12/12 edition of the Johnstown Independent by The Columbus Dispatch/Dispatch Magazines

December 12, 2010

Council looks at high cost of housing ‘Bedroom communities’ provide costly services for little return in revenue By MICHAEL J. MAURER ThisWeek Community Newspapers Acting village manager Jim Lenner told council Tuesday that future budgets are likely to be harmed by residential housing growth. Homes cost more to serve than they pay in taxes, he said. “Undeveloped land is very easy to

serve,” Lenner said. “For every dollar generated, usually you only spend 30 cents or so to provide services. You don’t have kids in school, why would the police department go there. “If it gets built industrial, you are still receiving more in tax dollars than you are providing to that facility. When you go to residential, you’re paying $1.15

to $1.50 in services provided for every dollar generated in revenue. “As we go forward, we need to make sure what’s best for the village,” Lenner said. “If it’s residential, you’re subsidizing residential development.” Because Johnstown is in effect a bedroom community for fast-growing New Albany, he said, there will be residen-

tial growth — and, he added, Johnstown will bear the expense while New Albany reaps the tax revenue because of jobs created there. “As New Albany and eastern Columbus grow and lure new businesses, they need places to live,” Lenner said. “If Johnstown has cheaper housing than other communities, they’re going to live

here, and go work in New Albany and Columbus. New Albany is going to get their income tax, and we’re going to have to send them to school, plow their roads and repair their water lines.” Lenner said the average salaries for jobs being created in New Albany at See HOUSING, page A2

Water rate might increase by a little less than planned By MICHAEL J. MAURER ThisWeek Community Newspapers

By Lorrie Cecil/ThisWeek

Kyle Hausler, a teacher at Oakstone Academy, plays in the Coral Reef Cavern area of CoCo Key Water Resort on Dec. 9. This quarter the resort raised money for Mental Health America of Licking County through its Splash for a Cause program.

CoCo Key resort looks to raise funds, awareness for MHA of Licking County By SARAH SOLE ThisWeek Community Newspapers Imagine going swimming on a cold, snowy December day, just to raise a little cash for a local organization whose focus is to improve mental health. Sound crazy? As part of its annual fundraising program, CoCo Key Water Resort at the Cherry Valley Lodge in Newark held “Splash for a Cause” nights last week, with part of the proceeds going to Mental Health America of Licking County.

Splash for a Cause is part of Denver-based Sage Hospitality’s overall corporate program called “Dollars for Dreams.” Throughout December, guests of CoCo Key Water Resort and Cherry Valley Lodge will help support MHA. CoCo Key, a Sage Hospitality subsidiary, participates in “Dollars for Dreams” on a quarterly basis, according to Pete Kandra, director of sales and marketing for Cherry Valley Lodge. Each fundraiser held during the first three quarters is held jointly across the corporate level, with hotels across the country raising money for the same organi-

zation. During the fourth quarter’s fundraiser, however, local resorts get to choose local organizations, Kandra said. Many events, like Splash for a Cause, are held from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31. The water resort has staged its own events to help raise funds. In addition to recently holding a poinsettia sale, the resort donated $2 to MHA of Licking County for every day pass sold Monday through Thursday. CoCo Key has set its fundraising goal at See AWARENESS, page A2

Northridge

‘Bully-proofing’ classes planned By MICHAEL J. MAURER ThisWeek Contributor Northridge elementary and middle schools will host an anti-bullying program in January, funded in part by a $2,200 grant from the Licking County Foundation. Dawn Wilson, Northridge guidance counselor, said the schools welcomed the financial support for the program. “The Ohio Revised Code requires the board of education to have a policy on bullying in place,” Wilson said. “Having a counselor come in is one of our strategies for protecting vic-

tims and discouraging bullying behaviors. “With all the budget cuts,” she said, “I don’t know that we could have funded this without the Licking County Foundation.” The classes will be led by Jim Besenius, a counselor who founded Bully-Proofing Youth, a business that has met a growing demand in schools. “I’m booked five days a week through March, and it’s been that way for the past four years,” Besenius said. The counseling will be offered Jan. 11, 12 and 14, and again in April. A special class for parents will be held Jan. 12 from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

in the middle school auditorium. “The parents will learn how to coach their child and to train their child to behave in a way to make the bullying stop, not temporarily but permanently,” Besenius said. “Usually the parent won’t know (if their child is being bullied). The child won’t tell them because they’re afraid the parent will make it worse, which does happen. “And the child who is the bully will almost every time lie and say they are the victim,” he said. “The more sophisticated children know See BULLYING, page A2

A scheduled rate increase for Johnstown water and sewer may be reduced, according to a report prepared by finance director Larry Heiser. “That’s at least a little bit of good news,” Heiser said. Council had already approved a rate increase effective next year to $31.60 per month for the first 2,000 gallons of usage and $15.80 for each additional 1,000 gallons. The current rates are $28.90 and $15.20. Under the proposal prepared by Heiser as part of the yearend budget approval for 2011, Heiser is recommending that council reduce the new rates slightly. The revisions have been made possible because of increased income tax collections over previous projections, Heiser said. The new rates will be $29.50 for the first 2,000 gallons and $15.50 for each additional 1,000 gallons. For small volume users, the change means a 2 percent increase in cost instead of a 9 percent increase. The proposed $29.50 A closer look minimum monthly rate is the total of individual rates Council had already approved charged for water service a rate increase effective next at $9.10, water debt at year to $31.60 per month for $6.00, sewer service at the first 2,000 gallons and $9.50 and sewer debt at $15.80 for each additional $4.90. 1,000 gallons. The current Service director Jack rates are $28.90 and $15.20. Liggett said the average The proposed new rates would household with a family be $29.50 for the first 2,000 uses about 4,000 to 5,000 gallons and $15.50 for each gallons per month, while additional 1,000 gallons. the average senior household uses less than 2,000. Based on actual usage at current rates, a household consuming 5,000 gallons monthly can expect a bill in the amount of $74.50. Under the rates as currently scheduled to increase, that amount would be $79, a 6 percent increase, while under the reduced amount proposed by Heiser the 2011 rate would be $76, a 2 percent increase. Liggett said the village is unusual in providing the detailed breakdown in its billing. “Some places just have it as a single water bill, but years ago Johnstown decided to show how much was being charged for the sewer plant that was just built, this much is for debt, this much is for operations on both water and sanitary. They receive a complete breakdown.” Heiser said he recommends the smaller increase. “Currently, based upon prior years’ ordinances. the rates were set to increase by 9.34 percent,” Heiser wrote in his report. “Last year we kept rates the same and this year at this point I am recommending a maximum of a 2 percent increase. “That (recommendation) may change to only 1 percent, depending on year-ending operations in both water and sewer funds,” according to Heiser. Liggett said there was a small possibility that even the lower 2 percent increase could be avoided if additional savings could be found, but that rates would certainly have to go up in 2012.

Temporary ice skating rink to be built on town square By MICHAEL J. MAURER ThisWeek Community Newspapers

Ganahl and build a temporary ice rink on the town square. Downtown Johnstown member Pat Downtown Johnstown met Tuesday Kramer credited Carol VanDeest with and decided to borrow a page from making the initial contact with Ganahl, Columbus television weatherman Jym who told them it was pretty easy to do.

“It kind of went through channels,” Kramer said. Chris Speck, president of Downtown Johnstown, said he ordered a special tarp from Texas and that local builder Keith Ryan will do the installation work,

along with other volunteers. skate-at-your-own-risk, and will be up “I’ve got materials coming in the next for as long as the weather supports it, week or so,” Speck said. “It’s a real thick Speck said. tarp designed specifically for this, and “It will be toward the beginning of it’s white, so it reflects the sun.” See ICE SKATING, pageA2 The skating will be unsupervised,