Jerome Township officials are speaking out against a proposed annexation that would make more than 500 acres a part of the Village of Plain City. During its most recent meeting, council heard first readings of a pre-annexation agreement with Highland Real Estate Group and a statement of services indicating the village will provide utilities and other services to approximately 547 acres of land in Jerome Township, if annexed into Plain City. The land is located east of U.S. 42, including parcels with addresses on Rickard Road, Converse Road and U.S. 42. Plain City Development Director Jason Stanford did not yet…
Author: Kayleen Petrovia
Since 1948, Rummell-Brill-Cassady Insurance has been serving the community members of Plain City. After her father founded the business, Jenny Brill joined the company and was later followed by her daughter and son-in-law. Pictured from left is Brill, Brian Cassady and Roselynn Cassady. (Photo submitted) — Editor’s note: This is the ninth in a series of stories celebrating multi-generational family-owned businesses in the community. The stories will run each Thursday leading up to an Aug. 1 special edition highlighting the Marysville Journal-Tribune’s 175th anniversary. — Through almost 80 years and countless changes, the heart of Rummell-Brill-Cassady Insurance has stayed the…
The Union County Health Department is making more progress toward becoming a primary healthcare provider for some community members, ensuring that those in need of services will have a voice in the process. UCHD is currently in the process of applying to become a federally qualified health center (FQHC) lookalike, a designation for facilities that serve medically underserved areas and provide primary care services regardless of a patient’s ability to pay. The lookalike status would enable the health department to receive enhanced reimbursement from Medicaid and Medicare, and participate in federal programs to receive drug discounts and free vaccines for…
Jerome Township officials are planning improvements to Harry Wolfe Park that they hope will make the park and pond more accessible to all community members. The trustees voted unanimously Tuesday to spend up to $18,000 to pave a driveway access to a smaller, handicap accessible parking lot adjacent to the pond. They also approved $4,000 to construct an ADA-compliant fishing dock. Township Administrator Brandon Standley said Harry Wolfe Park is very well used by community members, particularly those who enjoy fishing in the pond. However, he said township staff regularly see individuals with mobility issues struggling to easily access the…
Of all the questionable things social media has done to our society, one of the less important, but still interesting, side effects is the disappearance of community bulletin boards. I know it’s not the most effective way to share information in the digital age, but I’m always way more compelled to look through the handmade postings than I am to scroll through a Facebook feed. Occasionally, I see bulletin boards at local coffee shops but my personal favorite is the large, three-sided triangular board at Antrim Park in Columbus. Once a week I like to go for a run around…
Just as Plain City officials approved a policy that will guide when and how they offer economic development incentives, they took a step toward approving the village’s first ever Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district. Council held a public hearing Monday regarding the creation of the Maren Reserve TIF District before it unanimously approved the village’s new Economic Development Incentive Policy (EDIP). When a TIF district is established, the property taxes assessed from the increased property value are diverted from the entities that would generally collect that money to a specific fund that is used for improvements in that area. Among…
All land uses related to the growth or sale of marijuana will be prohibited in Jerome Township temporarily, although the trustees did not set a definite time limit on the prohibition. At its most recent meeting, the Board of Trustees voted 2-1 to prohibit land uses that relate to both medical and adult use, or recreational, marijuana. Trustee Chair Barry Adler dissented. While the trustees passed the prohibition, each said it was not an effort to totally restrict marijuana facilities in the township but an effort to regulate where they are located. “That work can take time but it is…
Jerome Township and Union County officials approved a tax abatement for a developer planning to build a 24,000-square foot speculative building in the township. Union County/Marysville Economic Development Director Eric Phillips said the enterprise zone agreement with Daron Court Flex would grant the developer a seven-year, 45% property tax abatement on the project. The Enterprise Zone Agreement is an agreement between the company and Union County, but requires approval by Jerome Township. The township trustees unanimously approved the agreement at its meeting Tuesday night while the county commissioners voted 2-0 to do so Wednesday morning, as Commissioner Dave Burke was…
The conceptual plans illustrated above show a proposed design from Como Development and OutdoorFX to create several buildings of flex space for light industrial uses. The road pictured at far left is Jefferson Avenue, while the existing building immediately to the left of the retention pond is the existing OutdoorFX showroom. (Graphic submitted) — Plain City officials said plans for a new, 90,000-square foot industrial development are a sign that the recent residential development is now driving the commercial growth officials desire. “This is kind of one of our goals we’ve been working toward,” Hutchinson said. “As we’re getting a…
Triad officials are preparing to place a renewal of the district’s existing levy on the ballot in November. At the Board of Education meeting Thursday, members voted unanimously to request the certification of a 0.5%, five-year income tax. Superintendent Vickie Maruniak emphasized that the levy is a renewal of the levy that was approved in November 2018. The last year of collection for that levy is 2025. Treasurer Nathan Hilborn said that essentially gives the district “three tries” at the ballot to approve the renewal – November 2024, May 2025 and November 2026 – before collections end. According to the…
Lt. Tom Jaskiewicz, at right, is pictured with Plain City Police Department Chief Dale McKee. The police department and council recently celebrated Jaskiewicz’s 25th anniversary of full-time service with PCPD. (Photo submitted) — Plain City officials are celebrating the commitment of one of the police department’s longest-serving members, Lt. Tom Jaskiewicz. Monday marked 25 years since Jaskiewicz joined the Plain City Police Department as a full-time officer on June 24, 1999. Chief Dale McKee said Jaskiewicz embodies the “professionalism, integrity and compassion” the police department strives to maintain. McKee noted that Jaskiewicz arrived at PCPD two years after he did,…
Plain City voters will decide in November whether to replace the village’s police levy. Council unanimously approved a resolution Monday to place a replacement, 5-mill levy for police protection on the Nov. 5 ballot. A replacement of the continuing, 5-mill levy would keep the millage the same but assess taxes at a home’s current value. The levy was originally passed in 1981 and most recently replaced in 2020. Four years ago, the measure to replace the levy saw strong support. On the Madison County side of the village, 84% of voters were in favor of the replacement, while 67% of…
Members of the Mosier Family said they have always strived to provide for the community through their local grocery store and butcher shop. Pictured from left are Andy Mosier, Gene Mosier and Amy Karns. (Photo submitted) — Amy Karns can sum up her local business in just one word. “That’s all I can say – family,” she said. Since her father started the business in 1976, Mosier’s Market has been the hub for their family, as well as many other families in the community. Karns said her father, Gene Mosier, purchased a former post office in Raymond at 21701 Route…
The map above illustrates the locations and coverage of tornado sirens in and near Union County. Each dark red dot represents the site of a siren, while the concentric, lighter red circle shows the one-mile radius of its sound. The majority of sirens in Union County are concentrated in the Marysville city limits, where there are 12. (Graphic submitted) — Jerome Township officials approved the purchase of two more tornado sirens as part of a years-long plan to increase siren coverage in the area. The Board of Trustees unanimously approved up to $80,000 to be spent on the purchase of…
The site of the second phase of the Jerome Grand multi-family, residential development is depicted above. The first phase of the apartment development is adjacent to U.S. 33, at left, a site to the south planned to become a Kia dealership and Glacier Ridge Metro Park to the north. (Graphic submitted) — At least 100 new apartment units will be added in Jerome Township after the trustees unanimously approved a rezoning request that will pave the way for a second phase of the Jerome Grand development. The Board of Trustees voted 3-0 during their most recent meeting to approve the…