June 15, 2011
City to focus on subdivision streets By GARY BUDZAK ThisWeek Community Newspapers Hilliard’s streets have decreased in quality over the past two years, according to a presentation given at the Hilliard City Council meeting on June 13. Larry Lester, who is in charge of the city’s street maintenance program, said
the city uses a pavement condition index (PCI), on a scale of 0 (total failure) to 100 (excellent). In answer to a question from council president Brett Sciotto, Lester said in 2009, Hilliard’s streets averaged 72 on the PCI. This year, they averaged 68. “Below 70 is not where you really want to be,” said director of public service Clyde
Seidle. “It’s going to continue to go down dramatically in the next few years.” Sciotto asked if the $1 million the city usually budgets for street maintenance was sufficient to maintain their current quality, and Seidle said no. He and Lester said they could determine the amount that would be needed to improve the streets. Council unanimously approved a res-
olution contracting with Strawser Paving Co. Inc., for the 2011 street maintenance and rehabilitation program in the amount of $1,103,000. Seidle said the city took five bids for the 2011 project on May 19, and Strawser was the low bid. Last year, Strawser also worked on the program, which cost $492,251.
“Our focus for this year will be subdivision collector streets,” Lester said. “We have a number of subdivision streets in the city that are within that 12-to-20year service life, so that’s placed us in a situation where over the next three-tofive years, we need to be aggressive in See COUNCIL, page A2
City, police union agree on new 3year contract By GARY BUDZAK ThisWeek Community Newspapers Hilliard and the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Capital City Lodge No. 9 have reached a tentative agreement on a three-year contract, it was revealed at city council’s public safety and legal affairs committee meeting on June 13. “This approval comes as a result of both the union and the management team understanding the constraints the city budget is expected to endure as the state fine-tunes its two-year budget, as well as the current climate facing both unions and other public employees in the state legislature,” said law director Pam Fox. “This agreement addresses the need for the public employees to face the reality of contributing more towards their pensions and for their health care.” Over the three-year term of the contract, the city’s payment of the employees’contribution will be eliminated, and replaced with a corresponding addition to wages, resulting in a zero net gain, Fox said. In addition, the employees would pay an increased amount towards health care, while the city agreed to increase their life insurance policy amount. The agreement also provides more efficient scheduling, Fox said. “Considering the environment, it’s an equitable arrangement for the city and for our safety forces,” said committee chairman Jim Ashenhurst. The collective bargaining agreement between Hilliard and the FOP expired at the end of last year. On June 2, the city administration was notified that the union membership had voted to accept the proposed agreement. Next, city council has to give its
By Eric George/ThisWeek
Founder John Crumley directs the Hilliard Community Band’s first rehearsal June 9 at Hilliard Darby High School.
Community band seeks members, fans By GARY BUDZAK ThisWeek Community Newspapers
The Hilliard Community Band is seeking a few more musicians this summer. “We could always use more percussion players,” said director/ founder John Crumley. “People in all sections we could use some more of. Every community band probably feels that way — they could use some more players.”
See CONTRACT, page A2
had its first rehearsal of the season week in the Darby High School A closer look last band room. They practice from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursdays there until school The Hilliard Community Band is starts back up. Those who’d like to gearing up for its first of its five join only need to show up for a resummer concerts at 7 p.m. hearsal. June 30 at Hilliard Presbyterian “Bring your instrument,” said Church, 3600 Leap Road. Crumley, who founded the band 12 years ago. “We don’t have tryouts There are usually 50 brass, per- for chairs or anything like that, but cussion and woodwind players in the anybody who’s ever played in a high Hilliard Community Band, which school band, we welcome to come
and play.” Musicians don’t have to be from Hilliard to join the group. There are at least three people who hail from Reynoldsburg, and one woman plays in four different community bands. Of course, some used to play for Crumley, who was the band director for Hilliard High School for 39 years. The musicians currently range from age 17 to 80. See COMMUNITY, page A2
Fireworks show sparks Hilliard July 4 festivities By GARY BUDZAK
A closer look
ThisWeek Community Newspapers
By Paul Vernon/ThisWeek
History lesson
Harry Smith, a member of the Northwest Franklin County Historical Society board of directors, talks with Gary Sampson of Waukesha, Wisc., in the tool barn during an open house at the Historical Village in Weaver Park June 12. Sampson and his wife, Joan, were in town to see their daughter, Julie Hart.
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You can dance if you want to. Hilliard’s July 4 festivities at Municipal Park will feature local 1980s cover band The Reaganomics and a fireworks display set to ’80s music. Last year’s fireworks music — a first for Hilliard — had a country theme, said recreation and parks department program manager Heather Ernst. “It was funny last year when Miley Cyrus’ ‘Party in the USA’ came on, the hill just kind of exploded,” Ernst said. “All the kids screamed and were so excited to hear that song. Our sound company is going to turn it up even 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.
The day starts at 10 a.m. with the Fourth of July parade, departing from the county fairgrounds. Those interested in parade entry submissions should call Jerry Baum. This is Baum’s 49th year running the parade, and he’ll award the top float entry at 5:30 p.m.
louder this year.” The recreation and parks department will put together a 2530 minute soundtrack with family-appropriate ’80s and contemporary music to go along with the
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Friday, June 24, 2011 • 6:00-8:00 pm
fireworks display that starts at 9:45 p.m. Before then, The Reaganomics will play two 90-minute sets starting at 6 p.m. Emcee/magician David McCreary of the Ohio State Lottery’s “Cash Explosion” show will be back this year, and he’ll do a kidfriendly intermission show between The Reaganomics’ sets. “He interacts with the crowd very well, and we’ll have a couple of prizes for people Dave pulls out of the crowd,” recreation and parks director Steven Mazer said. The day starts at 10 a.m. with the Fourth of July parade, departing from the Franklin County Fairgrounds. Those interested in parade entry submissions should call See JULY 4, page A2
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Live Entertainment! 6 weeks, 6 big acts Diving with the Decades! Hilliard Family Aquatic Center 3850 Veterans Memorial Drive www. HilliardOhio.gov
FREE admission after 5:00 pm to those born in the “decade of the week”!