Forest hills journal 021914 by Enquirer Media

FOREST HILLS

JOURNAL

Your Community Press newspaper serving Anderson Township, California, Mount Washington, Newtown

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2014

75¢

BECAUSE COMMUNITY MATTERS

Forest Hills may ask for November tax hike By Forrest Sellers

fsellers@communitypress.com

ANDERSON TWP — . The Forest Hills Local School District Board of Education is considering placing a tax-hike issue on the November ballot. During a special Feb. 8 meeting, the school board discussed placing a combination maintenance and bond tax-hike issue before voters later this year. “I’d like to do something in November,” said board President Jim Frooman. “I don’t want to push it to May (2015).” Superintendent Dallas Jackson said the tax increase request for bonds would be “one time” request for a specific amount of money targeted for specific facility renovations or projects. He said the maintenance portion of the tax increase would be for ongoing maintenance of the facilities with a specific amount of funding going toward this

each year. The school board would need to make a final determination whether to place the tax-hike issue on the November ballot by August. All five board members are committed to addressing facility needs, said Frooman. A building analysis was conducted by the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission in the fall. The Ohio Facilities Construction Commission conducts facility evaluations and provides funding for school construction. The 2013 study indicated all six elementary schools in the district exceed a two-thirds guideline by varying degrees indicating a need for replacement or renovations. This two-thirds guideline involves assessing buildings in a variety of categories to determine whether to replace or renovate the buildings. The high schools were slightly below the two-thirds thresh-

old, but various needs were still identified in the buildings. The study also recommended replacement of Wilson Elementary School. Frooman A similar study of the buildings was conducted in 2004. That particular study indicated three of the elementary schools, Maddux, Summit and Wilson, needed to be rebuilt. To address these facility needs, which include renovations to improve safety and security as well as learning and accessibility, the district placed a 1.86-mill bond tax-hike issue on the ballot in May. Voters defeated the bond tax-hike issue. Treasurer Rick Toepfer said interest from the district’s operating fund has been used for permanent improvements for 20 years. He said this interest total has been between $22 mil-

lion to $23 million. However, the amount in the permanent improvement fund has declined in recent years. “At this point Heis we have a permanent improvement fund that doesn’t have dollars for what we need to do,” said Toepfer. The district has had several facility committees that provided recommendations to the school board. The most recent one was a steering committee organized by Jackson. The school board proceeded with the 2013 bond tax-hike issue based on the recommendations of this committee. Board members said this time they want to be more actively involved in discussions about the facilities, regardless of whether another committee is formed. Frooman said discussions

need to be at the “board level,” adding that transparency is essential. “In the past there has been a committee that gives us options,” said board member Forest Heis. “We haven’t been involved in the process.” He said it is important that not only the board support a given plan, but the community as well. “We have to commit time and effort to do it this way,” said board Vice President Julie Bissinger. “We need to have thorough, heartfelt discussions.” The board also addressed possible consolidation of the buildings. The majority of the board was opposed to merging Anderson and Turpin high schools. “Our community does not support consolidation at a high school level,” said Frooman. See TAX, Page A2

Clough Pike delays expected New turn lanes and sidewalks to be built

By Lisa Wakeland lwakeland@communitypress.com

ANDERSON TWP. — Drivers headed through a section of Clough Pike here can soon expect delays. Lane closures will be in effect on Clough Pike between Newtown Road and the intersection of Berkshire Road and Goldengate Drive through the end of July as construction crews start a major revitalization project on Clough Pike, which traverses Anderson Township from state Route 32 into Clermont County. The $2.62 million project includes lighting and storm water improvements, defining driveways, new sidewalks and road resurfacing in the Clough Pike business district from Newtown Road to just before Bridges Road. It also includes replacing traffic signals and new left-turn lanes in both directions at Goldengate Drive and Berkshire Road and another left-turn lane at Royalgreen Drive for drivers headed eastbound. Assistant Township Administrator Steve Sievers said much of the pre-construction work, such as utility relocation, was finished in the fall, and it was the contractor who decided not to push ahead with construction last year. “The end date hasn’t changed, it’s just a more condensed construction schedule,” he said. “It should be considerably better. They’re still going to be working during the day so there will be an increased presence and possibly multiple crews.” Daryl Meyerrenke, who owns the Anderson Township

Traffic will be affected on part of Clough Pike in Anderson Township as lane closures are in place for a major construction project. It’s expected to begin Feb. 17 and be complete at the end of July. LISA WAKELAND/THE COMMUNITY PRESS

Family Pet Center, was worried about the original construction schedule when it was expected to last about a year, but is more optimistic now. “I think it’s going to be so much better than we all anticipated, and I don’t think it will be much of an issue,” he said. “For these four months (of construction) I’ll swap that for as pretty as it’s going to be.” The critical time, Meyerrenke said, will be around spring break, when part of the

FOOD

HEY HOWARD!

Don’t peek in the pot if you want these dumplings to be fluffy. Full story, B3

Proposed legislation would license auto repair shops. Full story, B4

road will be closed to all traffic, and he’s been letting customers know about the changes. Clough Pike at Bartels Road will be shut down the week of March 31 so crews can install a culvert. A detour will be in place with signs posted. Kathy Schlechter, who lives on Royalgreen Drive, said the area, once construction is complete, will be much more attractive. The lane closures shouldn’t have too much of an effect on

traffic because they are not during rush hours, Schlechter said. She’ll still visit the local businesses, including Jean Paul’s Paradiso where she was picking up pastries and other baked goods, during the construction, but she’s not sure about other potential customers. “I don’t know what it’s going to do to the small businesses, but I hope it doesn’t affect them,” she said. Sievers said they’re working with crews to adjust the lane

News ..........................248-8600 Retail advertising ..............768-8404 Classified advertising .........242-4000 Delivery ........................576-8240 See page A2 for additional information

closure times, currently set for 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., to avoid any conflict with school traffic. Anderson Township received a federal congestion mitigation and air quality grant to help pay for about 80 percent of the revitalization project. With construction costs, right of way acquisition and engineering fees, Sievers said Anderson Township is expected to spend close to $1 million for the Clough Pike revitalization.