July 31, 2011
Heiser seeks Bexley’s mayoral post Success at the polls on Nov. 8 means manager would leave Johnstown By MICHAEL J. MAURER ThisWeek Community Newspapers
Johnstown finance director Larry Heiser is running for mayor of Bexley, a nonpartisan position on the November ballot. Heiser has previously served as auditor in Bexley, which is also an elect-
ed position in that city. “I’m a longtime Bexley resident,” Heiser said. “My parents moved there when I was in kindergarten, and I’ve been active in rec department and coaching when my kids were growing up.” Heiser said his interest in the mayor’s position has been stimulated by disagreements with proposals to eliminate
the elected auditor’s position. “I’ve become interested lately because there is a charter review commission that has recommended the city get rid of the auditor’s position and have the finance director report directly to the mayor,” Heiser said. “I have a hard time with that because it undermines the checks and balances of having an
independent position.” Ideally, Heiser would like to see the city adopt a city manager form of government that would provide for a professional administrator and a part-time mayor. “Now that I’ve been in Johnstown, I really like the manager set-up, where the manager is a professional who runs
it more according to business practices instead of political practices,” Heiser said. “The kind of set-up where both (the finance director and manager) report to council is a good, effective way to do it.” In Bexley, the mayor’s position is See MANAGER, page A2
Northridge
Board to decide levy, new board member Aug. 1 By MICHAEL J. MAURER ThisWeek Community Newspapers
The Northridge Local School District Board of Education will hold a special meeting Monday, Aug. 1, to name a new board member and to take final action on a proposed income tax levy for the November ballot. The board member appointed Monday will replace Troy Willeke, who stepped down last month in protest of the layoff of high school principal Jim Hall. Board president Mark Dann said the board would probably interview any applicants who have submitted information by the board meeting, and choose a new member afterword. “We’re required to appoint a person with 30 days, at the next regular or special meeting,” Dann said. “It’s the same process we went through when we filled Mr. Garee’s position,” said treasurer Jim Hudson. “We’ll break up into groups, board members and administration, and each applicant will do a round robin interview. Then we’ll convene and assess the candidates.” The proposed income tax levy, if approved, would be paired with a promise to reduce an existing property tax levy. “We’ll have some more dis-
Sprucing things up downtown Downtown Johnstown Inc., in an effort to encourage property improvements and beautification in downtown buildings, has acknowledged the work of some business owners on Main Street. (Above) Alison Speck, an agent with American National Insurance, stands outside the business, 73 S. Main St. Between them, Speck and Dwight Grimm have 30 years of experience in the insurance industry. They are a sponsor of the Cupola Classic Car show, which comes around again on Sept. 11. (At right) Carol Noe stands outside of her beauty shop, Hair After, 34 S. Main St., a business she opened in 1978. She has been a hairdresser since 1956 and has a local customer, Indus Siegel, whose hair she said she has been doing weekly since ’56. Some exterior work was done at American National Insurance, while Hair After spruces things up with pots of colorful flowers out front.
By JENNA GANT
New water line will power village expansion, firefighting ThisWeek Community Newspapers
Johnstown will replace a water line midAugust that’s expected to bring more water pressure and better fire protection to residents along North Main Street. Johnstown service director Jack Liggett said the village would replace a two-inch waterline along Leafy Dell and Croton roads with an eight-inch water line. He said it would better serve the residents
See BOARD, page A2
Lenner: Business database would benefit village Photos by Eric George/ThisWeek
By JENNA GANT
cussion and then decide whether to pursue the 1-percent income tax, along with the resolution to reduce the existing emergency levy from 9.3 mills to approximately 5 mills,” Dann said. Dann said it is likely the board will approve the proposal but said no final decision will be made until discussion Monday night. “I can’t speak for the rest of the board because we won’t be acting until Monday, and until there is a vote to move forward, it is not finalized,” Dann said. “We’ll have that debate Monday night. I guess my expectation is the same four board members will support it, but there is always the possibility that there will be something to cause the board to reconsider. “We are constantly looking at what money is needed when to bring back what programs. It’s a constant gauging of the state budget and our finances. We want to ask for what the staff feels is truly needed, within the means of what the voters are willing to approve.” Hudson said the new tax mix should both bring in additional money to the district and reduce property taxes for many people, including farmers. “Depending upon your valuation of your home and how much you earn, that will affect how
in the area. “The water service is very old and it’s only a two-inch diameter,” he said, “so the water flow is not real good on that end of town.” Liggett said the new water line would also allow for better fire protection. The village is installing two new hydrants near the intersections of North Main with Croton Road and Leafy Dell. Fed by the new water line, they will have far greater water pressure. Liggett said this would help the Monroe
You have a hole in your house.
Township Fire Department fight residential fires. “We just think fire protection is going to be improved by adding two new hydrants that can’t be operated off the old two-inch line because there’s not enough water,” he said. The larger water line will also allow for future residential growth along North Main Street. See LINE, page A2
ThisWeek Community Newspapers
Johnstown village officials want to construct and maintain a downtown business database to boost its chances of winning a $400,000 matching grant from the Ohio Department of Development. Village manager Jim Lenner said ODOD wants to see how the money would be used to improve downtown businesses if Johnstown is awarded the grant. Lenner said the database would include an inventory that would give a “snapshot of the nature of the building and how it could be better preserved.” “It’s not there to pry into their operations or anything like that,” Lenner said. “We’re just trying to figure out what businesses are downtown … how the structures are being handled.” The database would include a
A closer look The database would include a list of needed facility improvements, such as repairing leaky roofs or crumbling foundations or upgrading where there are building code violations.
list of needed facility improvements, such as repairing leaky roofs or crumbling foundations or upgrading where there are building code violations. “It’s really an assistance role from the village and for downtown Johnstown more than it is a regulatory role,” Lenner said. Pat Kramer, owner of Gifts By Us at 86 W. Coshocton St., said the database sounds like a good
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See DATABASE, page A2