Plain City Council is seeking additional ways to revitalize the Historic Uptown District. During the most recent council meeting, Mayor Jody Carney posed the possibility of creating a vacant building registry. She said it could serve as “an incentive for building owners to seek out tenants.” “If a business goes out, how are we helping them actively find something new to go in?” Carney asked. Village Administrator Nathan Cahall explained that similar programs “got a little more use after the last recession” when there was an increased number of vacated commercial buildings. “They are utilized by certain local jurisdictions to…
Author: Kayleen Petrovia
Less than two dozen Union County voters cast ballots Tuesday on the Plain City Charter. Above, Blaine Keene, prepares to vote in the special election as poll worker Randy Artrip helps. Earlier in the day his son voted for the first time ever. (Journal-Tribune photo by Mac Cordell) More than a year in the making, Plain City residents overwhelmingly approved the proposed charter in Tuesday’s special election. “We’ve been discussing the charter since I’ve been on council,” said Mayor Jody Carney. “It’s exciting that we’re entering a new era of planned government.” Between Madison and Union counties, 195 voters casted…
Would have been first opportunity to collect payments on new regulation Plain City Council made the first decision of its kind during Monday’s meeting. “Before you tonight is actually a first time for the village,” said Village Administrator Nathan Cahall. Council voted unanimously to waive the roadway impact fee associated with the Darby Station residential development. Cahall noted that the impact fee legislation passed by council in September is intended to offset the negative effects of development on three areas of Plain City’s infrastructure: roadways, sewer and public safety. However, he said the ordinance allows developers to petition the village…
Plain City officials are hoping state funding could help them improve current recreational facilities or add new amenities to the village. During Wednesday’s council work session, Village Administrator Nathan Cahall said staff believes two projects would qualify for NatureWorks grant funding from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. The program provides up to 75% reimbursement for the acquisition, development or improvement of recreational areas. Cahall said Plain City has a specific advantage because it is eligible for funding allocated to both Union and Madison counties. In Union County, Cahall proposed renovating the public basketball courts. “They’re getting into a condition…
Neighbors call development “The Massacre at Indian Run” Though the topic was not on the agenda, more than a dozen Jerome Township residents were at Tuesday’s trustees meeting to show their opposition toward a proposed McKitrick Road development. Residents voiced concerns regarding The Farm at Indian Run – what neighboring property owner Bob Chapman coined “The Massacre at Indian Run.” Lynda Chapman said nearby residents recently “witnessed the disturbing destruction of numerous acres of woods and wildlife habitat as the developers cut a clear and obvious path for an unapproved development.” In August, a 2-1 decision by the trustees approved…
Gov. Mike DeWine announced Monday new phases for COVID-19 vaccine eligibility. Those in Phase 1C, listed above, will be eligible based on certain health conditions or occupational hazards. Phase 2 opens eligibility to those who are 60 and older. Individuals in both phases will be able to receive the vaccine beginning Thursday. (Graphic submitted) Those 60 and older will be eligible Thursday As eligibility to receive the COVID-19 vaccine expands, the number of shots available locally is increasing as well. The Union County Health Department’s vaccine shipment this week is “significantly larger than previous weeks,” according to a statement from…
Educators at Triad are working to close the gap created by distance learning during 2020. Elementary School Principal Lee Claypool told the Board of Education recently that the district’s investment in a number of intervention programs are helping to get students back on track. She said the district has doubled the number of students it can offer specialized assistance to 60 from 30 – by adding a second Title I teacher, both of whom provide additional instruction to at-risk students. Claypool spoke about a new reading intervention program used by Title I teachers called SPIRE, which helps to identify “phonics…
Surveillance footage from a Thursday morning car theft revealed new information on the suspects and vehicles stolen.Video from the Coughlin Chrysler Marysville dealership shows the suspects arriving at the scene at 3:25 a.m. Thursday in a new-model, white Jeep Grand Cherokee.The vehicle is in view of security cameras for less than 30 seconds before driving around the side of a building, out of the camera’s line of sight. Another camera angle shows the suspects driving off the lot nearly two hours later, at 5:20 a.m.A blue vehicle idles in the driveway of the lot for about 10 seconds before turning onto…
Plain City Council and administrators are working to ensure council goals align with the village’s budget. Council recently called a special meeting to finalize their short-term and long-term plans for the year. Village Administrator Nathan Cahall said he is thankful that council members chose to “dovetail (their) goals discussion with the budget development process.” He said that allows staff to ensure available resources align with council’s priorities. “Goals are important but we need budget dollars to go off of,” added Fiscal Officer Renee Sonnett. Goals council would like to achieve in 2021 include creating a phased plan for Uptown improvements;…
Due to an issue with notifying residents, Plain City Council recently continued a hearing regarding a proposed residential development at the corner of North Chillicothe Street and Noteman Street. If approved, the Run at Hofbauer Preserve, illustrated above, would add 100 single-family homes to the area. Council will host the hearing and vote on the preliminary development plan March 22. (Graphic submitted) Plain City residents will have to wait a little longer to learn the fate of a proposed residential development on the corner of Chillicothe Street and Noteman Street. Village Council continued a public hearing regarding the Run at…
Jerome Township Trustees recently rezoned the land where Amazon plans to build its data center. The 99.5 acre plot of land is located on the south side of Warner Road, west of Industrial Parkway. The conceptual site plan, outlined in red above, includes some of the facilities that will be included, although they may be configured differently in the final planning phase. Amazon representatives said the site has “more than a million square-foot potential” for data centers and switching stations, at the center of the graphic, as well as room for a smaller security building. (Graphic submitted) Amazon is one…
As someone who writes for a living, I also spend a whole lot of time reading. I read for work and I read for fun. At almost any time, a powerful phrase or a clever line I’ve seen is bouncing around in my head. For the past several days, I’ve been thinking about the opening line of a handwritten letter: “Oh my, what a disappointment you are to us and to God!” The widely circulated letter was written by a group of family members to Illinois Rep. Adam Kinzinger, a Republican who voted in favor of Donald Trump’s impeachment. Whether…
Union County Health Commissioner Jason Orcena said he is encouraged by the positive developments surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, in part due to the local mass vaccination efforts. “We’re not quite back to where we were in October but we are on track to get there if things continue as they are,” he said at Wednesday’s Board of Health meeting. He said the number of actively ill individuals in the county has consistently declined since a spike around the holidays. Outpatient visits by those who later test positive for COVID-19 and local hospitalizations are dropping, as well. “The numbers just keep…
In a year upended by the coronavirus pandemic, 2020 was still a rewarding season for the Jerome Township Division of Fire. “The Division of Fire is just so vital to our community and what they provide to us,” said Trustee Chair Megan Sloat. During Wednesday’s trustees meeting, Fire Chief Douglas Stewart shared details from his department’s 2020 annual report. In light of the pandemic, Stewart said Division of Fire saw only an approximately 1% increase in responses over 2019. He noted that this was a common trend beyond just the township, as many individuals avoided hospitals while they were overwhelmed…
The company behind the first development subject to Plain City’s impact fees is asking officials to give them a bye. M/I Homes requested a waiver of three different fees associated with the proposed Darby Station residential development, Village Administrator Nathan Cahall said during council’s most recent work session. In a 4-2 vote in November, council approved preliminary plans for the 336-acre development along Route 161. It will have homes intended for young families, “move-up” housing and a “pocket community” for empty nesters. Prior to that, in September council approved three types of impact fees – roadway, sanitary sewer and public…