June 16, 2011
Ad hoc group will report to council July 11 Reynoldsburg auditor: Income tax increase, employee layoffs may be suggested By DAVID S. OWEN ThisWeek Community Newspapers An ad hoc committee named to examine Reynoldsburg’s budget and find ways to cut expenses and increase revenue will make its recommendations to city council on July 11. The five-member group, appointed on May 23, held its first meeting on June
7, with others planned on a weekly basis. City auditor Richard Harris has already suggested that one possible recommendation to come from the group could be for an income tax increase. He also raised the specter of city employee layoffs. Ad hoc committee members Brad Sprague, Dave Reidel, Linda Smith, Bill Shorthill and Larry McGrath were ap-
pointed by city council on May 23 to review budget issues facing the city in light of projections that Reynoldsburg could lose $1.75 million from its tax budget over the next four years, based on calculations regarding the state budget. The intent is for the committee to become familiar with Reynoldsburg’s budget in the coming weeks and look at op-
tions for revenue and spending. Related topics include looking at the city’s income and property tax rates and the fees charged in the parks and recreation department, the building department and mayor’s court. Also being reviewed will be the city’s health insurance costs and employee pay. Harris told city council last month
New water CONCERTED EFFORT lines slated for Huber subdivision
Resident won’t let backyard chicken issue fly away
Reynoldsburg City Council approved emergency legislation Monday, June 13, authorizing Watcon Engineering to prepare bid documents to replace several water lines in the Huber subdivision. City safety director Jim Miller said advertisements for the $58,078 project are expected to go out near the end of this year. The money has been budgeted for this year and will come out of the city’s water fund, he said. The project is a part of the city’s capital improvement plan. Miller said while the design and field work are under way, actual construction will not begin until spring of 2012. He said the project will involve replacing sixinch cast iron lines, installed in 1958 and 1959, with C-900 plastic water line at six different sites in the Huber Subdivision.
By DAVID S. OWEN ThisWeek Community Newspapers
See WATER LINES, page A2
Tomato Festival
Organizers consider charging admission By DAVID S. OWEN ThisWeek Community Newspapers
See TOMATO FESTIVAL, page A2
By Paul Vernon/ThisWeek
Reynoldsburg Community Band French horn players (from left) Jim Doherty, Christine Hersh, Kathy Kelley and Emily Keeler perform during the band’s first summer concert of the year at the Reynoldsburg Senior Center on June 13.
Richard Boone returned to city council Monday to ask that members further examine the issue of allowing chickens to be raised in Reynoldsburg backyards. In pleading his case, he objected to statements made during last week’s safety committee meeting, where the issue apparently laid an egg. Committee chair Mel Clemens and member Fred Deskins, both of whom said they were reared in rural areas and in families that kept barnyard animals, said raising chickens in city backyards is not something that should be permitted. They voiced concerns about whether allowing chickens in the city could draw predators such as raccoons, vicious dogs or coyotes into neighborhoods, whether the fowl would become a health hazard and whether raising city chickens would jeopardize property values. As a result, the issue was dropped and not considered for further discussion. Boone wants to have it placed back on the safety committee’s agenda for further analysis and consideration. “Backyard chickens are a part of the future of this planet, not just a part of its past,” he said at council’s June 13 meeting. See CHICKENS, page A4
Fourth of July parade to start two hours later By DAVID S. OWEN ThisWeek Community Newspapers The city’s Independence Day celebration will start on Saturday, July 2, with the annual parade down East Main Street, followed by fireworks at Civic Park that night. Festivities will begin at 4 p.m. with the parade, sponsored by the Reynoldsburg Community As-
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See AD HOC GROUP, page A4
City council
By DAVID S. OWEN ThisWeek Community Newspapers
No final decision has been made, but organizers of Reynoldsburg’s annual Tomato Festival say they may have to start charging admission to the event. “We’re leaning towards doing it because we need sustainability as far as funding,” said Mary Hudson, president of Reynoldsburg Tomato Festivals Inc. “We don’t charge for parking. They used to charge $7 for parking but we haven’t in the past few years.” Admission fees under consideration are $1 or $3 for adults, with children age 12 and younger admitted free, she said.
that there may be a need to transfer $2 million from the city’s capital improvement plan (CIP) fund to its general fund in order to cover the city’s dayto-day operating expenditures at the end of 2012. That is another topic the committee will explore.
sociation. The route will run from Rosehill Road to Main Street, then east to Haft Drive, then onto Davidson Drive and into Huber Park. Reynoldsburg Parks and Recreation Department director Jason Shamblin said police officers will begin to reroute traffic at around 3:30 p.m. Rosehill Road south of Main Street and down to East Livingston Avenue will be closed at 2:45 p.m. so parade staging can be held there.
Cheryl is one of many cats up for adoption at the Cat Welfare Association. On Tuesday, June 21, the association will hold its Summer Solstice Adoption Extravaganza, which will feature food and special adoption rates. For information on adopting Cheryl or any of the cats, visit catwelfareohio.com. Watch a video of Cheryl at ThisWeekNews.com.
Shamblin said all parked vehicles should be removed from that section of Rosehill Road prior to 2:45 p.m. Main Street will be closed between Brice Road and Davidson Drive at 3:45 p.m. RCA vice president Mary Hudson said the theme of this year’s parade is “Reynoldsburg See FOURTH OF JULY PARADE, page A2
Arts, eats and fun in central Ohio
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