April 14, 2011
First-quarter income-tax collections
City’s coffers improving thus far in 2011 By JENNIFER NOBLIT ThisWeek Community Newspapers
The slogan, “It’s greener in Dublin,” also could be applied to the city’s coffers. While some municipalities across the state wrestle with layoffs and state fund-
ing cuts, Dublin reports an improvement in income-tax collections for the first quarter of 2011. Collections are up by $1.2 million (7.39 percent) for the first quarter of the year, compared to the first quarter of 2010, deputy director of finance Bryan Thurman told council members April 11.
“Overall, the income tax revenue is doing very well,” he said during that evening’s finance committee meeting. Dublin’s income-tax revenue, which makes up a significant portion of the city’s total revenue, decreased for the first time in 2009 by 6 percent from 2008. In 2010, income-tax revenue increased
from 2009 levels by 4.5 percent, to $68.8 million, but still failed to rebound to the 2008 levels of $70.2 million. Dublin’s finance department expected income-tax revenues to continue to increase this year by 3 percent, which, Thurman said, was a “conservative” estimate.
“Typically, we take a very conservative approach in budgeting,” city manager Marsha Grigsby told council. “Part of that is not knowing what would happen with the economy this year.” With $65.9 million expected in inSee CITY’S COFFERS, page A2
Developers, commission clash over nursinghome plan By JENNIFER NOBLIT ThisWeek Community Newspapers
By Lorrie Cecil/ThisWeek
(Above) Scottish Corners Elementary School second-grader Leah Finley reads her poem, “Night/Day,” as part of her class’s Rhymer’s Diner poetry cafe April 7. The students in Samantha Chatman’s class spent a month studying poetry and creating poetry books with their own original poems. As the finale, the parents were invited to the class to hear some of the works and enjoy coffee and pastries. (Below) Pete Newman sports a mustache to complete the look for his part as a server at the diner.
Students host rhyming cafe By JENNIFER NOBLIT ThisWeek Community Newspapers
A Scottish Corners Elementary School class spun rhymes at a cafe redolent with the scent of coffee and crowded with people noshing on pastries. Samantha Chatman’s secondgrade class held its first Rhymer’s Diner last week, transforming the classroom into a café where family could listen to poems penned by the students. “I wanted a creative, fun way for my class to share their original poems that they have been working on in class,” Chatman said. “The poetry cafe is not just a way for the students to share with the class but also with their families, friends and other members of the community.” Anticipation was thick among the second-graders as parents and siblings piled into the room. Tommy Squire said he was excited to read his poem, “Fastt Math,” although it wasn’t his favorite original work.
“I wrote six (poems) for my poetry book,” he said. “My favorite is ‘The Day We Shut Down Our Club.’ It’s a true poem. It’s about how nobody came to our club at recess so we had to shut it down.” Megan Solis also wrote six poems. Her favorite was “Run Zebra Run,” which she and a classmate read during the Rhymer’s Diner. Chatman said students have been
writing poems since the beginning of March and have put them into books. Different styles of poetry, including clerihew, diamante and acrostic, also were in the lesson plan. Second-grader Sydney Blake said she enjoyed the lessons on poetry. “It was fun to try to think and rhyme and learn about the different kinds of poems,” she said. Alison Chillson enjoyed it so much
that she wrote 10 poems. Her favorite was about St. Patrick’s Day, she said, although she shared a poem called “Best Friends” during the cafe. Students’ reactions to writing poetry varied, Chatman said, although most, if not all, were excited about the Rhymer’s Diner. “Students responded in different ways. Some really enjoyed specific styles of poetry while others just really enjoyed being able to write about their interests,” she said. “Then there were other students who would rather write a story than a poem. But overall, everyone completed a (poetry) book, and they are ready to share them with their families and friends.” Last week’s Rhymer’s Diner was a first for Chatman’s classroom, although the second-grade teacher said she’s seen it done with middle school students. “I figured there was no reason this second-grade class couldn’t do the same thing,” she said. Though parents laughed and apSee SCOTTISH, page A5
Debate over a nursing home became heated last week as the Planning and Zoning Commission took an informal look at a proposed development at state Route 161 and Shamrock Boulevard. Developers accused commission members of inadequate feedback on a 62,000-square-foot, 120bed nursing home proposed for the southeast corner of Route 161 and Shamrock Boulevard. In January, the commission looked at the site plan, density, parking and architecture. Commission members expressed concerns over the architecture, parking and density. Dublin planner Eugenia Martin told commission members that since the meeting, the developers have worked to address architecture by providing three different ideas and tried to deal with the streetscape, as required by the Bridge Street corridor plan, by adding a public plaza. See DEVELOPERS, COMMISSION, page A2
Historic Dublin development draws P&Z’s excitement By JENNIFER NOBLIT ThisWeek Community Newspapers
A mixed-used development proposed for Historic Dublin has some local officials excited. A concept plan for office space, retail, restaurant space and 31 residential condos with 126 parking spaces in Historic Dublin went before the Planning and Zoning Commission on April 7. During the meeting, commission members expressed support and excitement over the North Riverview Street project. Two large buildings are proposed from 17 to 53 N. Riverview St. The land includes six homes on the Ohio Historic Registry. Planner Dan Phillabaum said the homes would have to be demolished or moved for the proposed development. The proposal went before the Architectural Review Board in February and drew concerns about parking and the size of the buildings, which would be three and four stories. Gerry Bird, of Gahanna-based Bird Houk ColSee HISTORIC DUBLIN, page A2
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