May 8, 2011
Northridge levy defeat
Officials undecided about next move By MICHAEL J. MAURER ThisWeek Community Newspapers
Following the close defeat on its third try for a 1-percent income tax levy May 3, the Northridge Board of Education will regroup during the next few weeks and begin thinking about whether to try for a fourth time or accept a smaller
school system. The board will hold a special meeting May 9 to interview candidates for the vacant seat formerly held by Brent Garee. The next regular meeting will be May 16. The income tax issue was defeated by 153 votes, with 1,335 votes (47.3 percent) for the measure and 1,488 votes
(52.7 percent) against it. “Either we did not get the message across or the community is just at a point where they are not able to financially support the schools,” said board president Mark Dann. “It’s hard to say.” Treasurer Jim Hudson said the district was looking to lose $2.3 million in the coming year’s budget, including $1.7
million from the income tax and various changes to state and federal funding. The district spends about $14 million in annual operating funds. Dann said a pro-levy campaign had worked as hard as it could to get the message out. “There are a lot of folks that put a lot of hard work and effort into informing
the community of the financial needs and where things are with the state and how it is funding schools,” Dann said. “It’s a changing environment.” Bill Jones, a district resident who was part of WALLET, an anti-tax group, said the pro-levy side had done a good job. See LEVY, page A2
Constant rainfall causing pothole problems
CELEBRATING A BIG LIFT
By JENNA GANT ThisWeek Community Newspapers
By Paul Vernon/ThisWeek
Weightlifter Brad Hobbs of the West Licking Warriors celebrates after competing in the bench press competition during the Area 6 Special Olympics meet at Denison University on May 1.
Nonstop rain showers in recent weeks are causing major pothole problems along U.S. Route 62 in Johnstown. “After the rains, it got just horrendous. People are literally going left of center because there are huge ones now,” village council member Sean Staneart said. Staneart said there already were potholes along the national highway after the freeze and thaw of winter. “During the winter cycle with the recent thawing, the potholes kind of gave out and the Ohio Department of Transportation went in and cold patched them. It was a quick patch,” he said. Cold patching is when asphalt is poured directly into a pothole without using heat or other equipment. Staneart said with the past few weeks of nonstop rain the cold patch is falling apart. “When the rain gets in there it kind of breaks it up and makes it into something like gravel and every car that hits it splashes some of it out,” Staneart said, “and now there’s just craters … so it’s just a safety concern.” Staneart said the largest area affected is from Oregon Street to the post office near Kasson Street. On May 3, he asked village council if Johnstown See POTHOLES, page A2
Community yard sale will raise money for Relay
P&Z anticipates commercial use in historic residential district
By JENNA GANT
By MICHAEL J. MAURER
ThisWeek Community Newspapers
Relay For Life teams have painted Johnstown purple with ribbons, but communications chair Jackie Dismuke said that’s just their opening move. There’s still a lot of Relay action to come, and next on the list is a community-wide yard sale being hosted by committee members next weekend, May 13-15, at the town square. Dismuke said Relay teams and community members are invited to set up tables of new or used
items for residents to buy. Participants can also sell craft items, baked goods or “whatever they want to do to raise funds,” she said. “Anybody can come and sell something,” Dismuke said, “as long as the money is all donated to Johnstown Relay For Life.” She said residents could also purchase luminaries and decorate bags for the Relay For Life walkathon, scheduled for June 24 and 25. The yard sale is a great way for teams to raise money for the American Cancer Society, Dis-
DIRECTORY
muke said. “A lot of people are having trouble getting started on their fundraising,” she said. “This year doesn’t seem like we’ve had as many of these kind of activities going on.” Dismuke said activities are needed to help raise monetary goals teams set prior to the race. All donations go to the American Cancer Society. She said Relay participants “should try to get your team goal prior to (the Relay) with differSee RELAY, page A2
ThisWeek Community Newspapers
The Johnstown Planning and Zoning Commission met May 4 for a work session on the village’s future land-use plan, including the downtown residential corridors that are expected to become increasingly commercial as traffic increases on U.S. Route 62 and state Route 37. Village administrator Jim Lenner said zoning changes would not require any existing use of homes to change, so residential properties could remain residential. But as traffic increases along the village’s main thoroughfares, more and more homes will
become commercial because that is what owners will want, Lenner said. “I don’t think we’re saying it has to be commercial,” Lenner said. “We’re just giving property owners that choice. As soon as the future land use map is commercial, your property value significantly increases. It just gives people an option, if they want to sell.” Commission chair Pat Kramer said homes in the historic district would have to have zoning commission approval for any changes to their exterior, and one purpose of the commission is to maintain the style of the historic area. “Everything has to come before us before See HISTORIC, page A2
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