Wednesday, June 26th, 2013

County lends support for dorm

By Shelley Grieshop
CELINA - Mercer County Commissioners on Tuesday set a public hearing for July 9 to discuss plans to help fund a new student dorm near Wright State University-Lake Campus.
The 11 a.m. public hearing at the commissioner's office in the Central Services Building in Celina will solicit discussion on a proposal to support the issuance of tax-free economic development revenue bonds on behalf of the Western Ohio Educational Foundation. The WOEF Board plans to construct a $1.7 million student apartment complex - the second one to border the lakeside campus.
The county will act as financial conduit for the WOEF Board by supporting the purchase of revenue bonds by People's Bank to fund the dorm's construction.
"The county is not lending them the money," commissioner Jerry Laffin stressed.
By law, commissioners cannot support the issuance of revenue bonds without first garnering approval by the county's Community Improvement Corporation. The CIC meets at 8 a.m. Tuesday to discuss the matter.
Mercer County Commissioners and the bank helped the WOEF Board obtain bonds to build the university's first dorm, Knapke Villa.
Construction on the second dorm is expected to begin this summer on an 8.4-acre lot west of the campus. Students should be able to occupy the building by the 2014 fall semester, officials have said.
Knapke Villa, a $1.6 million venture, debuted in 2012-2013 and is at full residency with 28 students. The new dorm will house up to 32 students and offer laundry facilities and a full-time apartment for a residential community director.
Plans are to build eight dorm units to the west of the campus as the need arises, officials said.
In other business Tuesday, commissioners,
• awarded a contract to The Detroit Salt Company for road salt at $65.23 per ton. The estimated quantity to be used is 3,500 tons. The Michigan company submitted the lowest price of six companies seeking a contract.
Last year the county paid $67.96 per ton from Detroit Salt, which had submitted the lowest bid. Crews used 1,132.50 tons of salt costing $76,941.
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Redskins hold Cardinals scoreless for final four innings
NEW BREMEN - An offensive explosion on both sides in a wild third inning had St. Henry clinging to a one-run lead but the Redskins later scored four unanswered runs to knock off New Bremen 13-8 on Tuesday in ACME baseball action at New Bremen High School. [More]
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WAPAKONETA - Safety issues at the Auglaize County dog pound have forced commissioners and dog warden Russ Bailey to look for a temporary shelter until a new one is built.
FORT RECOVERY - The director who developed the Fort Recovery marching band into an award-winning unit is leaving the district.
Board of education m
NEW BREMEN - Last week's visit by the Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure benefitted the local economy, according to reports provided to village council members Tuesday night.
MARIA STEIN - Marion Local Schools board of education members hired Nick Wilker as elementary principal during a special Tuesday night meeting.
Wilker, a Marion Local graduate, currently serves as K-12 principal at Russia Local Schools in Shelby County.
COLDWATER - Board of education members on Tuesday adopted an Ohio Teacher Evaluation System policy that will alter how educator performance is measured.
Local Roundup
Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry
Celina snapped a long losing streak as Jimmy Luebke threw a complete-game four-hitter to lead the Bulldogs to a 9-0 win over Vandalia-Butler on the road Tuesday night.
Staff report
Unemployment in Mercer County rose 0.2 percent from April to May but remains the lowest across the state.
According to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, Mercer County's rate was 4.3 percent in May, slightly above the 4.1 percent posted in April.