February 6, 2011
Mayoral, council seats up in 2011 By LIN RICE ThisWeek Community Newspapers
It’s an off-year for state and federal elections, but Union County residents can expect to see political signs cropping up. Numerous city, township and county seats on boards and councils will be contested. Union County won’t have a primary election this spring, but will have a spe-
cial election, according to Union County Board of Elections (BOE) director Bill McCarty. McCarty said that because positions like Marysville city council seats are nonpartisan, Union County would only have held a primary election if someone had challenged municipal court judge James Grigsby for his seat. Grigsby has filed to run for another six-year term, and no one else filed before the Feb. 2 deadline, according to McCarty.
Voters will turn out for a special election on May 3, however, to decide on a proposed 2.9-mill, five-year fire/emergency services levy for Jerome Township. (An accompanying story in this edition describes that levy request in greater detail.) In Marysville, mayor Chris Schmenk’s seat will be up. Schmenk told ThisWeek that she has not made a decision on seeking another four-year term, but that she plans to decide by April.
Each seat on Marysville’s council representing one of the city’s wards will be up for election this year. Current council members with expiring four-year terms include Tracy Richardson (Ward One), Daniel Fogt (Ward Two), Deborah Groat (Ward Three), and Nevin Taylor (Ward Four). Richardson and Groat both told ThisWeek that they are planning to run for re-election; Taylor and Fogt have not announced their intentions.
Union County will also see a new face in the position of county auditor, when Andrea Weaver begins a four-year term succeeding auditor Mary Snider. Weaver, who is currently the real estate administrator for the county auditor’s office, will take over as the head of that department on March 14. The following village, township and See 2011 ELECTIONS, page A2
Community conversation
Froment looks back on her time as Marysville administrator By LIN RICE ThisWeek Community Newspapers
Editor’s note: Marysville city administrator Jillian Froment sat down with ThisWeek Marysville reporter Lin Rice as she prepares to accept a new job with the state of Ohio. The following are highlights from the conversation.
By Chris Parker/ThisWeek
Union County Humane Society executive director Steffen Baldwin walks Malph, a male border collie who seem unsure about the icy coating on the snow, around the building, at 16540 County Home Road, on Thursday, Feb.3. The humane society is preparing for a fundraiser gala, Top Hat & Tails, scheduled for Saturday, March 19.
Humane Society prepares for annual gala and stand-out volunteers, and we will be presenting our 2010 annual report and an update on our expansion program. The Union County Humane So“The funds raised that evening are strictly for ciety is inviting the public out for our ongoing operating expenses.” a night of awards and fundraisThe majority of those funds will be raised ing next month, but executive through several auctions. Baldwin said director Steffen Baldwin said UCHS is currently lookthe nonprofit will need a little ing for donated items to help from volunteers first. add to the list. On March 19, UCHS will “We conduct a large host its seventh annual Top online auction two Hat and Tails fundraising weeks up to the gala gala in Marysville. Prothat is open to the pubceeds raised during the lic, regardless of their evening go toward the attendance at the gala,” agency’s operational he said, “and we have a costs, Baldwin said. silent auction at the event it“At our gala we will self. We are currently looking go over our successes of for donated items to auction off. last year,” he said. “We always play a touchAll donations are welcome, small ing slideshow full of pictures and happy mem- to large.” ories, presenting awards to community leaders While auction details are still being worked
By LIN RICE
ThisWeek Community Newspapers
on, Baldwin said one item will be a used car donated by Honda Marysville. Baldwin said the gala is important to UCHS’s fundraising efforts this year, as it looks for additional money to fund the building’s expansion project. The planned expansion will add 3,000 square feet to the UCHS facility on County Home Road, along with extra kennel space and other amenities. While money is being raised toward the building project, Baldwin said that UCHS still receives more than 40 percent of its annual operating budget through donations. UCHS’s seventh annual Top Hat and Tails fundraising gala will take place Saturday, March 19, beginning with a social hour at 6 p.m. It will be held at the National Guard Armory facility behind the Union County YMCA. Attire for the evening is business casual, with Der Dutchman catering the event with an allyou-can-eat family style buffet. More information on the gala and silent auction can be found online at www.uchspets.org.
County’s first Habitat home dedicated By LIN RICE ThisWeek Community Newspapers
After more than three months of hammering nails, running cables and laying pipe, Habitat for Humanity of Union County volunteers have finished work on the county’s first Habitat home. Volunteers and board members hosted a dedication service and open house at the home, at 117 First St. in Marysville, on Jan. 30. HHUC president Jim Cesa said volunteers deserve thanks for all the work they put into the
The board of Habitat for Humanity of Union County held a dedication service and open house on Jan. 30 for the first Habitat Home in Union County. Attending the event were: Lisa Little, Marilyn Hassinger, home owner Jessica Johnson and her daughter, Kylie, Pastor Barry Scott, Pastor Steve Waltman, Sandy Garey, Bill Laurenson, Jim Cesa, Donna Wilson and Debbie George. An information meeting for the next Habitat build is scheduled at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 12, at See HABITAT, page A5 Memorial Hospital cafeteria. For more information. please call (614) 306-3225.
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See FROMENT, page A3
$658K from United Way to benefit local agencies By LIN RICE ThisWeek Community Newspapers
More than $658,000 will be infused into Union County’s public programs and nonprofit initiatives this year as a result of the United Way of Union County’s annual fundraising campaign. Coming fast off the 2010 fundraising drive, its most successful ever, the United Way of Union County will supply more than $658,000 to 42 programs of local agencies within the county, according to campaign and public relations director Dave Bezusko. Those agencies include six area food pantries, four senior centers, two shelters, a program for rent and utility assistance, prescription medication, hospice care, cancer support, youth activities and others, he said. “I feel very confident in the decisions our group made this year,” said Mike Rose, volunteer chair of the United Way’s community investment committee. “I always knew our agencies rely on United Way funding. But once I got in the trenches and visited the agencies, I was able to see just how vital a role that United Way plays in this community.” Of the 26 programs receiving funds from last year’s campaign, $251,792 (38 percent of allocations) will go to the Emergency and Basic Needs Impact Area, according to Bezusko. This includes the United Way’s top-funded program, the Salvation Army’s HomeSee UNITED WAY, page A4
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ThisWeek: Has working in Marysville been different than your experience in other public positions? Froment: I’ve been in the public sector for about 14 years now, but this was the first time that I had worked in local government. I had managed large organizations and dealt with budget issues before, but I’d never worked with public services in this way — working with police and fire Jillian Froment services, dealing with utilities. It was interesting — one of the things that appealed to me (when signing on as city administrator) was understanding some of those issues. ThisWeek : Marysville’s city administrator po-
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