Tuesday, October 10th, 2017

St. Marys asks $10M for canal cleanup

Health risks cited in report

By Ed Gebert
ST. MARYS - The city is seeking $10 million in state capital funds to help clean up the Miami-Erie Canal through town.
Mayor Patrick McGowan said at Monday's city council meeting that the request dovetails with the release of a water quality study by KCI Inc., an engineering, consulting and construction firm.
"I presented this study today to Representative Craig Riedel. Mr. Riedel has agreed to carry it forward to the state," McGowan said.
The purpose of the study is to determine primary modifications to the canal system to eliminate the odors and health-quality risks due to poor water quality.
"There have been many, many hours put in by city employees on this," McGowan said. "The water quality remains very poor in the canal. As you know, it's only eight inches deep in many portions of it. We'd like to get this cleaned up, especially for the healthy well-being of our citizens."
City officials will not learn if they will receive the funding for another two years, when the next state budget is finalized.
"Whoever is governor at that time will have to sign off on it," McGowan noted.
The state funds would be used for projects including dredging and lining the canal with rocks from the aqueduct up to U.S. 33. McGowan said having the plan was necessary to request the state funds.
Officials also requested state funds totaling $250,000 for a splash pad, which also will not be considered before the next state budget.
In other action, council members approved an ordinance authorizing safety service director Greg Foxhoven to join a coalition of officials from municipalities planning to legally challenge the constitutionality of a new state law allowing the state to assume control over collection of municipal income taxes. Law director Kraig Noble said joining the fight would cost the city about $2,000.
Members gave second reading to two ordinances. The first would vacate an east-west alley in the North Addition. The 12-foot stretch lies west of Perry Street, south of North Street and north of High Street. It runs from the north-south alley west of Perry Street east to Perry Street between North and High streets.
The other ordinance would zone a recently annexed two-acre property northwest of the city as R-3 single-family residential.
The vacant property is northwest of the State Route 66 and Shipman Road intersection. No members of the public or council objected to either ordinance. Both will return for third and final reading at council's next regular meeting.
Members also forwarded a request for the vacation of an alley in the Hillsdale First Addition to the planning commission for consideration and approved the transfer of ownership of a liquor permit from St. Marys Marathon on West South Street to Phil's One Stop.
Additional online stories on this date
State routes 118 and 219 should have been paved by now, village official says
COLDWATER - Contractor delays have stalled completion of the state road resurfacing project within the village.
Village administrator/engineer Eric [More]
Mendon
UNION TOWNSHIP - The cause of a Saturday morning fire at an abandoned property near Mendon was still listed as undetermined this morning.
Mendon Fi [More]
Subscriber and paid stories on this date
New Bremen
NEW BREMEN - Police department officials continue their work to establish a K-9 unit.
Council members during their Monday meeting approved the purc
ROCKFORD - More than 600 Mercer County educators attended a professional learning conference on Monday at Parkway Local Schools to learn how to have a bigger impact on students' lives.
Decision 2017
MARIA STEIN - Marion Local Schools voters on Nov. 7 are being asked to renew a 10-mill, five-year property tax levy that would continue to collect just over $1.2 million per year.
St. Henry
ST. HENRY - Roadwork bids that came in under estimate have left money to improve village walking paths.
Village administrator Ron Gelhaus told cou
Marion Local
MARIA STEIN - The district's updated five-year financial forecast for the general fund shows an expected carryover this fiscal year of just over $1.1 million, which would increase the cash balance to nearly $4.6 million.
St. Henry
ST. HENRY - School district treasurer Jennifer Bruns expressed concerns that little incoming revenue and increasing expenditures could impact future budgets.
CELINA - City council members on Monday night passed a resolution to apply for a $40,000 Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation grant to help purchase Celina Fire Department equipment.
Division II State Girls Golf Tournament Preview
The St. Henry girls' golf team was painfully close to earning a state qualification over the past few seasons.
However, any memories of the past were washed away by jubilation last week.
Division II State Girls Golf Tournament Preview
Jill Schmitmeyer carded the first hole-in-one of her career at last week's Division II district tournament in Findlay.
She has many more good golf shots up her sleeve for this weekend's state tournament in Columbus.
Computer Points In Review
We have reached the point in the high school football season when it starts to become feasible to project what the final standings will look like in
Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry
Celina gave up two goals in the final five minutes of the match to fall 4-3 to Liberty-Benton in non-conference play at Benton Ridge on Monday night.
Leave all your cares behind to enjoy leaves
As fall season arrives, now may be the perfect time to hop into an automobile and set out for destinations in Ohio and nearby states to enjoy the typically pleasant weather and beautiful outdoor scenery.