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wednesdAY, October 2, 2013
Volume 130, Number 196
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Local government relatively unaffected by shutdown Will E Sanders
Staff Writer wsanders@civitasmedia.com
PIQUA — The federal government shutdown that went into effect Tuesday — the start of government’s fiscal year — will have little, if any, impact on local government, officials with the city of Piqua and Miami County government said.
Piqua City Manager Gary Huff said he does not anticipate city government being affected by the federal government’s temporary shutdown. “Local government will continue and nothing will hinder us from providing local services,” said Huff, who said he remembers the last time the federal government shut down like this in the mid-1990s.
Though Huff didn’t rule out the city from being indirectly affected by the shutdown, but in ways so minimal that they would not become problematic. “The only thing I can think of that might be affected would be if we are applying for any federal grants,” Huff said, but added that even in that case it would only result in a delay or a time extension. “That’s
really the only issue we will be facing. It would just slow the grant process down. We don’t anticipate any other issue coming down.” Huff said even that would be a moot issue because the city currently has no grants that are against a grant deadline for the weeks ahead. And as far as funding any ongoing project or construc-
tion that is being paid with by federal funding, that funding, he said, is already in state coffers and has already been distributed. “It’s not stopping any of our projects that we have under way right now,” Huff said. Turning toward Miami County government, county See SHUTDOWN | Page 8
Kasich visits Piqua to tout training program Covington businessman turns 100 years old Will E Sanders
film solutions, bag-inbox systems and industrial packaging.” At 100 years of age COVINGTON — Weikert might not be a Entrepreneur Roy spring chicken, but he Weikert will have exact- certainly keeps himself ly 100 candles on his busy in both his personal cake Thursday during a and business lives. special birthday celebraEven at 100 years of tion held at the age, Weikert Covington-based remains the commanufacturing pany’s presiding firm he founded board chairman in the 1930s. and each and Weikert, who every day he turns 100 tomorwalks two miles. row, will be the Weikert started guest of honor his business venat the Founder’s Weikert ture in 1938 after Day Celebration selling hat liners at General Films, 645 made of Pliofilm. S. High St., Covington, He devised the idea when employees of the for the liners after wantbusiness celebrate the ing an item that helped life of the businessman protect the inside of hats — all 100 years of it. General Films was to protect them from founded by Weikert in the pomade men used in 1938 and in that time their hair back then. Ever since then thanks to his hard work, Weikert has never looked dedication, attention to detail and devotion back, eventually building the company is now the a machine that would industry’s leading suppli- produce the the hat cover of industrial and food ers. Then, on Dec. 28, packaging solutions. 1938, he made his first This is why officials at General Films decided to sale of 100 covers to a show their appreciation shop in Dayton for $6. “That was the greatest for Weikert at the business he started during thing that ever happened a special Founder’s Day in my life up until that event, which coincides time,” he said in a recent interview. “It just mushwith his 100th birthday. “The event will also roomed. It went fast.” Since the time of hat celebrate the company’s long-standing history, liners Weikert’s business Roy’s commitment to has grown and changed, the company and how far and in the 1960s eventhe company has grown tually began producing from the beginning,” plastic film for food. said Lesley Waldsmith, Since then Weikert has public relations. “Today, never looked back. Today, Tim Weikert, the company serves as a wide range of industries Roy’s nephew, operates with custom extruded the company as CEO. Staff Writer wsanders@civitasmedia.com
Mike Ullery | Staff Photo
Gov. John R. Kasich, right, listens as Hartzell project engineer Madan Baral speaks to guests at Hartzell Air Movement Corporation in Piqua on Monday. Kasich was in Piqua regarding the launch of a second round of funds for the Incumbent Workforce Training Voucher Program.
Sharon Semanie
For the Daily Call pdceditorial@civitasmedia.com
PIQUA — Madan Baral, a senior project engineer at Hartzell Air Movement, has the ability to create three-dimensional models of large fans without a blueprint thanks to computer training he and his department colleagues received this year as part of the Ohio Incumbent Workforce Training Voucher Program
launched in January. Baral was among several speakers who shared the podium with Governor John R. Kasich on Monday afternoon in the 50,000-square-foot high bay area at Hartzell. The purpose of the get-together was to laud the success of the training voucher program, which enables businesses to upgrade the skills of their existing workforce. Hartzell Air Movement is one of more than 450 companies — including four
in Miami County — that collectively applied for $20 million in training vouchers during the program’s first round. Other county employers who benefited include the Clopay Building Products Co. Inc.; Hartzell Industries Inc.; Industry Products Inc. and P&R Specialty Inc. Addressing nearly three dozen local businessmen, educators, city officials and State Representative See KASICH | Page 8
Commission adopts two resolutions; hears from public
Susan Hartley
Executive Editor shartley@civitasmedia.com
PIQUA —With a short business agenda, Piqua City Commission on Tuesday adopted two resolutions, and heard the second reading on an ordinance dealing with
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amending the city’s code to establish infrastructure requirements for subdivision improvements. Resident Jim Cruse addressed commissioners on the subdivision improvements, asking that before adopting the the ordinance after the third reading that city officials take a look at adding requirements dealing with the effects of improvements on area agricultural field drainage. City planner Chris Schmiesing agreed that his department would do some research prior to the next meeting. Schmiesing also told commission that the additions to the ordinance would include requirements for specific improvements be in place — such as roadways and utilities — for the end-user. This would ensure, Schmiesing said, that
“we don’t end up with a partially completed property and then the city be responsible for completion.” Commission also agreed Tuesday to accept a donation of the property at 102 S. Main St., which will become part of the city’s riverfront redevelopment program. Schmiesing said that the city had already conducted the Phase 1 environmental study on the property and that phase 2 — the brownfield study — was next to take place. Earlier this year, the city received a grant to complete brownfield studies on abandoned or neglected buildings to determine the fate of the specific property. Also Tuesday, commission adopted a resolution authorizing Huff to enter into an agreement with the LPA Federal Local-Let Project with
the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) for the Safe Routes to School non-infrastructure program. The city will receive $37,000 from ODOT to put toward programs and materials to educate the public — specifically parents and students — on opportunities for walking and biking to school. The city has already identified infrastructure opportunities, including a bike path to be built along Indian Trail at the high school. During public comments, resident Frank Barhorst addressed commission concerning a property located across from his home and adjacent to St. Boniface School, which now houses a pre-school. Barhorst said the condition of the property and the actions of those now residing in the home were a concern, especially since
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St. Boniface now had “little tykes” that hear the vulgar language and are subjected to the apparent drug use by residents of the home, which has boarded up windows “on all sides,” he said. Barhorst also said he and another couple neighbors had looked into purchasing the property, with hopes of selling to the city for demolition. But, he said, the property was eventually sold to a “slum lord,” who is not from this area. Barhorst said the new owners paid cash for the property. “It’s really sad,” he said, noting he was concerned about the preschoolers in the area. Mayor Lucy Fess said she had been contacted numerous times about the property. “You’re not the first who have complained about the property,” she told Barhorst.
Barhorst also suggested that the city was not doing all they could to condemn the house or prosecute the residents for drug use, because St. Boniface was a private school, not a public school. “I believe we’re looking the other way,” Barhorst said, “because it’s a private school.” Fess said she believed this an untrue statement. “I disagree with you that we’re looking the other way,” she said. Stacy Wall, city law director also commented on the situation with the property, noting that she had attempted to contact the bank responsible for the cash sale, but that “they are not cooperative. There are similar properties along South Main Street. They just want to unload them. They dispose of them to whatever slum lord comes along.”