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Money needed for police By Larry Limpf News Editor news@presspublications.com
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On a mission
Lawrence Scible, 59, also known as Ras Ible, passed through Millbury in his homemade RV. Ible, who did 15 years on a marijuana charge in West Virginia began his journey in Spokane, Washington and plans to take his protest of marijuana laws to Washington, D.C. Bottom left, employees of The Bryer Company, St. Rt. 51; Rob Poulson, Bill Poulson, Nick Timmons and Jeremiah Cook step out to see the rickshaw. (Press photos by Ken Grosjean)
70% park, 20% mixed, 10% cultural
Marina District moving forward, again By J. Patrick Eaken Press Staff Writer news@presspublications.com East Toledo residents have heard it all before — a new plan to develop the Marina District is in the works and it’s going to attract new money from hundreds of miles. For decades, requests for proposals have been issued and developers have come and gone. However, those same residents are saying this time it may be for real. Why? Because, residents say, the Metroparks of the Toledo Area are the ones laying the groundwork and the ProMedica health care system is a major player. For once, two local players are involved, and at a public meeting Wednesday, East Toledo residents overwhelmingly approved of moving ahead with the plan, but added a few suggestions of their own. Wednesday night, over 75 guests attended a second open house at the East Toledo Family Center, and what they got was a “Framework Plan” which gives insight into how the Metroparks and other developers will take on the task of turning the entire 127-acre Marina District into a quality piece.
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We are very aware that this represents something that actually must get done.
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Officials in the Village of Oak Harbor are noting the vital role the police department has in the Ottawa County community as they promote a new 2.87-mill, five-year levy that will be on the November ballot. If passed, the levy would generate about $118,470 annually and its revenues will only be used for the department’s operations, equipment and related needs. In addition to providing 24-hour service for the village, the department also provides 24-hour dispatching services for the Portage Fire District, Mid-County Emergency Medical Service, Rocky Ridge Fire Department and Carroll Township police and fire departments. The police department also answers after-hours emergency calls for the village’s public works and public power departments as well as after-hours emergency calls for the Carroll Water and Sewer District and Carroll Township Maintenance Department. Randall Genzman, village administrator, said the department has been offering other services as well, including hosting of a prescription medication drop-off point for all county residents and functioning as a safe place for transactions conducted through e-commerce. The department also receives fire and burglary alarms for local residents and businesses. Levy revenue may also be used for patrol vehicles, updates to the dispatching system, body cameras, portable radios, Taser equipment, firearms, breath alcohol testing equipment and upgrades to the police station. Genzman said some of the department’s equipment is old and needs to be replaced. The levy would cost the owner of a home valued at $100,000 about $100 a year in property taxes. Genzman said the village has implemented more than $731,000 in spending
MKSK consultant Chris Hermann says the newly developed Framework Plan calls for 70 percent parkland, 20 percent mixed use, and 10 percent cultural use, but adds those figures are not firm. MKSK is a Columbus-based planning firm hired by ProMedica to help develop the city’s downtown master plan. Hermann says one of the highlights of the property is the downtown skyline view available to mixed-use, residential and office development and he says that view should be incorporated into the develop-
ment of the property. “We are very aware that this represents something that actually must get done. There’s been a lot of discussion about what the future of this is going to be. We’ve heard it loud and clear,” Hermann said. “Whatever happens, it has to be something that reflects East Toledo. This is actually a real plan. The Metroparks is excited about doing this. This is an area they want to put a lot of investment in because this is a great opportunity for their program, and we think that development could actually happen on Main Street.” The first step was to get 70 acres of land back into local control, said Hermann. That sale is now complete. ProMedica has purchased the 70 acres from Chinese firm Dashing Pacific Ltd., and the next step is to sell much of that land, which is adjacent to the Maumee River, to the Metroparks of the Toledo Area for development of a park. The plan not only calls for a Metropark along the riverfront, with Riverside Drive as it’s “spine,” it calls for small retail development and restaurants along Main Street, near where the old Sports Arena used to sit, Continued on page 2