March 24, 2011
Sports participation
Officials: 30-percent drop possible By KURTIS ADAMS ThisWeek Community Newspapers Officials at the two Pickerington high schools estimate that participation in sports could drop by as much as 30 percent once new pay-to-participate fees are implemented, Central athletics director Pete Laihr said. The fee increases, approved by the school board last week, more than dou-
ble the current cost to play a sport and do not include a family cap. They are part of a broader plan to cut $13-million from the district’s budget. The new fees are expected to increase the district’s annual revenue from $325,000 to $449,000, thereby reducing district general fund costs, although those figures could be affected if participation is significantly lower, as expected. Fees also are increasing for participa-
tion in other extracurricular activities such as marching band, theater and chorale. “Thirty percent, huh? I believe it because I’m already seeing a drop-off in (the number of athletes in) our weight room,” North football coach Tom Phillips said. “They probably came up with that number by talking with people from Newark and Reynoldsburg.” The new fees, which will be among the highest in central Ohio, will be in-
stituted for the 2011-12 school year. Reynoldsburg and Newark previously had implemented similar hikes before eventually reducing their fees through donations raised by the booster clubs. Reynoldsburg athletes paid $240 per sport this school year, down from $500 in 2009-10. Pickerington’s fees for fall sports are due by the end of the second week of practice in August.
“That does give families a little time to plan,” North athletics director Mark Aprile said. “It’s not a solution, though.” A flat fee of $500 per student per sport has been set for participation in high school sports, up from $210. The cost of playing a sport at the junior high is increasing from $135 to $325. “The absence of a family cap is what’s See 30-PERCENT DROP, page A10
Garden store seeks variance for seasonal operation By NATE ELLIS ThisWeek Community Newspapers A grounds-maintenance and garden supply store with roots in Fairfield County is seeking to branch out in Pickerington. Pickerington City Council, unanimously approved a variance on Tuesday, March 15, to allow Keller Farms Landscape and Nursery to open a seasonal gardening store off Hill Road North, directly opposite Town Square Drive. Company officials said the store would consist of an approximately 100-foot by 20-foot “hoop house and shade cover” — or greenhouse — and would offer plants and some specialty gardening items. Doris Marcus, a Keller Farms supervisor, said company owner Bernie Fleming lives Pickerington and wants to expand his business, at least seasonally, to his local community. She said the Pickerington location would serve as a satellite to a large greenhouse and garden center Keller Farms operates at 6470 Lithopolis Road in Carroll. “He wanted to do something that would really benefit the people of Pickerington,” Marcus said. “It’s all temporary and it would allow the people … to just pull in and pick up last-minute items. It’s not going to be a full-scale garden center.” If the business is well-received, she said, the company would seek to operate it seasonally on an annual basis. Marcus and city officials said the variance is needed so Keller Farms can operate the satellite greenhouse this year. If the company were forced to go through a typical permitting process, it likely would take up to six months, city manager Bill Vance said.
By Chris Parker/ThisWeek
Violet Township trustee Gary Weltlich speaks during the annual state of the community luncheon held by the Pickerington Area Chamber of Commerce on March 17.
State of community
Weltlich, Davis feisty at annual event By NATE ELLIS ThisWeek Community Newspapers An annual event to update business leaders about government plans and challenges had the feel of a campaign event last week. The Pickerington Area Chamber of Commerce held its annual luncheon March 17 to hear from local, county, state and federal officials about their current and future plans. While the 10-minute speaking limit kept most presenters from delving too deeply into issues affecting — or expected to affect — area businesses and communities, it didn’t stop Violet Township trustee chairman Gary Weltlich and Fairfield County commissioner Steve Davis from temporarily turning up the heat in the dining room at the Pickerington Senior Center. In addition to touting Violet Township’s relatively solid financial standing, Weltlich directly addressed state Rep. Gerald Stebelton (R-Lancaster) and a representative of Congressman Steve Austria’s (R-Beavercreek) office in calling for more flexibility to govern township finances. Specifically, Weltlich said the township should be permitted to borrow internally from its fire
See GARDEN STORE, page A7
Locals reserve judgment on Kasich budget proposal By NATE ELLIS ThisWeek Community Newspapers The announcement of Ohio Gov. John Kasich’s proposed state budget last week created few waves locally — at least for now. Kasich unveiled details of his first state budget as governor on March 15. The plan, which still requires approval from state legislators, contains a number of proposals for eliminating a projected $8-million budget shortfall. Under the plan, funding to local governments would be cut from $665-million this year to $339-million in 2013. See BUDGET PROPOSAL, page A6
“
What we want is greater latitude to generate revenue. We have demonstrated for years that if you give us flexibility, we’ll be creative. We’ll be responsible.
GARY WELTLICH Violet Township trustee chairman
department fund to support other township projects and programs. He also said the township should be given more flexibility to invest its carryover or “rainy day” reserve funds. “What we want is greater latitude to generate revenue,” Weltlich said. “We have demonstrated for years that if you give us flexibility, we’ll be creative. We’ll be responsible.” Davis, a lawyer and former Lancaster City Council member appointed in January to fill former Fairfield County commissioner Jon Myers’ term, followed Weltlich by saying he
See WELTLICH, page A2
School district lunch prices to rise by 25 cents By NATE ELLIS ThisWeek Community Newspapers Pickerington students will pay 25 cents more for lunches next year. For the first time since the 200405 school year, the price of lunches offered at Pickerington schools will increase. The PLSD Board of Education approved the action by unanimous vote on March 14. The cost of lunches for elementary
school students in the district will increase from $1.75 to $2, and students in middle school, junior high and high school will see prices increase from $2 to $2.25. “Even with the increases for next school year, we’ll still be the lowest of the surrounding school districts,” PLSD board member Clay Lopez said. “I think we’re talking about a 25-cent increase, which I think is reasonable.”
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at the elementary level, and $2.25 (Olentangy) to $3 (Bloom Carroll) at the high school level. Judy Riley, PLSD food service director, noted the district’s food budget is separate from its general operating fund. She said the need to increase lunch prices had less to do with the district’s ongoing budget cuts and concerns than the rising cost of food. See LUNCH PRICES, page A2
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According to information provided by the district, Pickerington lunch prices currently are lower than those in the Bloom Carroll, Canal Winchester, Dublin, Groveport, Gahanna, Hilliard, Licking Heights, New Albany, Olentangy, South-Western City, Southwest Licking, Worthington and Westerville school districts. Lunch prices in those districts, PLSD officials said, range from $2 (Olentangy) to $2.65 (Worthington)
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hasn’t enjoyed his new post since taking office. Much of his frustration, he said, stems from what he sees as government inefficiencies and ineffectiveness. He pointed to a four-year-old committee charged with resolving overcrowding issues at the county jail and 10 straight levy defeats for the county’s historical parks as leading irritants. “The truth of the situation is, we need speed, we need direction and we need goals in which we can operate with speed and direction,” he said. Davis added that “it’s time to stop” the public facilities commission’s work if it can’t come up with some solution to the jail issue within the next six months. He said he would advocate for shutting down the county’s historical parks system if an 11th straight levy fails. Other speakers at the event included Pickerington Mayor Mitch O’Brien, Pickerington Local School District Superintendent Karen Mantia, Stebelton and Austria’s representative. Much of O’Brien’s speech was cut short by the time limit set for presenters and, therefore,
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