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Volume 29 Number 3
www.thebeacon.net
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Standard Mail U.S. Postage Paid Port Clinton, Ohio Permit #80
Plans for waterfront unveiled
FEMA / OHIO DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
City seeking feedback
PHOTOS BY ANGIE ADAIR ZAM
URS Corp. recently revealed its master plan for the city with two options for development of the Waterworks Park area. The proposals both include hotels, residential and retail space and relocation of the Port Clinton Lighthouse. The “icon” of the Port Clinton waterfront would be situated at the end of Adams street which would be extended to the waterfront. Plan A includes less green space and more buildings — 15 in total — that range in use from retail, restaurant and residential to the proposed 25,000-square-foot hotel. Plan B features an outdoor amphitheater, sand volleyball area and an open lawn, as well as a conference center. Other buildings in this plan make room for retail, residential and office space. According to the URS plan, the goals of both
Ironically, the day of an open house explaining new floodplain data, fields around the area were filled with standing water from the combination of melting snow and rain.
See CITY 6A
Officials explain flood maps
Residents gathered Monday to review preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps. The FIRMs provide base flood information, delineate areas subject to significant flood hazards within the county, and offer information public officials may use when permitting development in the floodplain.
OAK HARBOR — Hundreds of Ottawa County residents waited in line Monday at the Riverview Health Care Campus to find out what, if anything, has changed in their property’s flood risk status. There, representatives from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and the Stantec, the contractor that collected the data, were on hand to help residents. “We answer all their questions about flood insurance, what is required and what isn’t,” said ODNR Senior Environmental Specialist Alicia Silverio. Each homeowner with a federally backed mortgage is required to have flood insurance. Silverio said they work to help people through the process and even get their premiums down. Jacquee Rutherford, an East Bayshore Road resident who has to pay the insurance, said in her case, it’s an unnecessary burden. “I pay big bucks,” she said about her premium. “I can’t find a neighbor who can remember a flood.” Rutherford lives along the Sandusky Bay, which is protected from the big lake winds by the Marblehead Peninsu-
la. She said many times, she can’t even get her boat off the ramp because the water isn’t deep enough. “It just doesn’t make sense to me,” she said. The Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps on display Monday are preliminary versions and, according to Silverio, the next step is a 90-day public comment period. The contractor will then review the feedback and address any issues. Once the final maps are completed, communities will get a letter of final determination and six months later, the maps will take effect. The preliminary floodplain maps are available for review from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. weekdays at the Ottawa Regional Planning Commission, 315 Madison St., Room 107, Port Clinton. All appeals should be reviewed and submitted through community or county officials. Those officials will then submit the comments and appeals to Mike Green, Stantec Consulting Services, 1409 N. Frobes Road, Lexington, KY 40511; or mike.greene@stantec. com. For information, visit www.fema. gov, www.floodsmart.gov and hazards. fema.gov
Masterplan A
Masterplan B
View multiple renderings of each plan online at www.thebeacon.net
By JOHN SCHAFFNER
Tell Tales
Back from Florida with batteries recharged I just got back from a beautiful week visiting friends in Florida. I needed to get my batteries re-charged. Did anyone miss me? At least I get to go to the Magruder Hospital Charity Ball this Saturday since they had to postpone thanks to last Friday’s snow storm. nnn
John Podgurski is our “Find Wylie” winner this week. He was selected from 80 entries who found our friendly fish in the ad for East End Laundromat on page 7B in last week’s Beacon. John wins a $20
gift card from Friendship Food Stores. We’ll be hiding Wylie again next week. If you find him, just drop off an entry form at our office in the Beacon Place Business Center, or hit the Find Wylie icon at www.thebeacon. net. nnn
Monday, March 7, is the Port Clinton Community Blood Drive at the Moose Lodge on West Lakeshore Drive. As you know, there is a severe need for blood donations in Northwest Ohio, so please give if you can.
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Playmakers’ next production, the musical “Little Shop of Horrors” is in need of some
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It must be Mardi Gras time
INSIDE RECORDS A2 Various Sizes Available
next week. Common Grounds in the Sutton Center is holding a Paczki Eating Contest next Tuesday — Fat Tuesday — starting at 9 a.m. You have to register by 8:30 a.m. that morning. The entry fee is $5 and the grand prize is $25 cash plus gift certificates. The rules are simple, the contestant that eats the most paczkis in 10 minutes wins.
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See TELL TALES 2A
AROUND OTTAWA COUNTY A5
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PHOTO BY ANGIE ADAIR ZAM
JOYFUL CONNECTIONS PROGRAM GETS $1K BOOST FROM BAR ASSOC. Leaders of Joyful Connections accepted a $1,000 donation Monday from the Ottawa County Bar Association. Pictured are board member Jeff Chio; vice chairman Ron Nisch; Executive Director Karen Demangos; board member Stephanie Kowal; Kevin Peters, president of Ottawa County Bar Association and previous board member; Sharon Hess, board member; Pam Courtney, board member; and Corrine Creeden, chairwoman of the board. “Its kind of overwhelming,” said Creeden after accepting the check. “What do you say except thank you?” Demangos couldn’t hold back her excitement. “This helps us out trememdously,” she said.
SCHOOLS A5
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BUSINESS B3
CATAWBA MINI STORAGE YOUR EXTRA ROOM!
Hours: 8:00 - 4:30 Monday - Friday • Heated Boat Storage • Mini-Storage • Business Units •
4789 E. Muggy Rd. Port Clinton, OH
www.catawbaministorage.com
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CLASSIFIED B4