July 21, 2011
Canine purchase awaits council action By LORI WINCE ThisWeek Community Newspapers The New Albany Police Department could have a new canine officer before the end of summer. “We went and looked at a dog last week,” said Police Chief Mark Chaney. “It’s a 1-year-old Belgian Malinois.” According to its agenda, New Albany City Council on July 19 was expected to approve supplemental appropriations to accept insurance funds
of up to $8,000, which would allow the police department to purchase another dog. However, the council meeting was canceled because only three members — Mayor Nancy Ferguson, Chip Fellows and Glyde Marsh — were present. A quorum of four is required for council meetings. City council’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Aug. 2. The police department acquired its first canine officer, Bungee, in August
Pending legislation
2010. He was killed in an accident May 25. Bungee also was a Belgian Malinois, though he was 3 years old and already highly trained. Chaney said the city had been talking to its insurance company to determine if Bungee’s replacement would be covered. New Albany used grant money to acquire Bungee last year. “Our insurance carrier, the Ohio Plan, is expected to reimburse all costs associated with the purchase of the dog
and some equipment that was lost,” said James Nicholson, city finance director. Nicholson said once the city receives the insurance check, it could reappropriate the funds to purchase the new dog. The 1-year-old dog Chaney and other officers recently met is from Germany and would work with the same trainer as Bungee. Bungee was partnered with officer Joel Strahler and lived with Strahler and his family.
By LORI WINCE ThisWeek Community Newspapers Abercrombie & Fitch is the first local company to apply for a conditional-use permit for fleet parking, even though the New Albany Planning Commission has not yet voted on the legislation allowing that type of parking in the business campuses. After tabling the legislation in June, pending more information, the planning commission reviewed the legislation again July 18 and said it had too many questions. The commission tabled the issue again. City council was expected to hear second reading of the legislation at its July 19 meeting, but the meeting was canceled because only three members — Mayor Nancy Ferguson, Chip Fellows and Glyde Marsh — were present. A quorum of four is required for council meetings. City council’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Aug. 2. Council typically does not vote on legislation without a recommendation from the planning commission. Attorney Aaron Underhill, who represents A&F, told the planning commission July 18 that the company hopes to add 90,000 square feet to what is called Distribution Center 1, north of Smith’s Mill Road. In doing so, the company would lose about 105 of its parking spots and would need to add parking on an adjacent lot, according to its application for the conditional-use permit. The company is consolidating operations of its two distribution centers into one, the application said. The additional distribution space will require more trucks, as well, which also increases the company’s need for parking. A&F recently purchased 26 acres for parking from the New Albany Co., but it cannot combine the property with its 300-acre campus, because of s tax-increment financing (TIF) district in place on the business campus.
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Planning commission OKs West Nine project changes
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A&F makes first local request for fleet parking
Chaney said Strahler would work with a new dog. “Our canine handler hasn’t changed, just the canine,” he said. Chaney said he hopes the department could purchase the new dog in August and begin the six weeks of training to certify the dog with the state. He said council’s action would start the process.
By LORI WINCE ThisWeek Community Newspapers
By Lorrie Cecil/ThisWeek
Thirteen-year-old Grant Adams, of New Albany, prepares to hit the bag held by Denison University offensive lineman Matt Cochran on July 14 at the Big Red Football Camp at Denison University in Granville. The two-day camp was open to players in grades 4-8. The camp was run by the Denison football coaches and some Denison players.
The New Albany Planning Commission on July 18 unanimously approved amended preliminary and final development plans for the New Albany Co.’s proposed West Nine development near the New Albany Country Club. The commission also approved five variances for the project. NACo had made changes to the proposed development, so it required another review by the planning commission. “They added acreage and changed some of the design features, which is why it required your reconsideration,” Kathryn Meyer, the city’s deputy community development director, told the commission. Meyer said the original project included 12 lots on 12.331 acres, which was approved by the planning commission in May. NACo has since purchased more land, totaling 18.76 acres. The number of homes remains the same, but the lot sizes have increased to range from 1 acre to 2.5 acres. The bridge on the property has been changed to include a walking path. Original plans included a trail off to the side of the bridge, Meyer said. Recommendations made by the planning commission in May already have been incorporated, including the widening of the northwest end of a cul-de-sac on what will be called Club Boulevard. The walking path also was extended through
See FLEET PARKING, page A2
See WEST NINE, page A8
District’s community resources
Plan for database still under development By LORI WINCE ThisWeek Community Newspapers Developing a community resources database could be too extensive and too expensive to complete any time soon, the New Albany-Plain Local School District’s technology coordinator told the school board last week. “We can clearly see the value,” said school board vice president Laura Kohler. “But it’s tough to quantify the cost.” Researching the development of a community resources database was one of the initiatives from the strategic plan adopted last
year. Interim superintendent Bill Reimer recommended in October the district try to accomplish it, as well as six others, by the end of the school year. The database would help coordinate volunteers and match community members with existing or new school programs that suit their talents. It also could help coordinate fundraising efforts by preventing businesses from being contacted several times by different school contacts. During the board’s July 11 work session and special meeting, technology coordinator Jon Stonebraker said the district might need
help to create the database, which could require 200 hours of work and cost between $10,000 and $24,000. The prices he quoted were based on estimates of other project bids from outside consultants. Annual maintenance, based on the same bids, was estimated at $500 to $1,200. Stonebraker called the database a sizeable project. He said setting up the database would take a lot of work, making contacts with potential partners and getting information on how they can help the district. See DATABASE, page A5
Police department to sponsor first bike rodeo By LORI WINCE To promote safety and better ThisWeek Community Newspapers knowledge for young riders, Sgt. Ed Burton said he took on the deThe New Albany Police De- partment’s goal of establishing the partment is holding its first bicy- bicycle rodeo. cle rodeo for children ages 5 to 12 “They’ll learn a little bit about from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. how to ride safely and how to con6, in the parking lot by the Plain trol their bikes,” he said. Township Aquatic Center, 7650 He said the rodeo is designed for Swickard Woods Blvd. children who already have learned
how to ride bicycles. There is no charge to participate, but the signature of a parent will be required the morning of the event, according to the city’s website. Children must bring their own bicycles and helmets. Officer Ryan Southers said stations will be set up in the parking lot for the children. The stations are
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designed to teach aspects of cycling and safety, including starting and stopping, safely exiting a driveway, the proper way to look for traffic and the best ways to avoid common road hazards that often lead to accidents. Burton said one of the first things
Pathfinder
By Dave Yunker/ThisWeek
Six-year-old Noah Marko and his father, Stephen, explore Swickard Woods prior to the start of the GPS geocaching program led by Sandy Willmore on July 15.
See BICYCLE RODEO, page A2
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