FOREST HILLS
JOURNAL
Your Community Press newspaper serving Anderson Township, California, Mount Washington, Newtown
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2013
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Forest Hills tax hike plan advances By Forrest Sellers
fsellers@communitypress.com
ANDERSON TWP — Voters in the Forest Hills Local School District may soon be asked to approve higher taxes for facility renovations that will cost between $43 million and $47 million. The Forest Hills Board of Education recently approved sending a resolution to the Hamilton County auditor to determine millage amounts to raise $43 million, $45 million and $47 million in new taxes for building improvements. This approval, which was made during a Jan. 4 budget hearing and organizational meeting, follows a facility pres-
entation by Superintendent Dallas Jackson during the December school board meeting. The school board has not yet made an official determination, but Board President Forest Heis said “a bond issue is being strongly considered” and sending a resolution to the auditor is typically an initial part of the process for putting a bond issue on the ballot. During the December school board meeting, Jackson presented a plan to renovate all of the district’s nine school buildings. The plan would involve renovating both Anderson and Turpin high schools, Nagel Middle School and most of the elementary schools with the exception
of Wilson Elementary School, which would be rebuilt. Jackson said the estimated cost would be about $45 million. Heis However, Treasurer Rick Toepfer said “the scope” of the project had not been finalized. He said uncertainties regarding interest rates and construction costs remain. As part of the plan proposed by Jackson the nine-building configuration of six elementary schools, one middle school and two high schools would remain the same and grade levels in
each building would not change. Heis said cost is a significant reason why renovation is being considered as opposed to construction of new buildings. “The major reason is the expense involved,” he said. “We have, except for Wilson, solid buildings.” But the plan is not without opposition. Anderson Township resident Wayne Rod, who has been a member of previous facilities committees in the district, said the district’s current facility renovation proposal is nothing more than an expensive maintenance plan. He said the district’s facility improvement plan should stretch beyond curb appeal and
into a comprehensive overhaul of the district’s buildings. “Forty-five million (dollars) is a lot of money to build one school and renovate the others,” he said. When asked if consolidating the buildings was a possible consideration, Heis said, “the plan is to maintain our current configuration.” Toepfer said millage amounts from the Hamilton County auditor would likely be provided within the next two weeks. These millage amounts could be discussed during the school board’s next meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 28, at the administration building, 7550 Forest Road.
Track starting demolition
Pinnacle Entertainment plans to demolish the current grandstand at River Downs and build a new one farther west, closer to Riverbend Music Center. The racetrack also will be repositioned. LISA WAKELAND/THE COMMUNITY PRES
River Downs plans overhaul as a racino Gannett News Services
ANDERSON TWP. — Construction crews soon will start demolition at River Downs as the owner pursues remaking the 83year-old racetrack into a $209 million racino to open in 2014. Track owners also are exploring the possibility of moving the 2013 racing season to another facility – perhaps Beulah Park in Columbus – as they overhaul the Kellogg Avenue venue, state officials said. "It's difficult to race horses when you're tearing things down," said Robert Schmitz, chairman of the Ohio State Racing Commission. He said River
Downs is required to conduct races and obtain a racing permit to win state approval for the video lottery terminals it plans to install in the future racino. River Downs' application to operate 1,600 video slot machines is being reviewed by the Ohio Lottery Commission. Approval is expected. Once completed, River Downs will double in size into a 208,000-square-foot complex. It will include nearly 64,000 square feet for gambling, 100,000 square feet for offices and 27,000 square feet for restaurant space. The gambling area will be built above a 280-space parking
area. Total parking will grow to 2,262 spots. River Downs will keep its 1mile track with turf in the middle on the 122-acre site. Las Vegas-based Pinnacle Entertainment Inc. bought the struggling track in 2011 for $45 million as Ohio moved closer to permitting wider gambling. Pinnacle also owns the Belterra Casino Resort & Spa in Vevay, Ind. Pinnacle officials were not available for comment on Wednesday. The track's 2013 season has yet to be finalized by the Ohio State Racing Commission. Last year, races were held from April 27 to Sept. 3. Schmitz said River Downs may request specific dates at the racing commission's next meeting on Jan. 10. Beulah has no live racing scheduled from May 4 to Nov. 18. The racino at River Downs
FOOD
TRY AGAIN
After the glut of holiday eating, a steaming hot bowl of soup is just perfect for supper. Full story, B3
Hamilton County officials said they'll try again this year to add a fee to fund a new emergency radio system. Full story, A2
will be another new gambling venue in the region. Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati, a fullfledged casino, is set to open March 4 Downtown. Anderson Township officials have expressed support for the new racino, noting it will preserve the track's racing tradition. "The final design is pretty impressive ... and it's all to be driven by horse racing, not slot machine gambling," trustee Russ Jackson told the Community Press in December. Nonetheless, Pinnacle acknowledges that it is operating River Downs at a loss and would continue to do so without video slots. The track generated a $2.9 million operating loss on $10.3 million in revenues in 2011. A report commissioned by Gov. John Kasich's office forecast River Downs could generate more than $120 million in
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slot revenue alone once it is fully operational. Scioto Downs in Columbus already has expanded into a racino, which opened for business in June. Other Ohio tracks, including Lebanon Raceway, are exploring expansion to include video slots. Last month, Miami Valley Gaming & Racing announced it has closed on its $60 million acquisition of Lebanon Raceway and is moving ahead with plans to add video slots. Miami Valley is a joint venture of Buffalo-based Delaware North Cos. Gaming & Entertainment and Louisville-based Churchill Downs Inc. The track will be moved to a new facility to be built near Exit 29 off Interstate 75 in Turtlecreek Township. That racino also is slated to open in early 2014. Vol. 52 No. 40 © 2013 The Community Press ALL RIGHTS RESERVED