July 13, 2011
School district levy closer to fall ballot By GARY BUDZAK ThisWeek Community Newspapers
The Hilliard City School District Board of Education wants to put an operating levy on the ballot in November, but members have yet to determine the millage rate. The hour-long board meeting July 7 in the district annex was dominated by levy discussion, and while there was a
good turnout, no members of the public spoke. According to treasurer Brian W. Wilson’s latest projections, the district would be in the black through fiscal year 2015 before going into the red in 2016 if voters were to approve a 6.9-mill levy in November. A 6.9-mill levy was defeated in the May primary. Lower millage rates were also plugged into Wilson’s Excel file, yielding wors-
ening deficits five years out. The projections also made assumptions such as 75 percent of teachers eligible for retirement taking it. “Can you accept a 6.9-mill levy?” Superintendent Dale A. McVey asked the board. He said the millage rate should be Dale A. McVey
chosen carefully, taking into account unpredictable variables like future state budgets. “Today I’m at 6.9,” board member Andy Teater said. “I think it’s going to be an easier picture to put out there (to the public).” Board member Paul Lambert said the dis- Andy Teater
trict should try to cut the rate of spending growth, and the talk turned to the number of employees in the district. “The elephant in the room is salaries,” Paul Lambert board president Doug See SCHOOL DISTRICT, page A2
Budget decisions await city council after recess
SPLASH PARTY
By GARY BUDZAK ThisWeek Community Newspapers
By Eric George/ThisWeek
Cresent Fresh band members Andrew Fredrick (left), Francisco Rojas and Jon Honeycutt perform at the Hilliard Family Aquatic Center as part of the splash party on July 8.
Armstrong to get $10-million makeover By GARY BUDZAK ThisWeek Community Newspapers
The Armstrong plant on Leap Road will get a $10-million makeover to increase its capacity for making standard and special ceiling tiles. “It may involve a handful of new jobs, but what it really does is further solidify Armstrong’s presence here in Hilliard,” economic development director David Meeks said. “Right now, Armstrong’s got 135 employees in Hilliard. They’ve been here since 1987, and they’ve been a good company.”
Armstrong World Industries Inc., based in Lancaster, Pa., is footing the bill for the makeover, said Hilliard plant manager Aron Gawne. Founded in 1860, Armstrong had worldwide sales of $2.8 billion in 2010 and employs 9,500 people at 33 plants in eight countries, including the Hilliard plant. “It’s been a good location for us, for our folks and their families,” Gawne said. “It’s good for our professionals as well as our workforce. This is a good plant to be in right now in the company with the investment going in.”
The $10-million investment will support three projects: a high-volume standard 2-foot by 2-foot standard ceiling tile line that will be in place early next year; a job shop for custom shapes and sizes that will go live in the third quarter of 2012; and a low-volume large size ceiling tiles line slated for early 2013. “This is a great investment for the plant and a big part of how we’re growing this business for the future,” Gawne said. “It’s a pretty big deal for us. We’re definitely excited to See ARMSTRONG, page A2
A closer look The $10-million investment will support three projects: a highvolume standard 2-foot by 2foot standard ceiling tile line that will be in place early next year; a job shop for custom shapes and sizes that will go live in the third quarter of 2012; and a low-volume large size ceiling tiles line slated for early 2013.
Hilliard City Council met July 11 before beginning a month-and-a-half summer recess. Five of the seven council members were present to vote on legislation before the break. “For at least a decade, it’s been a tradition,” council president Brett Sciotto said of the recess. “I think it follows along the lines of most legislatures at both the state and federal level take some sort of a summer recess. “It’s a good chance for everyone to take a break,” Sciotto said. “We put in a lot of hours, and it’s a part-time job. It’s nice to have a month off.” When council meets again on Aug. 22, the focus will be on the 2012 city budget, which will need to be approved by year’s end. “It’s a very intense time,” Sciotto said. “We begin the discussions in earnest in August.” Prior to council’s meeting, city finance director Michelle Kelly-Underwood gave the second quarter 2011 review in committee. She said that to date, Hilliard has received 51.9 percent of what was estimated for total general fund revenues for 2011. “General fund revenues are trending favorably and should offset decreases in state funding for the remainder of 2011,” Underwood wrote in a memo to council. “Our challenge comes in 2012 and beyond.” Underwood said shared revenues will be cut by more than $500,000 in 2012. In addition, a 5.6percent decrease in property values for Hilliard has been projected. “There are some tough decisions coming down the road,” Mayor Donald Schonhardt said as the finance and administration committee’s meeting wrapped up. At the council meeting, Destination Hilliard, the organization charged with promoting the city, gave See HILLIARD CITY COUNCIL, page A7
2011 Franklin County Fair
Norwich Township
Musical freestyle a fair favorite
Schirtzinger Road changes approved
By GARY BUDZAK ThisWeek Community Newspapers
By GARY BUDZAK ThisWeek Community Newspapers
The Norwich Township trustees approved new drainage and tree removal changes for some Schirtzinger Road residents at their July 5 meeting. Cornell Robertson from the Franklin County Engineer’s Office gave an update on the project, telling trustees Chuck Buck and Larry Earman that the tree removal phase Chuck Buck of the Schirtzinger Road project was nearly done. Mike Cope was not present at the meeting. “We’ve been working on it a couple of weeks now. It’s gone quite well,” Robertson said. He said six trees east of the bend in the road that are on the project’s limits could be spared. “We feel that we can work around those Larry Earman See NORWICH TOWNSHIP TRUSTEES, page A7
One of the Franklin County Fair’s most popular events takes place Tuesday, July 19, when the Junior Fair musical freestyle horse performance is held at 6 p.m. in the horse arena. Musical freestyle is an event where 4-H members ages 8-18 dress themselves and their horses in costumes and perform a choreographed 2- to 4-minute routine with three types of skill requirements set to music. Two judges give scores to five elements in the routine, the scores are totaled, and ribbons are awarded to the first- to tenth-place finishers in seven classifications. “It’s just a fun event for people to watch, and it’s always very well-attended,” said Melissa Brinkerhoff, a member of the
’s 0 0 0 2
their years of 4-H and participation at the Franklin County Fair.” Lori Raugh and her daughter, Rachael, are co-chairs of the fair’s musical freestyle event. Her son and husband help out with the music. “We’ve been running it a number of years now,” Lori Raugh said. “We’ve tweaked it to the event it is today. It’s real fun for the kids. They have a blast putting it together. The parents get just as excited and involved as the 4-H members themselves.” Musical freestyle can involve any kind of music, Raugh said, although the songs are screened in advance for length and lyrical Carly Bedinghaus (left) and Abby Russell prepare to start their content. The costumes have to reprogram in last year’s Team Class in the Junior Fair musical freestyle horse performance. Their routine was from “Remember late to the song, and the horse’s outfit doesn’t have to match the the Titans.” Franklin County Agricultural So- see the kids when they start out rider. Lori said Rachael once ciety’s board of directors, which as beginners, and see them im- dressed up as Maid Marian and See MUSICAL, page A2 owns the fairgrounds. “I like to prove their riding skills through
Live Entertainment!
Swagg Friday July 1, 2011 • 6:00-8:00pm
6 weeks, 6 big acts Diving with the Decades Hilliard Family Aquatic Center 3850 Veterans Memorial Drive www.HilliardOhio.gov
FREE admission after 5:00pm to those born in the “decade of the week”!