December 23, 2010
With ‘hands tied,’ council OKs insurance deal McAlister calls ordinance ‘predicament,’ highlighting Steelworkers’ $100 deductible By MARLA K. KUHLMAN ThisWeek Community Newspapers
Gahanna City Council approved a Steelworkers Health and Welfare Fund agreement Dec. 20, but the decision wasn’t unanimous or without a call for change at the state level. Council member John McAlister was the lone dissenter on the legislation that authorizes the mayor to enter into a Steelworkers fund-participation
agreement for insurance to be effective Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2011. “This whole ordinance is really a predicament,” McAlister said. “As far as I can tell, it allows a $100-deductible health-insurance plan. … I think an average (citizen pays) $1,500 deductible. By law, our hands are tied. If we don’t pass, it goes to arbitration.” McAlister said he didn’t want to encourage his colleagues to vote against the legislation, as it would leave em-
ployees “out in the cold” with no insurance. “I would like to be the one voice of sanity,” he said. “The city can’t continue paying out health insurance with these deductibles. Things are going to change. This city is hurting for money.” Human-resources director Kristen Treadway previously told council the Steelworkers agreement represents about 32 employees, including office workers.
Councilman Shane Ewald said new legislators are talking about a review of collective bargaining at the state level. He said he encourages local residents to contact state Rep. Nancy Garland (D-New Albany), who represents the 20th House District, and Sen.-elect Kevin Bacon, who will represent the 3rd Senate District. Council member Beryl Anderson voted for the ordinance but “not for the concept,” she said.
“The unions have lack of give and take,” Anderson said. “We need to be vigorous. We as citizens need to push for change as stated before.” Council members Ewald, Tom Kneeland, Brian Larick, Nancy McGregor and David Samuel voted in favor of the ordinance. Mayor Becky Stinchcomb said the agreement is a one-year extension. See STEELWORKERS, page A6
G-J to start 2011 with all 3 snow days intact By MARLA K. KUHLMAN ThisWeek Community Newspapers
By Adam Cairns/ThisWeek
Project Cygnus Above: Gahanna Lincoln High School science academy students Nick Vourvopoulos (left) and Houston Fortney repair a problem with the video camera on one of the Lego rovers during Project Cygnus, a simulated Mars landing, on Dec. 16. A separate group of students in a different part of the building used the camera to control the rover remotely. Right: Students Brad Malone (right) and Connor Stowers use a laptop to control the rover remotely.
See CALAMITY DAYS, page A2
Jefferson Twp. to transform parcels to parks By MIRIAM L. SEGALOFF ThisWeek Community Newspapers
$60; and provider, $85. Reduced-rate “sneak peek” deals will be available to residents from April 30 to June 8 at the following prices: single, $170, couple, $220; family, $265; seniors, $50; and provider, $80. Nonresident sneak-peek cost is: singles, $195; couples, $255; family, $305; senior, $60 and provider, $100.
Jefferson Township trustees are being asked to christen more than 40 acres of new parks: Plumbers Park and Wengert Woods. The two undeveloped parcels were acquired by the township in 2005 through a grant from the state’s Clean Ohio Fund. The parcel at 7375 Wengert Road, west of Waggoner Road, is more than 27 acres, is wooded and is bordered on one side by the Blacklick Creek. The interior of the park includes such natural features as cliffs and ravines. The other parcel is more than 14 acres at 860 Reynoldsburg-New Albany Road. This land previously was owned by Associated Plumbing & Hydronics Contractors and has been known informally as Plumbers Park. Township officials said that plans involve eventually connecting the two parcels via a pedestrian bridge across the Blacklick Creek. Neither parcel currently is open to the public, but township officials said plans for the properties include new shelters and restrooms so they could be used by residents. Township officials are researching and writing a variety of grant applications to offset the cost of making the parks usable.
See POOL DISCOUNTS, page A6
See PARKS, page A2
City offering ‘early bird’ discounts for pool memberships By MARLA K. KUHLMAN ThisWeek Community Newspapers Gahanna residents could receive 25-percent discounts on 2011 memberships and other deals by purchasing their passes early. The Gahanna Parks & Recreation Department has announced a new membership rate structure for their public pools — the Gahanna Swimming Pool and the Hunters Ridge Pool — including
“early bird” 25-percent discounts. Through April 29, early-bird rates for residents are: single, $140; couple, $190; family, $225; seniors (55 years and older), $50; and provider, $70. Provider memberships are for childcare providers of a traditional membership household, such as a babysitter, said Kate Moening, parks and rec marketing coordinator. Early-bird discounts for nonresidents are: single, $175; couple, $240; family, $280; seniors,
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The Gahanna-Jefferson schools began winter break Dec. 20 with all three of its calamity days still available for use. Many area districts already have used days because of inclement weather, even though winter didn’t officially begin until Dec. 21. In an effort to increase school time for students, Gov. Ted Strickland lowered the state’s policy of allowing five calamity days to three. Gov.-elect John Kasich said he would re-examine that move. Any severe weather or calamity days used by Gahanna in excess of the three allotted days will be made up in June, said Mary Otting, G-J communications specialist. The Gahanna school board adopted the 201011 calendar with makeup days scheduled for June 9, 10, 13, 14 or 15. Kristen Groves, G-J executive director of business and school improvement, said the safety of the students and staff is a top priority in the district. “That is why making the decision to delay school start times or close schools on inclementweather days is a decision that is taken very seriously,” she said. “However, there is no exact science to making this decision.” Gahanna has a team of four district employ-
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