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Primarily serving Pataskala and surrounding areas
January 16, 2011
11.92-mill levy looms for Licking Heights Treasurer: $6.2M would be short-term relief By LISA AURAND ThisWeek Community Newspapers A $6.2-million levy likely will be on the ballots of Licking Heights residents in May. The Licking Heights school board is expected to vote Jan. 18 to ask voters to renew the existing $4.3-million emergency levy with a $1.9-million increase. District treasurer Jennifer Vanover said
the 11.92-mill levy would cost a total of $395.15 annually per $100,000 of assessed property value — an increase of $121. It would replace the 8.9-mill emergency levy that expires at the end of 2011 and is necessary to keep the district out of deficit spending beyond fiscal year 2012, board members have said. Vanover has estimated it would take 17 mills to cover the deficit projected for coming years. The proposed levy would
tide Licking Heights over in the short term, and budget cuts still would need to be made, board members have said. During the board’s organizational meeting Jan. 8, Vanover provided three options for renewal with an increase, and the board passed resolutions of necessity for all three. “That way they have a little more flexibility” and a little more time to make a final decision, she said.
The other two levies would have raised an estimated $5.2-million or $5.7-million annually, but only the $6.2-million levy is on the Jan. 18 agenda, Vanover said. The board’s vote will be on a declaration-of-intent resolution — the next step in getting the levy placed on the ballot. “It would renew the current level that we’re at and add an additional $1.9-million for a total of $6.2-million annually,” Vanover said. In previous months, board members
considered other types of levies, including one that would increase by a fixed amount each year. The board favored the fixed-sum levy because millage and cost to taxpayers could decrease over time if property valuations rise. Whatever the board decides, the district must file the levy issue with the Licking County Board of Elections by Feb. 2 for the measure to appear on the May ballot. The board will meet at 7 p.m. at North Elementary School, 6507 Summit Road. www.ThisWeekNEWS.com
Council workshop
EYE-OPENING EXHIBIT
Pataskala, water-sewer district look to keep each other informed By MICHAEL J. MAURER ThisWeek Community Newspapers
By Adam Cairns/ThisWeek
Boonshoft Museum of Discovery exhibits director Terry Rasor (facing) and exhibit specialist Jamie Henderson install the “Wise About Eyes” exhibit at The Works on Jan. 14. The traveling interactive exhibit, which teaches children about eye safety and health, runs through March at The Works, 55 S. First St., in downtown Newark. For details, call (740) 349-9277.
Rail-spur funding sought again By MICHAEL J. MAURER ThisWeek Community Newspapers The Pataskala Corporate Park joint economic-development district committee held its first meeting of the year Jan. 12, retaining attorney Dennis Schwallie for general legal assistance and discussing the recent rejection of an application for state funding to develop a rail spur to the corporate park. The board, which began formal operations last year, is charged with overseeing
the park JEDD, which is an entity under state law that can assess income taxes for the purposes of economic development at the affected property. Because Schwallie represents the city of Pataskala in various legal matters, including the issuance of bonds, and the city is a party to the JEDD, the issue of potential conflicts had to be addressed, Schwallie said, even though no actual conflict of interest is known. “When a lawyer represents two different
parties, if it appears that there is a conflict that the parties may have, the lawyer can ask the parties for their consent to the representation of both parties,” Schwallie said. “But the lawyer also has an obligation that if the conflict ever becomes a direct, head-to-head conflict, then the lawyer has to withdraw. Even though the board has consented, this is just making everyone aware that if there is a direct conflict I would have to withdraw.” See RAIL, page A2
Pataskala City Council and the Southwest Licking Community Water and Sewer District met to discuss whether they should meet more often to keep up with water and sewer and development issues. SLCWSD representative Melvin Hite said that at one time he had attended council meetings regularly, but in 2003 council decided that it was no longer necessary to do so. Several council members since have expressed concerns that the city and SLCWSD were not wellinformed about each other’s activities. “We’ve learned more tonight about what the district is doing than I have since the day I got on council in August, combined,” council member Dan Hayes said. “It’s productive for us.” City administrator Tim Boland said only council could gauge the level of detail that it wanted to have on water-sewer district activities but that as administrator he communicated regularly with Don Rector, SLCWSD director.
A closer look Among the more common problems both the city and district face is that, because each of them provides water and sewer service, residents frequently do not know who their service provider is.
“It’s going to be a council decision about the kind of information you want and who you want to provide it,” Boland said. “Augmenting is a wonderful thing, and Don and I talk on an ongoing basis.” Council member Pat Sagar said the current practice of receiving minutes was often insufficient because of the summary nature of minutes that does not give enough context of what was discussed. Among the more common problems both the city and district face is that, because each of them provides water and sewer service, residents frequently do not know who their service provider is. “I’m surprised that the confuSee SERVICE, page A2
Location for Southwest Licking board meetings up in the air Group might rotate between district buildings By LISA AURAND ThisWeek Community Newspapers Southwest Licking Board of Education could become a traveling group this year. At the board’s organizational meeting Thursday, Jan. 13, members agreed unanimously to hold regular meetings at 7 p.m. every third Thursday of the month, but put off deciding on a location for those meetings. After voting in David Engle and Brad Williams as the board’s 2011 president and vice president, respectively, the board discussed whether rotating the board meeting among the district’s buildings might draw more meeting attendance and promote community interaction. “This room, although it’s nice for us personally, I don’t feel it’s very welcoming for people, especially those who have never been to a board meeting before,” board member Cindy Zaino said. Zaino suggested that meetings following the recognition of the students of the quarter continue to be held in the Kindergarten Center gymnasium, while
the other meetings be held throughout the other eight district schools. “Of course, we’ll have all special meetings here,” she said. “We’ve done that before so we can get out and see the other places,” board member Roger David Zeune said, approving of the Engle suggestion. “I have no problem having none of the regular meetings in this room,” board member Don Huber said. Engle went a step further, suggesting holding informal talks with the public and two board members before some meetings. “It’s about making ourselves more accessible and hopefully making the community understand better what we do,” said Engle, who has been a member of the school board for 30 years and has served as president multiple times.
Battling it out
Watkins’ Bo Giffin, top, and Big Walnut’s C.J. Harness battle during their match in the 160 pound class at Delaware High School on Jan. 13. See Sports, page A5.
See BOARD, page A2
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