July 20, 2011
Draft of city comprehensive plan released By GARY BUDZAK ThisWeek Community Newspapers
Chapters 1-9, some 186 pages in all, were presented last week. Chapter 10, which has to do with the implementation of the plan, is still forthcoming. The plan The comprehensive plan’s purpose is to guide the city’s policies and was started in 2008, featured public input budgeting for future development up to 20 years in the future. City offiin 2009, and was reviewed and refined cials and staff will use the plan to update city codes, rezone parcels of in 2010. Stantec, a consulting firm, deland, and to determine infrastructure projects and expenditures. It is veloped the plan at a total cost of $1.285 meant to build upon the city’s prior planning documents. million over a three-year-period. The plan’s purpose is to guide the city’s policies and budgeting for development termine infrastructure projects and ex- city planner John Talentino said. “We’re up to 20 years in the future. City officials penditures. It is meant to build upon the going to incorporate some things that and staff will use the plan to update city city’s prior planning documents. other plans in the past have not.” codes, rezone parcels of land, and to de“It’s the most comprehensive of plans,” The plan’s study area includes not only
A closer look
Hilliard’s long-awaited comprehensive plan made its debut at the city’s planning and zoning commission meeting on July 14. “The Hilliard comprehensive plan will connect people, places, a proud past, and a promising tomorrow so that Hilliard is known as a great place to live, work, shop and play,” Mayor Don Schonhardt is quoted as saying in the plan’s introductory chapter.
the current city boundaries, but also areas that could be annexed in the future, such as the part of Schirtzinger Road not in Hilliard, and portions of Brown and Washington Townships. “We need to account for those, based on what might happen out there,” Talentino said. “If, in fact, they do get annexed, here’s the recommendation on what should happen.” The plan includes a vision statement for Hilliard — “Hilliard is an authentic See COMPREHENSIVE, page A5
Franklin County Fair pulls in NTPA event
FAIR FUN
By GARY BUDZAK ThisWeek Community Newspapers
By Eric George/ThisWeek
Shawn Fields of Hilliard rides in the bumper car with his 6-year-old son, Shawn, at the Franklin County Fair July 16. For more pictures from the fair, see page B1.
Drivers ticketed for traveling on closed roads By GARY BUDZAK ThisWeek Community Newspapers
It looks inviting, but motorists trying to drive through the construction area at Alton Darby and Roberts roads may get fined $115. Hilliard police cited seven people each on July 9 and 10, for example, the first days they started cracking down on people driving through the closed roads, and they’re continuing to ticket drivers almost daily. “We’ve been out there over the last week doing warnings and enforcement,” said Hilliard Police Chief
Douglas Francis. “We have residents complaining to our officers that they thought they could drive through it, even though it’s very well-marked and they are driving through a construction zone.” Francis said he drove out to the site last week, “and there were cars driving through the actual closed part of the road where they were doing construction because there was an opening between the barricades. “That’s blatant, and that’s what we’ll enforce,” he said. “We have to Roberts Road looking east at the intersection at Alton & Darby Creek
The National Tractor Pullers Association (NTPA) returns to the Franklin County Fair on Friday, July 22, after a long hiatus. “The NTPA was at the Franklin County Fair in the late 1970s or early ’80s,” said Marvin Epperson, a safety technical inspector for the NTPA. “From there, they went to Ohio State Tractor Pullers Association, which was a more local statesanctioned tractor pull in the ’80s and ’90s. (Then) they went to a local county fair pull that wasn’t sanctioned. This year, they talked about bringing a sanctioned pull back.” “We know they are always a big draw at different county fairs,” Allison Rushley, senior fair board member, said of the NTPA. “We met with them and talked at the Ohio Fair Managers Association convention in January. We had to make a decision that day, because another county fair wanted them the (same) day.” Based in Worthington, the NTPA was formed in 1969 by pullers from eight states, including Ohio, who wanted uniform rules for the sport. It also publishes The Puller magazine and has a show televised on the RFD-TV network. “NTPA was one of the first sanctioned tractorpulling organizations in the United States,” Epperson said. “They do full technical inspections at every pull, not just once a year. Every vehicle is inspected for all the safety equipment every time they show up, no matter where it’s at.” Friday’s NTPA Region II event starts at 7:30 p.m. in the grandstand and will feature four classes: Super Farm Tractors, Four-Wheel Drive Trucks, Light Pro Stock Tractors and Two-Wheel Drive Trucks. Epperson said they are four of the most popular classes in the pulling world. “We thought four classes would suit the type of crowd they have up there, and show them a little bit of everything. If they want to see some of the best tractor pulling in Ohio, Friday night would See FAIR PULLS IN, page A2
See CLOSED, page A2 Road construction project.
Settlement filed Norwich Township in 2010 bus crash Fire chief announces retirement By GARY BUDZAK
By GARY BUDZAK ThisWeek Community Newspapers
A settlement agreement has been filed between Urban Express Transportation and the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) more than a year after a bus crash involving Heritage Middle School students. “A settlement agreement was filed late last week,” said PUCO spokeswoman Jill Kocher. “The PUCO commissioners will consider the settlement agreement in due course.” “Commercial transportation companies in Ohio are public utilities,” under PUCO’s jurisdiction, its website states. “The PUCO registers motor carriers and ensures they adhere to state and federal safety standards.”
A closer look The settlement was processed July 14. It states that Eastern Horizon Inc. (doing business as Urban Express Transportation) has agreed to 15 code violations.
The settlement was processed July 14. It states that Eastern Horizon Inc. (doing business as Urban Express Transportation) has agreed to 15 code violations, including using a driver who refused to take a drug/alcohol test; operating without the required operating authority; operating a commercial motor vehicle withSee SETTLEMENT, page A2
ThisWeek Community Newspapers
In a surprise announcement, Norwich Township Fire Chief David Long said that he will retire on Jan. 20, 2012. “After 36 years, I’ve decided it’s time for me to retire,” an emotional Long said at the Norwich Township trustees meeting on July 18. “After months of prayer and conversation with my Dave Long wife, this is the right time for us. “I certainly appreciate everything the community and township has done for me. You guys are all co-workers and friends, and I’m going to miss each and every one of you.” The meeting room, which was filled with
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firefighters, some of whom were being honored for their own years of service, erupted in applause. They patted Long on the back and shook his hand. “Well, Chief, that was certainly a surprise,” said trustee Mike Cope. “I had promised (trustee Larry) Mr. Earman a year or so ago, I would give more than ample time and notice,” Long said. “Like I said, it’s just the right time.” “While it will be a great loss to us, there is life beyond the fire department,” Cope said. Then jokingly, he said, “We’re not inclined to accept your resignation this evening, and I’m not sure we legally have to. We might just refuse it. At any rate, we’ll have more to say in the coming months, and we do appreciate the notice.” “Dave, I’m sad to see you go,” Hilliard Police Chief Douglas Francis said. “I’m not going to date us, but Dave was an instructor of mine in hazardous materials at
Columbus State when I was getting my associate’s degree.” Long, 54, has spent his entire career with the Norwich Township Fire Department, starting immediately after graduating from Hilliard High School in 1975. He has an associate’s degree in fire science from Columbus State Community College. Long was promoted to assistant chief in 1996 and to chief in 2004. He is a certified paramedic, fire instructor and fire inspector. Long lives in Marysville, and he and his wife have two children. Before going into a planning session and subsequent executive session, the trustees passed a resolution to adopt the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio’s (SWACO) solid waste management plan update. The plan is required by Ohio law, is updated every five years, and is good until 2025. The plan describes SWACO’s progress in achieving Ohio’s recycling mandates.
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