Plain City could be losing a traffic light and village officials are not pleased.
At Monday night’s village council meeting, it was announced that the Ohio Department of Transportation would be eliminating the traffic light and crossing on West Main Street (Route 161) in front of the former Plain City Elementary School. Village Administrator Kevin Vaughn said he met with officials from the Ohio Department of Transportation. He said ODOT does not believe the light in town is warranted and will be removing it.
Police Chief Dale McKee said the light is at an active school crossing. Vaughn said the crossing will no longer be designated as a school crossing.
“I guess it depends on what they define a crossing,” the chief said. “It’s where the kids cross everyday.”
While the building is no longer used for an elementary school, it does serve as a bus pick-up site for students in the area.
Vaughn said that in addition to no longer being a school crossing, the area would also not be considered a proper crosswalk. He said because the current crossing is close to an intersection, the crossing should be at that intersection.
“If we keep this signal, it would be at the village expense and liability,” Vaughn said.
Council member John Rucker said that while the village would be liable if they keep the signal, something bad will happen if they do not.
“It’s only a matter of time,” Rucker said.
Vaughn said village and school officials continue trying to work with the state but “they seem pretty firm on this.”
Rucker asked if village officials had petitioned anyone at higher level of government. Vaughn said they had not.
Council member Shannon Pine asked if the school would be willing to share the cost, Vaughn said he was not sure.
In other news:
– Council approved a change to the final development plan for the Darby Fields subdivision. The change allows the developer, M/I Homes to keep a silo already on the property, which had been part of a farm before the housing development.
Vaughn said the company was originally not intending to keep the silo but it is in good shape. He said silos as subdivision landmarks are a popular trend.
Zoning Inspector Jack Kuntzman said the subdivision name will be written on the silo. He said zoning language about signage for a residential development can be “tweaked” to allow the silo sign.
Vaughn said M/I Homes had a structural engineer look at the silo.
“There are a couple things, on the roof mainly, they need to repair, but the structure is sound,” Vaughn said.
The village administrator said that maintenance of the silo would be the responsibility of the homeowners’ association. Village Solicitor Paul Lafayette said the development agreement allows the village to legally go back to the developer if the association folds or does not keep the silo maintained.
“I am OK with it as long as we are not going to be left holding the bag on this,” Rucker said.
Council member Darren Lee said it is “kind of nice to maintain some of the history of what was there.”
Council agreed to move its second May meeting from Monday, May 28, which is Memorial Day, to Tuesday, May 29. Village Fiscal Officer Renee Sonnett said she has had inquiries about the meeting date. Vaughn said Champion Homes would like to present a potential development to council at the meeting.
The Uptown Plain City Organization (UPCO) presented a $1,000 check to be used for the village Bicentennial celebration. Tim Sutter, with Ohio Edison, also presented a check to the village for the celebration as well as one to (UPCO).
Sutter warned that telephone scammers are calling residents, claiming to be from Ohio Edison.
He said that is not how collectors from the company work. He said delinquent payers are notified in their bill, then by mail then in person, but are “well identified.”
He said information about the scam can be found on the company website.