Another settlement with a developer recently reached by Jerome Township officials was met with opposition from area residents. In a split vote, the Board of Trustees approved a consent decree that will allow for the rezoning and construction of a 100-home development on U.S. 42 known as Curry Farm. The lawsuit filed against Jerome Township by Harold and Vivian Curry and AMH Development, the landowners and developers of Curry Farm, was styled similarly to a lawsuit filed in July 2021 by a group of stakeholders whose residential developments were stalled by referendums. Lisa Farnholtz, a U.S. 42 resident, asked during…
Author: Kayleen Petrovia
Triad third graders are pictured practicing their fraction skills in the “Cardinal’s Pizza” shop set up in Ms. Hannah Kilgore’s classroom. Third grade teachers in the district created three different themed classrooms to help students practice difficult skills prior to state testing in math. (Photo submitted) — The third grade classrooms at Triad Elementary School were filled with pizza chefs, veterinarians and glow sticks this week. Three classrooms were transformed into special themes – Cardinal’s Pizza shop, an emergency pet hospital and a black-lit glow party – to help students prepare for their math state testing. Elementary School Principal Lee…
Jerome Township officials are searching for a township administrator following the resignation of their former director of departments. During their most recent meeting, the Board of Trustees appointed Trustee Wezlynn Davis to serve as the “point person” for a township administrator recruitment process. Former Director of Departments Douglas Stewart, who also serves as the chief of the Jerome Township Division of Fire, submitted his resignation letter to the Board of Trustees effective March 14. “There has come a point where I must focus my attention on my position as the Jerome Township Fire Chief, my faith, my family and my…
Damages to the Union County Fairgrounds caused by mass COVID-19 vaccination clinics hosted by the local health department will be paid for with federal funding. During the Union County Health Department Board of Health meeting Wednesday, the board unanimously accepted $282,785.36 from the Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant. “That’s what FEMA has allocated for this project,” Health Commissioner Jason Orcena said. Orcena said the amount is based on evaluations of the damages to the fairgrounds by FEMA’s experts. UCHD hosted dozens of clinics at the fairgrounds throughout the height of the pandemic and vaccinated more…
The response map depicted above illustrates the area covered by the Jerome Township Division of Fire, divided into one-square mile areas. The green areas are those with an average response time that falls under the national standard of four minutes. Areas in yellow have adequate response times, while those in red are excessive. JTFD Chief Douglas Stewart said “this map is going to totally change next summer” once a second station is completed, located in square G5. (Graphic submitted) — The Jerome Township Division of Fire experienced a nearly 19% increase in calls for service in 2021 over the year…
There are few things that are capable of holding as many memories as a car. Like many people, my first car (a 2004 silver Chevy Malibu nicknamed “The Greyhound” because of how many friends I bused around in high school) will always hold a special place in my heart. But, there’s one family car that will always reign supreme: a 1990 white Jeep Wrangler that belonged to the Petrovia family for five glorious years. The Jeep became part of our family after my dad spotted it at the Lemon Lot, a parking lot on Army posts where soldiers who are…
Plain City Council unanimously rejected what would have been the village’s first Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) agreement, and may have rejected a new residential development in the process. “This may have eliminated this project entirely,” said Dwight McCabe, with developer the McCabe Company, following a 5-0 vote on Monday to deny the TIF. The McCabe Company planned to construct a 67-unit residential development, known as the Hamlet on Darby, on 9.23 acres off of Fairfield Drive. The neighborhood was branded as a senior living community in which 80% of the households were required to have at least one occupant who…
Triad’s chief academic officer will soon shift into a new administrative position as the district’s treasurer. The Triad Board of Education voted during a special meeting Monday to accept Morgan Fagnani’s resignation from her current position and hiring as assistant to the treasurer before she is hired as the district’s treasurer. “It was Mrs. Fagnani’s positive approach to challenges, excellent communication skills and her ability to analyze data which allowed the board to award her the treasurer’s position,” Board President Chris Millice wrote in a statement. Fagnani will continue to serve in her role as chief academic officer through the…
The Jerome Township Trustees hosted a special meeting Tuesday – the majority of which was not in public session – to discuss economic development with officials from throughout the county. Both the trustees and Union County Commissioners voted separately for their boards to adjourn into an executive session that lasted 80 minutes. No action was taken. Trustee Chair Megan Sloat said the executive session was “for the purpose of negotiations with another political subdivision, Union County, Ohio, through its Board of County Commissioners, respecting requests for economic development assistance… and involves public infrastructure improvements directly related to an economic development…
The Hope Center plans to temporarily move its offices and Emergency Assistance Program into the former dentist’s office at 123 N. Court St. Hope Center administrators said they are still seeking a more permanent location that can house all of the organization’s ministries under one roof. (Journal-Tribune photo by Kayleen Petrovia) The Hope Center has found one temporary location, although the organization is still seeking other spaces for additional services. The organization’s offices and Emergency Assistance Program (EAP) will temporarily move into 123 N. Court St. The Hope Center will have to vacate the former East Elementary School, 212 Chestnut…
As the village continues to grow, Plain City officials are on track to hire a municipal financing adviser. Finance Director Renee Sonnett recommended during council’s work session Wednesday that the village hire Rockmill Financial Consulting. She noted that David J. Conley, president of Rockmill, previously assisted the village with their income tax levy and utility rate increase. In vouching for his services, Sonnett said she believes the income tax levy was approved largely due to Conley’s assistance. While the village has not used Rockmill’s services in several years, Sonnett said she feels entering into a contract with the firm now…
The process to update Jerome Township’s comprehensive plan will last longer than officials initially anticipated. During the Board of Trustees meeting Tuesday, Zoning Inspector Eric Snowden said the township received just one response to a Request for Qualifications surrounding a comprehensive plan update. Snowden said the Union County Prosecutor’s Office recommended the trustees motion to reject the submission, and motion to repost the RFQ in hopes of receiving more applicants. The board approved both motions with 2-0 votes, as Trustee Barry Adler was absent. “We definitely would like more than one response, obviously,” said Trustee Chair Megan Sloat. The zoning…
The district encompassed by the Cooperative Economic Development Agreement (CEDA) between the City of Marysville and Jerome Township is highlighted in green. The CEDA acts as a framework for a Joint Economic Development District (JEDD), which allows the two governments to collect income taxes from employees at new businesses in the area. (Graphic submitted) Proposed changes to an economic agreement between Jerome Township and the City of Marysville reflect a changing relationship between the two governments. “It’s been a breath of fresh air to have the type of interaction we’ve had over the past few months,” said City Manager Terry…
Plain City Council members are treading lightly as they consider whether to approve a special taxing incentive in their village for the first time. Council members on Monday heard the first reading of an ordinance that would establish a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) agreement for a proposed residential development for seniors, the Hamlet on Darby. Pleasant Valley Fire District Chief Mark Kidd emphasized that Plain City has never before approved a TIF. He said he fears one approval could start a trend. “(Approval of this TIF) opens the door to the next, and the next, and the next,” Kidd said…
Triad administrators have settled on a new middle school master schedule for the upcoming school year. Middle School Principal Vinnie Spirko told the board of education during its most recent meeting that the schedule will differ between fifth and sixth graders, and seventh and eighth graders. After consulting with teachers at those grade levels, Spirko said fifth and sixth grade classes will transition to a “true block” schedule, while seventh and eighth graders will have shorter class periods. There will be three 82-minute classes that meet once each day for fifth and sixth graders, he explained. They will have English-Language…