Piqua government adopts fresh ideas BY BETHANY J. ROYER Ohio Community Media broyer@dailycall.com
report any problems or issues to the city. Some adoptions have included the roses at PIQUA — The end of McCulloch Gazebo and Mote 2011 saw big changes as forPark sign, the Piqua mer Fishers, Ind., Hydraulic Canal and city manager Gary Roadside Park. Huff took helm of The city’s firstthe vacated Piqua ever Government position in October. Academy began in With that change April with more than came fresh ideas two dozen particithat incorporated pants who got a numerous communibehind-the-scenes ty initiatives such as look at a number of HUFF INVOLVE, Adopt-acity operations, such Program and the as the police and fire departGovernment Academy. ments, utilities and water, INVOLVE (Interested and more. Neighbors Volunteering In early 2012, a random Valuable Energy) was 1,200 residents took part in launched in December. It the National Citizen Survey assists residents with small that asked such questions as no-cost property mainterating the city as a place to nance issues they are unable live, ease of travel, safety to handle themselves. Such and volunteer activities. activities may include shovWhile programs made the eling snow or even house news, so too did construction, washing. with the largest being the The Adopt-a-Program is main artery between the for individuals, groups or east and west side of the city organizations to provide to be closed for seven months maintenance and stewardas part of the East Ash ship to various public areas, Street Reconstruction such as trails, parks and Project. parking lots. This is just one of several More than just an adoptof the $28 million in local a-park program, adoption construction projects that can be of almost anything in include construction of a new the community with participower systems building, pants encouraged to take demolition of the former care of their adopted area at Piqua Memorial Hospital least once a year and to site for a school campus and
OCM PHOTO/MIKE ULLERY
Piqua Government Academy participant Mary Francis Rodriguez mans a fire hose under the watchful eye of firefighter Cledus Hawk during a recent academy class at the fire department. the seeking of a grant for demolition of the old power plant, the latter of which will be redesigned into a waterfront park. Grant dollars have been a tremendous asset to the city of Piqua, having provided funds for numerous projects. City commission meetings are held every first and third Tuesday of the month at 7:30 p.m. in the commission chamber on the second floor of the Municipal Government Complex. For those seeking a more informal opportunity to speak with their city leaders, a commission work session is offered once a month in the commission chambers starting at 7:30 p.m. The public is invited and encouraged to attend. Meeting agendas are available both online at www.piquaoh.org and at the
government complex. City manager: Gary Huff ghuff@piquaoh.org 778-2051 Commission members: Ward 1 commissioner John Martin ward1comm@piquaoh.org 773-2778 Ward 2 commissioner Bill Vogt ward2comm@piquaoh.org 773-8217 Ward 3 commissioner Joseph Wilson ward3comm@piquaoh.org 778-0390 Ward 4 commissioner Judy Terry ward4comm@piquaoh.org 773-3189 Ward 5 commission and city mayor Lucy Fess ward5comm@piquaoh.org 615-9251 (work) 773-7929 (home)
access by them and also genealogists. • During the summer the library relies heavily on its “Triple T” Teen Volunteers (Teen-Tween Team). They offer assistance with summer reading club activities, assist in changing library signage and are all-around wonderful students in which to work. They help organize
and plan various summer activities with the library director. • The library’s Preschool StoryTime is manned by former Darke County Teacher of the Year, Chris Palsgrove. She is a wonderful resource for parents of preschoolers and her StoryHour on Tuesdays at 11 a.m. include a wide range of activities and stories.
Library ticipated. Library employee Stacie Layman, former on The Great Depression director, Wanda Costello, through World War II library volunteer Sue Memories. In November Vickroy, Truman Bashore 2010, the library received and Cynthia Vogel are 30-plus handwritten and among many individuals typed oral histories of this who have worked on this time period including picproject. tures of friends and family. • The library is working People from Darke and with the Harris Creek Miami counties and also the Cemetery Trustees to digicommunity of Bradford par- tize their records for easier
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30 • May 2012 Community Guide • Troy Daily News and Piqua Daily Call