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It’s Where You Live! October 23, 2013
Volume 105, No. 249
INSIDE
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Council votes down church rezoning Melanie Yingst
Staff Writer myingst@civitasmedia.com
Police: Nevada school shooter, 12, got gun from home
www.troydailynews.com
TROY — Troy City Council voted down the rezoning ordinance for the former Church of Christian Science to be rezoned to office commercial on Monday. Two council members voted yes to rezone the former church building located at 1509 W. Main St. Both Bobby Phillips and Robin Oda voted “yes” to rezone the
building, although Oda later said she would have voted ‘no’ on the issue. The rezoning ordinance was voted down in its third reading by the majority of the council members. After the council meeting, Oda, who voted first among all present council members, said she inadvertently voted for the rezoning because she thought she was voting in favor of the law and ordinance committee’s recommendation to
not approve the rezoning issue. Phillips said he voted in favor for the rezoning from office residential to office commercial because city of Troy staff members indicated they were in favor of the rezoning of the church building that has been vacant for more than five years. Phillips said the empty church building was “a blight in our city” and said the owner of the building was “short
changed” due to the rezoning of the area several years ago. Phillips said if the church was torn down, the city tax revenue would be affected by becoming an unoccupied lot. Realtor Sandy Webb spoke before the vote, noting the property has dropped its listing price down to $169,000 and “still is trying to get it sold.” Several residents of Westbrook spoke out against the rezoning
issue at previous meetings. Webb said if she felt the property was to cause more harm than good, she wouldn’t suggest a rezoning of the property. “If I thought it would endanger a child’s life, I wouldn’t be standing here,” said Webb, in reference to residents concern of increase in traffic in the neighborhood. “We’re doing anything we can, any buyer. I’d love to get somebody See COUNCIL | 2
TB test shortage affecting Miami Valley
SPARKS, Nev. (AP) — The 12-year-old student who opened fire on a Nevada middle school campus, wounding two classmates and killing a teacher before he turned the gun on himself, got the weapon from his home, authorities said Tuesday. See Page 11
Colin Foster
Staff Writer colinfoster@civitasmedia.com
Leaving the driving to a computer has big benefits WASHINGTON (AP) — In some ways, computers make ideal drivers: They don’t drink and then climb behind the wheel. See Page 11
INSIDE TODAY Calendar..........................3 Crossword .......................7 Deaths .............................5 Clara M. Wells Marsha G. Williams Thomas P. Brown Laurence B. Amick Gene R. Joins Lois J. Sharp Elizabeth A. Cole George Atkins Robert M. Burns Marjorie A. Burns William M. Hebb Maynard D. Alspaugh Opinion ............................4 Sports............................13
OUTLOOK Today Chance of snow flurries High: 46 Low: 32 Thursday Slight chance of rain High:44 Low: 28 Home Delivery: 335-5634 Classified Advertising: (877) 844-8385
Connor Ross, left, and Dustin Smith make Cheese Coney dogs at Skyline Chili Tuesday in Troy.
Anthony Weber | Troy Daily News
Troy Skyline hospitality test site Melody Vallieu
Staff Writer mvallieu@civitasmedia.com
Even when you’re the best in the business — there are still places to do even better. So goes it for Troy’s Skyline Chili store, which already boasts a wall full of awards. The Troy location, located at 1775 W. Main St., now has become a beta test site for a new hospitality program — Experience Engineering — under development by Skyline Chili Inc., according to general manager Mike Fariello. Fariello said the program — which has been in place in Troy for several months now — is a testament to the location’s ongoing success. “We were chosen because of our awardwinning hospitality and our customer satisfaction scores are tops in the company, so what better place to test out a program like this,” Fariello said. “The company figured with the Troy store being the
ambassador of hospitality, why not try out some of these elements in our store.” Fariello said he and the rest of the Troy team are working together with the Skyline Chili team to fine tune the program for implementation in other Skyline Chili restaurants in the future. E x p e r i e n c e
Engineering is geared toward both the loyal and first-time customers to Skyline Chili. Fariello said part of the program’s focus is to identify first-time customers and make their visit to a Skyline Chili location a great experience. He said there are a few parts of the program that remain under development that he isn’t able
to discuss at this time, but that customers again will benefit. “We go over the top to welcome first-timers and give them the experience we are known for,” he said. “The program is kind of a work in progress, we’re working on things as it morphs and unfolds,” he said. A second part of the See TEST | 2
To this point, the question on the shortage of tuberculin skin tests, more commonly known as TB tests, has yet to be answered. It has affected states all over the country — and now it’s starting to affect counties in the Miami Valley. “I don’t have an answer for it,” Miami County Health commissioner Chris Cook said. “The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) hasn’t been able to give an answer. There’s nothing on the website for it. I looked the other day and the website just said there was a shortage.” The CDC estimated that the shortage would run through mid-October. Miami County Public Health, which conducts most of the TB tests throughout the area, has not felt the direct effects of the shortage until now. Miami County Public Health is running low on the testing solution, but Cook said they have been trying to order both tubersol and another licensed testing solution known as Aplisolfor for months. “Our supply has lasted us this long, but now we have exhausted it and we can’t get any more from the manufacturers,” he explained. Miami County Public Health does, however, have a very small amount See SHORTAGE | 2
Troy City Schools seek levy renewal Melanie Yingst
Staff Writer myingst@civitasmedia.com
TROY — With more than nine buildings and 87 acres to maintain, the Troy City School District is seeking a renewal of its five-year 1.1-mills capital improvement levy on Nov. 5. The levy is a renewal and will not increase taxes. The renewal levy will be part of the Nov. 5 general election ballot. The levy raises approximately $685,000 per year for the
district. The capital improvement levy funding can only be used for maintenance and capital projects from roofs, painting, parking lot upgrades and any purchase that has a shelflife of more than five years, according to Troy City Schools’ Superintendent Eric Herman. At the Oct. 14 Troy Board of Education meeting, Herman gave several examples of what type of projects the district uses with the capital improvement funds. For example, the bulk of the 2013 capital improvement
projects have been the Troy Junior High School’s Ferguson Drive loop and south lot and Forest Elementary parking lot and playground. The paving projects were completed by Ticon Paving Inc. for $136,922. A partial roof replacement at Concord Elementary School recently cost $245,000. At the board meeting, Herman said “safety first, then the integrity of the buildings” is how the district prioritizes its list of capital improvement projects. The capital improvement levy
was first approved at 2.0-mills in 1984 and has been reduced to the current 1.1-mills over the 29 years. The levy has been approved by voters five times. Herman noted the Van Cleve Sixth Grade building is the district’s oldest building, which will be celebrating its 100th year in 2014. The district’s “youngest building” is the Troy Junior High School which will turn 40 in 2014 as well. For more information about Troy City Schools, visit www. troy.k12.oh.us.
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