As Jerome Township Fiscal Officer Robert Caldwell presented the 2022 Financial Statement to the Board of Trustees, he said some of the most interesting figures included in the document aren’t related to the budget. Along with an analysis of the township’s finances over the past year, Caldwell said the statement includes statistical tables that detail growth in the township over the past 10 years. Whether it is the population, zoning applications or public safety responses, the data shows notable growth in almost every aspect of Jerome Township. The township’s population grew to 9,212 residents in 2022 from 4,623 in 2013,…
Author: Kayleen Petrovia
The local health department and fire departments are working together to ensure all food truck operators can easily have their trucks inspected, and residents feel confident dining at them. The Union County Health Department and area fire departments will host a “food truck round-up” on Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout March, during which food trucks can be inspected by both agencies in the health department parking lot, 940 London Ave. Through doing so, the mobile restaurants earn a sticker that denotes they can legally operate in Union County. Marysville Division of Fire Lt. Keith Watson, who helped coordinate the round-up, said…
The graphic above illustrates a concept to create a public plaza at the intersection of Main Street and Chillicothe Street in Uptown Plain City. Improvements at the intersection are one of six “priority projects” identified in an Uptown Plan created by consulting firm OHM Advisors. (Graphic submitted) — A new plan to revitalize Uptown Plain City will center on developments around and improvements to Main Street. “Really all you need to create an identity for a community is one street,” said Kim Littleton with OHM Advisors. Littleton presented details of the consulting firm’s completed Uptown Plan to council during its…
Plain City teenagers are pictured attending a recent session of the Plain City Police Department’s New-Behind-The-Wheel Driver Training. The course, which offers advice and instruction beyond what is taught in driver’s education classes, is taught by Officer Gary Sigrist and Detective Philip Greenbaum. (Photo submitted) — The Plain City Police Department is working to ensure young drivers feel confident, no matter the circumstances, when they hit the road. PCPD is one of the only police departments in the nation to offer a “New-Behind-the-Wheel Driver Training” course. PCPD Chief Dale McKee said the course originated several years ago with a suggestion…
Plain City officials are planning to bump pay for part-time and seasonal employees, in accordance with an increase to minimum wage. Council heard the first reading of a resolution Monday that will increase minimum pay for this category of employees from $9 to $10.10. The middle pay range will jump from $14.69 to $15.79 and the maximum pay will go from $20.38 to $21.48. Village Administrator Haley Lupton noted that the intervals remain the same, but the wages needed to be updated to align with new minimum wage requirements. She added that administration wanted to bring the changes before council…
The Flood Team at Triad, a group of reading intervention specialists, has been working with Elementary School Librarian Leslie Gregg since December to plan a Literacy Luau for local students and families. Pictured from left to right are Flood Team members Mrs. Jill Brown, Mrs. Annette Watson, Mrs. MaryBeth Roose, Mrs. Terri Windle, Mrs. Katie Organ, Mrs. Shari Dixon and Ms. Sammi Miesse. (Photo submitted) — Even if it is a chilly evening in central Ohio, Triad community members will soon be gearing up for a luau. Clad in flower leis and tropical shirts, a team of intervention specialists at…
A number of students needed to double – or triple – park in the Fairbanks High School lot Friday morning during Drive Your Tractor to School Day. Ag Teacher and FFA Advisor Mr. Rob Riddle said the school has been observing the tradition as part of National FFA Week for more than 50 years. This year, he said John Deere outnumbered International tractors. (Journal-Tribune photo by Kayleen Petrovia) —
Jerome Township officials may adopt legislation to restrict drivers from parking in the public right-of-way in the Industrial Parkway area. During the most recent trustees meeting, the board heard from Glenn Hostetler, who said he has seen an “ongoing issue” over the past two years with companies parking trailers on public streets. Trustee Chair Wezlynn Davis said Hostetler’s is not a unique concern, as she has heard from a number of other business owners with similar complaints. Aside from troubling nearby businesses, she said improper parking in the area could also be dangerous to children, as there are hockey, tennis…
Jerome Township officials are prioritizing upgrades to the Township Hall as they consider how to spend more than $500,000 in federal COVID relief dollars. Fiscal Officer Robert Caldwell told the Board of Trustees Tuesday that the township has a total of $524,101.01 in American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) dollars that must be “committed” by the end of 2024 and spent by the end of 2026. Trustee Megan Sloat said she feels expanding and upgrading the Township Hall is a “huge priority.” Following the meeting, Zoning Inspector Eric Snowden said the building was constructed in 1983, before the township had any…
Runners and walkers are pictured participating in the 2019 Union County Health Department Stay Active 5K. The race was last held fully in person in 2019, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It returns this year on March 11, with funds benefiting efforts to fight food insecurity among local youth. (Photo submitted) — Community members will be running in the Union County Health Department Stay Active 5K this year to help ensure local children do not go hungry. As free and reduced lunch benefits for all students expire following the COVID-19 pandemic, UCHD officials said 2023 is the “perfect year” to…
Officials on Friday formally approved the resolution that will levy an income tax on individuals working in the Joint Economic Development District (JEDD) between Jerome Township and the City of Marysville. The JEDD Board held its first meeting Friday, including approving four resolutions and electing officers. The JEDD Board governs the district in accordance with the Joint Economic Development District contract signed by representatives from Marysville and Jerome Township in August. Chris Connelly, who has worked with Jerome Township as part of Taft Law, said JEDDs are useful because they allow unincorporated areas to levy income taxes, which they are…
The Union County Board of Health approved an agreement in an effort to streamline the health department’s vaccination services. During their meeting on Wednesday, board members voted unanimously to approve a service agreement with VaxCare, a vaccine management company. Union County Health Commissioner Jason Orcena said VaxCare will provide inventory management services for the vaccines administered at the Union County Health Department, beyond just COVID-19 shots. He explained that VaxCare acts as the billing entity, while UCHD will be the service provider. “Basically, we become contract service nurses,” Orcena said. He noted that UCHD previously worked with VaxCare but Director…
Rental rates for village facilities throughout Plain City will increase, though they now include a discount for residents compared to those who live outside of the village. Council voted unanimously Monday to amend rental rates, including varied costs for nonprofit organizations and businesses or commercial operations. Entities with a valid 501(c)(3) will always pay the same rate as village residents, while businesses will pay more than non-residents. Nonprofits are also eligible to receive one free weekday rental per year, at the village administrator’s discretion. The Church Street facility is excluded from the free rentals. Late last year, Village Administrator Haley…
Plain City Council took care of business surrounding a number of committees Monday, including establishing one new committee and appointing residents to others. Council unanimously voted during its most recent meeting to establish the Economic Development Committee. Since council expanded its economic development efforts through the hiring of Development Manager Jason Stanford, he has shared a desire to create the committee in order to act as a liaison between the business community and village officials. “The primary function of the EDC (Economic Development Committee) is to provide input and guidance on projects and issues that impact the village’s business development,…
Nurses at the Union County Health Department are working to ensure every member of the local community – including those serving time – have access to healthcare. UCHD currently has one of the most successful grant-funded programs in the state that serves a “special population,” residents at West Central Community Based Correctional Facility, Director of Nursing Krista Finch said. “We always enjoy seeing their transformations,” Finch said. “We just want to be a part of that.” West Central is an alternative correctional facility that offers rehabilitative treatment for non-violent offenders in eight counties: Champaign, Clark, Delaware, Logan, Madison, Marion, Morrow…