instead, the HCRPC suggested an "A-2" Residence designation, which would allow up to 3.11 units per acre. Under this designation, the project would have to be redesigned and scaled down to 28 units. A vote on the rezoning is not currently on the Trustees' agenda. WINDOWS LIVE BIRD'S EYE VIEW GOOGLE AERIAL MAP Other notes: * 3.5 acres of greenspace in development (38% coverage) * Demolition of two single-family homes and outbuildings * A Homeowners Association will be created http://buildingcincinnati.blogspot.com/2007/06/symmes-twp-symmes-green.html Battery improvements to be recommended Cincinnati Enquirer, 6/6/07 At Fort Wright City Council's July 5 meeting, city staff is to offer recommendations for proposed Battery Hooper Park improvements. Last week, council directed staff by a 4-2 vote to go back to the drawing board and scale back the $2.4 million project to $1.5 million, City Administrator Larry Klein said. A proposed amphitheater was "pretty much eliminated," he said, after some residents questioned its need and the $330,000 price tag. Staff also will look at making a proposed playground bigger, explore the possibility of a themed playground in keeping with the Civil War site, and look into replacing proposed custom-made picnic shelters with pre-fabricated structures. Staff began meeting Tuesday with CDS Associates, an architectural and engineering firm, to discuss possible alternatives, Klein said. Human Nature Inc. is the subcontractor on the project. City, YMCA still talking Rec center plans alive despite voter rejection Loveland Herald, 6/4/07 City officials' plans for a recreation center are moving forward without a secured tax levy. Council has set a public hearing on the recreation center for June 12, asking for input from residents. Voters defeated the 0.2-percent income tax levy May 8, which would have given the administration funds to build a rec center and improve city parks. Council has requested City Manager Tom Carroll and Vice Mayor Joe Schickel to reconvene the Finance Committee and the Recreation Aquatic Center Committee - teams of residents and city staff who analyzed the center's aspects. "I think we can certainly clarify council's intent after doing some additional fact finding and information gathering from residents," Carroll said. Walton awaits Abner Gaines grant Florence Recorder, 6/4/07 The city of Walton is awaiting word on a $250,000 grant from the Kentucky Transportation Department before it begins "Phase 2" restoration of the historic Abner Gaines house on Nicholson Road. The city, which applied for the grant in early May, hopes to hear back from the department before July's end. Peggy Gray, Walton's finance officer, says that "Phase 2" restoration deals directly with renovation of the deteriorating outside conditions of the building. "Renovations that need to be done to the Gaines house include mortar and masonry repair, window glazing, installation of storm windows, shutter improvements, and adding down spouts," Gray said. "The front and side porch also need to be restored." Walton purchased the 193-year-old home in 2006 from Stephanie and Alan Gjerde with the help of a $300,000 grant from the Kentucky Department of Transportation. The city then added $60,000 to the grant, allowing it to begin restoration on its back porch, two front rooms, and the house's electrical wiring, according to Walton Mayor Philip Trzop. Symmes residents protest CHCA parking lot Northeast Suburban Life, 6/4/07 Trustees have agreed to allow Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy to build a parking lot in a predominantly residential area, effectively ending litigation between the school and township. The agreement was reached after trustees met in executive session May 11 to hammer out the details of a settlement. The agreement allows for the construction of a 200-space parking lot, about 100 spaces fewer than CHCA originally requested. Trustee Tom Weidman said the deal was reached after a meeting between township officials and residents resulted in many of those opposed to the lot asking for a settlement. While the parking lot issue was between Sycamore Township and Cincinnati Hills, some Symmes residents were affected by the decision, with the parking lot being located near some Symmes homes. Richard Goldberg is one of those effected, and said he's suspicious of how Sycamore handled this settlement without consulting Symmes residents. Historic College Hill Town Hall to Get a Makeover – You’re Invited! Cincinnati.com, 6/4/07 It will be “gang activity” of a good kind in College Hill: armed with paint brushes and buckets, 30 College Hill citizens have taken it upon themselves to paint the trim, windows, and doors on College Hill’s historic Town Hall this Saturday, June 9, at 1805 Larch Avenue. The College Hill Historical Society had the spark of inspiration to save this Samuel Hannaford gem after learning that Give Back Cincinnati/Paint the Town would be in the neighborhood the same day helping out homeowners by offering the painting services of Cincinnati-area volunteers. Although maintenance crews have been by recently to fix the roof and perform other emergency maintenance on the City-owned building, the paint has been peeling from the gutters and trim for years. Graffiti has been carved into one of the old oak doors that used to be the entry way from the porte couche where horse-drawn carriages once dropped off Town Hall visitors and officers. Stepping up to the plate was Marty Weldishofer of the College Hill Urban Redevelopment Corporation who was able to secure donations from Al Neyer, Inc. (the developer of the up and coming Linden Commons project in College Hill), The College Hill Forum, the College Hill Gardeners, the College Hill Business Association, Children’s Hospital, and the College Hill Historical Society. With community support, enough money for paint, brushes, scrapers, and with area homeowners lending ladders and buckets, the College Hill Historical Society then put the word out for volunteers, and the response was overwhelming. Even some seniors living across the street at Llanfair Retirement Community will be stopping by to offer encouragement and bottled water.

From the 6/7/07 Newark Advocate: Etna Wal-Mart permit denial overturned Despite ongoing lawsuits, retailer might be able to proceed with construction By CHAD KLIMACK Advocate Reporter PATASKALA -- Despite an ongoing lawsuit, Wal-Mart might be able to go ahead with its plans to build a store on Ohio 310 in Etna Township. The Etna Township Board of Zoning Appeals on Tuesday overturned Zoning Inspector Stan Robinson's revocation of a zoning permit previously issued to the retail giant. Representatives for Wal-Mart and for the property owner of the land the company wants to buy on the east side of Ohio 310, just north of U.S. 40, filed two separate appeals related to Robinson's decisions. Full story at http://www.newarkadvocate.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070607/NEWS01/706070328/1002/rss01

From the Times, 6/6/07: Rt. 33 work healthy for Winchester Village leaders see benefit in the Route 33 Growth Alliance's work. By MARC HASKINS A growing area that has a strong sense of quality of life, Canal Winchester is a village where people will want to live, village Development Director Chris Strayer has said. Though located at the beginning portion of U.S. Route 33, the attributes Strayer named make Canal Winchester a prime location as part of a still-rudimentary initiative put forth by the Route 33 Growth Alliance to bring an unprecedented surge in commerce to the area within the year. Full story at http://www.snponline.com/NEWS6-6/6-6_CWrt33.html From ThisWeek Pickerington, 6/7/07: Impact-fee waivers win final approval Thursday, June 7, 2007 By SEAN CASEY ThisWeek Staff Writer Pickerington Mayor David Shaver retracted his threat to veto a pair of impact-fee waivers Tuesday night after city council pledged to codify a set of guidelines for such actions. Over concerns of Shaver, council unanimously voted Tuesday to exempt two businesses, Tobin, Merritt & Associates LLC and Volunteer Services Energy Services Inc., from the city's pay-as-you-grow policy for the construction of the companies' new offices. Full story at http://www.thisweeknews.com/?story=sites/thisweeknews/060707/Pickerington/News/060707-News-368641.html

Both from the 6/7/07 Enquirer: Collaborative gets extended Pact monitors Cincinnati police/community goals BY DAN HORN | [email protected] The five-year deal to improve relations between the Cincinnati Police Department and the community it serves will be extended another year. City officials and the American Civil Liberties Union agreed Wednesday to continue court oversight of the so-called Collaborative Agreement until at least August 2008. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20070607/NEWS01/706070338/

Both from the 6/7/07 Pulse-Journal: Liberty is township subdivision king for ninth straight year Residential growth means more retail, medical opportunities for area, realtor says. By Eric Schwartzberg Staff Writer Thursday, June 07, 2007 For the ninth year in a row, subdivision growth in the wide-open spaces of Liberty Twp. is outpacing all other Butler County townships. The township saw 175 single residency home subdivision lots developed on 80.7 acres last year, according to an annual report released in May by the Butler County Engineer's Office. That growth outpaced West Chester Twp., which saw 144 lots developed on 85.5 acres in 2006. President of developer Monroe Crossings Harry Thomas, Jr., 62, said it's no surprise that Liberty Twp. remains so fertile an area for subdivision development. "It's a wonderful township to work in," he said. "It's got the right ground. It's well serviced by roads... and it has a great school district." For the past 40 years, Thomas has built "scores" of subdivisions of varying scale in Hamilton, Fairfield, Fairfield Twp., West Chester Twp. and Liberty Twp. But with land in most of those areas already platted, the 4,000 acres earmarked for development by Liberty Twp.'s comprehensive land use plan is bound to attract the attention of developers, he said. "There was a bank robber who was caught years ago and they asked him 'Why do you rob banks?' He answered, 'Because that's where the money is.' "Why do you develop in Liberty? Because that's where the land is," Thomas said. Jim Tarter of Re/Max Results Plus in Liberty Twp. said continued subdivision growth in the township benefits the community at large through new hospital facilities, retail development and schools. "There never would have been that commercial growth to benefit all the residents if we never had all this residential growth in our area," he said. Typically, the families that move into Liberty Twp. are upper-end wage earners looking for a lifestyle that benefits their young children, Tarter said. "When people come into our town, the main reason is because they want kids to play with their kids," he said. Subdivision growth last year in Liberty Twp. created 23 streets, or about three new miles of streets in the township. To gauge the effect subdivision growth might have on local roads, officials from the Butler County Engineer's Office estimate that each new household will make an average of 10 trips per day, said BCEO spokesman Chris Petrocy. "So if you have one of these new subdivisions where you're putting in 200 homes, you have 2,000 additional vehicle trips being generated by that subdivision," he said. "You have to look at what impact that has on the surrounding roadways." Liberty Twp. was second overall in county municipalities. The area with the top subdivision lot growth was the city of Monroe, which had 218 subdivision lots, including condominium lots. Contact this reporter at (513) 755-5126 or [email protected]. http://www.pulsejournal.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/06/06/pjw060707subdivisions.html

From the 6/7/07 Enquirer: Warren County moves inmates BY WILLIAM A. WEATHERS | [email protected] LEBANON – The Warren County Sheriff’s Office has transferred 45 of its prisoners to the Butler County jail to save money. Due to overcrowding at the Warren County jail, the sheriff’s office had been housing 39 Warren County inmates in Miami and Logan counties. Those inmates -- plus another six prisoners from the Warren County Jail -- have been transferred to the Butler County jail in Hamilton. “We appreciate the cooperation of the sheriffs of Miami, Logan, and now Butler County in assisting us with our housing issues,” Warren County Sheriff Tom Ariss said today. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20070607/NEWS01/306070024/

From the 6/6/07 Defiance Crescent-News: City council to support 38-unit housing project By TODD HELBERG [email protected] Defiance City Council hadn't met in three weeks prior to Tuesday night, but it still couldn't take any action during its weekly meeting. The reason: Only five of seven council members were present, one short of the number needed to pass the four legislative items which appeared on the agenda for the first time. As such, the three ordinances and one resolution were let lie. However, council used some creativity to support the application of Stock Development Co. and Northwestern Ohio Community Action Commission for tax credits to construct a low- to moderate-income housing project. A resolution concerning the 38-unit housing project off Ottawa Avenue, just south of Cleveland Avenue, was effectively let lie after a first reading due to the absence of Ward I Councilman Gary Butler and At-large Councilman Steve Hubbard. But council passed a motion, 5-0, stating its intention to approve the resolution "at the first opportunity." The reason for council's motion is that an application for the project is due in Columbus by Thursday. More at http://www.crescent-news.com/news/article/2095772

From the 6/7/07 Blade: Sale of 3 area Dana plants OK'd Dana Corp. will shed three northwest Ohio plants with a total of 500 employees as part of the auto parts maker's attempts to return to profitability. Judge Burton Lifland, of U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New York, yesterday approved the sale of the operations in Archbold and in the Wyandot County communities of Upper Sandusky and Wharton. ---- More at: http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070607/BUSINESS03/706070301/-1/RSS04

From the 6/7/07 Lorain Morning Journal: Officials seek solutions to lower rate of foreclosures ALEX M. PARKER, Morning Journal Writer 06/07/2007 ELYRIA -- Clerk of Courts Ron Nabakowski hopes a meeting of the minds of Lorain County's elected officials, business leaders, community figures and financial actors might be a way to help alleviate the county's skyrocketing home foreclosure rate. He said he hopes to be able to grab some of the dollars from government-sponsored mortgage brokers such as Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, as well as non-profit groups, to help people re-organize sub-prime or high-risk loans. ''We're trying to figure out any way to get mediation or help for people to get from that position,'' said Nabakowski. ''There's a lot of money that appears to be coming from Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, and hopefully it's going to eventually filter down to communities. I think we'd be misfeasant if we weren't doing something.'' ... More at: http://www.morningjournal.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18439926&BRD=1699&PAG=461&dept_id=46371&rfi=6