Hope Center officials are hopeful that their organization will be the next occupant of the former Kroger site on West Fifth Street. “We’ve got so many dreams and visions for that space,” said Hope Center Director of Administration and Development Becky Bolt. Bolt said Hope Center officials will present their proposed plans for the site to Marysville City Council at its meeting Monday. Vision Development, which is proposing to build 240 apartments and develop three commercial out-lots at the site, recently asked city officials to create a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) agreement to help pay for the development. If the…
Author: Kayleen Petrovia
A group of Triad students in Future Farmers of America (FFA) are asking their district to invest in improved facilities for their program. Sophomore Allison Harlan said the small size of their current agriculture classroom does not allow students to get the hands-on experience they – and their teachers – desire. “Most of the time we’re doing (paper) packets… you can’t really learn from something you can’t see or can’t touch,” she said. Harlan, along with fellow sophomores and FFA members Baylor Perry and Joe Williams, asked the board to consider building a new agricultural complex. Harlan listed a number…
Approximately $39-$40 million will be invested in the U.S. 33/Route 161/Post Road interchange. A depiction of the proposed project, including the creation of a shared-use path for pedestrians, is shown above. Anthony Turowski, District 6 deputy director for the Ohio Department of Transportation, said construction will take place from 2022 through 2025. (Graphic submitted) As development in Jerome Township continues, local and state officials are busy working to improve roadways in the area. The Jerome Township Trustees recently heard a presentation from the Union County Engineer’s Office and Ohio Department of Transportation regarding upcoming infrastructure projects and those already underway.…
Union County Health Department officials said the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic locally can be viewed through four distinct surges, each highlighted in a different color on the chart of case counts above. The first surge brought four to 10 cases per day, while the most recent led to between 100 and 225 daily cases. (Graphic submitted) As COVID numbers subside locally, the Union County Health Department is reflecting on its pandemic response. UCHD Director of Health Promotion and Planning Shawn Sech said the health department views the past two years as a story of four different surges. The first…
“There is help, always.” In a moving statement posted online last week, Ohio State offensive lineman Harry Miller medically retired from football. Not because of a broken or beaten body, like some might initially expect, but for something equally important – struggles with mental health. Miller bravely detailed his decision to seek help after planning to take his own life last year. He said he shared his intentions with Coach Ryan Day, who put him in touch with medical professionals. Though he attempted to return to playing football, Miller said he continued to struggle with self-harm and felt like a…
In a reconsideration of its earlier vote, Plain City Council voted Monday to allow for a second phase of the Madison Meadows residential development, illustrated above. Council President Michael Terry proposed an amendment to remove the seven lots adjacent to Kramer Park, outlined in bold, but it failed to garner the supermajority needed to override the recommendation from the planning and zoning commission. The preliminary development plan was approved with those lots included. (Graphic submitted) With little fanfare, Plain City Council reversed an earlier decision in order to allow for a second phase of the Madison Meadows residential development. During…
Discussion over several routine items during the most recent Jerome Township Board of Trustees meeting led to a disagreement among officials regarding government processes and transparency. “It’s just not how we anticipate government to work – just show up and say, ‘Vote on this,’” Fiscal Officer Robert Caldwell said to Trustee Wezlynn Davis. The discussion originated with a proposal from Davis to accept a quote for the purchase of three new zero-turn commercial lawn mowers. Davis recommended accepting a quote from Hilliard Lawn and Garden Equipment for three Ferris brand lawn mowers, each with a four-year warranty. After the trade-in…
The Jerome Township Board of Trustees and Zoning Commission recently came together to ensure their priorities align. The two groups held a joint meeting Monday to discuss their roles and what they hope to achieve in the coming year. Trustee Chair Megan Sloat said she hopes to continue the collaboration and work that has been accomplished over the past several years. “Like I said, we’ve come a long, long way in just a couple of years,” she said. The group ultimately decided to focus on three zoning resolution updates in 2022: those revolving around signs and signage, planned developments and…
A Plain City development that council recently struck down may get a second chance after all. During council’s work session Thursday, Council President Michael Terry told the group that he plans to bring a motion for renewal of consideration of an ordinance that would approve the rezoning and preliminary development plan for Madison Meadows Phase II. Council rejected the ordinance with a 3-2 vote on Feb. 28. Terry was absent at that meeting. At the time, concerns among the council members who voted against the measure – Jim Eudaily, John Rucker and James Sintz – included feeling the 60- and…
Plain City council members are asking residents and business owners to help them work toward their goal of improving communication in the village. Council recently approved the creation of the communications and marketing advisory committee. Council member James Sintz, who led the creation of the committee, said during initial discussions that the group will be “supporting, not creating” policy surrounding village communication. “I really see this more as a committee that’s going to set a strategy,” he said. According to a document which provides an overview of the committee, its mission is “to serve as a resource to support the…
Jerome Township officials are confident in the direction the township is moving and the goals they have for the future. The Board of Trustees held a special meeting this week to discuss their priorities for the current and upcoming year. Fiscal Officer Robert Caldwell said he feels work in the township has been particularly productive the past several years. “Tremendous advancements have taken place,” he said. “We’re finally getting some things off the list we’ve talked about for years.” Trustee Chair Megan Sloat said a rewrite of the township’s comprehensive plan, which is in its early stages, is her top…
Members of the Jonathan Alder Junior High book club helped Library Media Specialist Shelley Conley create the “Get Wrapped Up with a Great Book” display in the school’s library. The students wrapped books with brown paper and wrote a short description on the front. Examples of their descriptions include “A novel in verse! Heartbreaking and hopeful story! Setting: Haiti, Theme: Overcoming obstacles and not giving up” and “Do you like books about animals? If you answered yes, this is the book for you!” (Photo submitted) — Students in Jonathan Alder Junior High’s book club are helping their classmates find “the…
The City of Marysville’s planning and zoning commission recently approved a rezoning request that will allow for the annex of the Union County Family YMCA, illustrated by the arrow, to become a short-term, emergency housing shelter. Trevor Secord, CEO of the YMCA, said he is “comfortable” with the shelter being a part of the YMCA, as the annex is a separate portion of the building with a separate entrance. (Photo submitted) A group of Union County officials and non-profit leaders believe the community is one step closer to alleviating its homeless crisis. The City of Marysville’s planning and zoning commission…
Alyssa Clark, a classroom aide who previously graduated from the horticulture program at the Ohio Reformatory for Women, displays a worm farm during the “Of Ohio Expo.” Clark said the animals consume compostable materials, like newspaper and apples, to create fertilizer. The dark liquid that drains from the farm, in bottles behind Clark, is called “worm tea” and is used to feed plants grown by the students. (Journal-Tribune photo by Kayleen Petrovia) Alyssa Hinson dreams of one day starting a community garden in her hometown, inspired by the beautiful rose bushes her grandmother used to grow. She hopes the garden…
Plain City Council recently rejected the rezoning request and preliminary development plan that would pave the way for a second phase of the Madison Meadows residential development. The 79.734-acre site is directly south of the existing Madison Meadows development, on the east side of Lafayette Plain City Road. Several council members said they feel the proposed lot sizes are too small, while others said they feel the village needs to pause new housing in the area. (Graphic submitted) Several Plain City Council members said they feel that they need to pause incoming new housing, leaving developers in the middle of…