July 28, 2011
No pay hikes in latest Olentangy contract By TOM SHEEHAN ThisWeek Community Newspapers
The Olentangy school board on July 20 approved one-year contract extensions for about 300 bus drivers, custodians and other classified union employees that include no base-pay raises and freeze steppay increases. The contracts with the two Ohio As-
sociation of Public School Employees locals, which represent bus drivers, custodians and other workers, is retroactive to July 1. The contracts will expire on June 30, 2012. Members from both locals ratified the contracts on June 30. Superintendent Wade Lucas said before the July 20 school board meeting that the contracts will save the district
about $150,000 for the 2011-12 school year. The contracts come on the heels of action earlier this summer by the district to freeze step-pay increases and provide no base-pay raises for about 300 nonunion classified workers, including secretaries and mechanics. That move will save the district another $200,000 next school year, officials have said.
The contract extensions now put all unionized contracts on the same timetable to expire next June, including the contract with teachers and certified personnel. The teachers’ current contract does allow for step-pay increases but no basepay raises. Lucas told board members that district employees are willing to sacrifice during tough economic times.
“They do understand the plight and economic conditions, not only of Olentangy schools, but the whole nation,” he said. The board also approved a settlement agreement with a health-care consortium of eight other school districts that Olentangy left last August. The settlement, See NO PAY HIKES, page A2
Orange Township delays fire levy a year By TOM SHEEHAN ThisWeek Community Newspapers Orange Township trustees on July 19 decided to wait until next year and not put a renewal fire levy on the Nov. 8 ballot. Trustees Rob Quigley, Nelson Katz and Jennifer Christian agreed they should not rush the issue to the ballot, instead taking time to educate the public on the need for a levy larger than the existing levy. The deadline to place an issue on the November ballot is Aug. 10. Trustees did not discuss when they might seek a levy in 2012. Collections on the existing A closer look three-year, 5mill levy will expire on Dec. Collections on the existing 31, 2012. That three-year, 5-mill levy will levy raises expire on Dec. 31, 2012. about $4.6 milThat levy raises about $4.6 lion annually. million annually. The fire The fire departdepartment has a $7 million ment has a $7 annual budget. In recent million annual years, the department has budget. In rebeen able to maintain subcent years, the stantial cash carryovers department has through cost-saving measbeen able to ures, such as delaying some maintain submajor purchases. stantial cash carryovers through cost-saving measures, such as delaying some major purchases. The 2010 carryover was about $4 million. Officials have projected those funds will continue to dwindle unless additional money is obtained through a levy. Trustees recently agreed to ask the Delaware County auditor to certify a millage amount to raise $7 million a year to maintain existing fire department levels. Katz, who is the public safety liaison, on July 19 told the other trustees that a 6.7-mill levy would be needed. The existing levy costs homeowners $151.05 a year for each $100,000 of valuation. A 6.7-mill levy would cost the homeowner $205.19 per $100,000 of valuation, Katz said the auditor’s office told him. The average residential valuation in Orange Township was $223,809 in April. Katz said he is convinced, after talking to residents in recent weeks, they don’t see a need for a See ORANGE TOWNSHIP, page A2
By Adam Cairns/ThisWeek
Abrasive Technology founder and president Loyal Peterman Jr., right, and his son, Daryl, have been guiding the company for the past 40 years. The company manufactures grinding wheels, on the left, and various other tooling products used everywhere from dentists’ offices to oil drills.
Abrasive Technology celebrates 40 years By BONNIE BUTCHER ThisWeek Community Newspapers
Abrasive Technology, with headquarters in Lewis Center, is celebrating its 40th anniversary. The company, 8400 Green Meadows Drive North, manufactures grinding wheels and tools. The products are used in the dental, aerospace, stone-cutting and electronic industries, to name a few, said company president and founder Loyal Peterson Jr., of Dublin. The company is “shaping the world around us,” said Daryl Peterman of Columbus, a leadership team member and shareholder in the company. The phrase, “shaping the world around us” is an internal campaign the company uses to remind employees of the impact of their daily efforts. “The Waterford crystal ball that came down in Times Square in 2000 was ground with our diamond wheels,” said Loyal Peterman. “The
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The Waterford crystal ball that came down in Times Square in 2000 was ground with our diamond wheels. The black tiles on the outside of the space shuttle were ground with tools I designed. When the Statue of Liberty was refurbished, our grinding wheels were used. The stones for Olympic curling are ground with our diamond wheels. Our tools were used on the Hubble Telescope and the whale pool at the San Diego Zoo. (Dale) Chihuly uses our product to grind some of his glass (artwork).
LOYAL PETERMAN — Abrasive Technology founder and president
black tiles on the outside of the space shuttle were ground with tools I designed. When the Statue of Liberty was refurbished, our grinding wheels were used. The stones for Olympic curling are ground with our diamond wheels. Our tools were used on the Hubble telescope and the whale pool
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at the San Diego Zoo. (Dale) Chihuly uses our product to grind some of his glass (artwork).” The company’s process of welding diamonds to steel, called brazing, was patented in 1975 and was a “game-changer” in the field, he said. “We added a new bonding tech-
nology to what was available,” Loyal Peterman said. “Our patent was the most looked-at patent in the diamond industry for 20 years, and now that the 20-year patent expired, the process is used around the world by almost every diamond manufacturer.” A steel drill put into materials that are abrasive might wear out in minutes, said Loyal Peterman, but the company’s patented diamond drill lasts through a million pieces. Abrasive Technology’s products are cost-effective and more environmentally friendly, said Daryl Peterman, who is Loyal’s son. Though Loyal Peterman has been the sole owner of the company since 1992, he and three partners started it in 1971 with a product used in dentistry. “In the early days, we made the product at night, put it in the suitcases in the morning and went door to door selling to dentists, collecting money See ABRASIVE, page A6
Orange developing economic committee Police will host By BONNIE BUTCHER ThisWeek Community Newspapers
Orange Township is developing an economic advisory board. Township trustees are accepting applications from residents interested in serving on the five-seat committee. The Orange Township Economic Development Advisory Board will “assist in the retention and growth of existing business and the marketing and coordination of development of growth areas within Orange Township,” the bylaws of the board say. The advisory board will act only in an advisory capacity to the township trustees. The board’s goal is to be proactive about economic development, said trustee Robert Quigley, who proposed the idea.
“This is something I ran on during the election,” said Quigley. “I am very excited that it is moving forward. All the trustees approved the creation of this advisory board.” Township trustees approved forming the committee and its bylaws in June. Trustees will appoint the board members, who will serve without pay. Quigley said the board will meet roughly every other month, with details yet to be decided. Debbie Taronto, a member and founder of the Orange Township Business Association, said she is pleased to see the committee coming to fruition. “We’ve needed it for a while,” she told ThisWeek. “It will be great to welcome new businesses and to keep them informed on what
You have a hole in your house.
they can and cannot do, because there’s so many zoning rules it’s hard to keep up with. It will give them a better feel about the community and township.” The committee would work with Delaware County economic development director Gus Comstock, Quigley said. “The county has a great resource in Gus Comstock, and we need to figure out a way to use his talents, with our focus on the township,” he said. “Orange Township is a great community with great possibility for growth, and I want to ensure we are keeping in touch with the business community,” said Quigley. “We have a great blueprint with the land use plan and now we need to market ourselves for smart growth.” See ECONOMIC, page A6
National Night Out By BONNIE BUTCHER ThisWeek Community Newspapers
The Powell Police Department will host a National Night Out celebration from 6:30 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 2, on the Village Green Park, 47 Hall St., Powell. National Night Out events are hosted by police departments around the country. The evening is designed to foster crimeprevention awareness and community spirit, said Jeff Robinson, city spokesperson. The free event is “designed to heighten crime- and drug-prevention awareness, generate sup-
port for and participation in local anti-crime programs, strengthen neighborhood spirit and police community partnerships and allow the citizens of the community an opportunity to meet the individuals that serve them,” said Sgt. Scott Roach, event organizer. This year’s event will have an ice cream social theme, a press release from the city said. “Graeter’s, Rita’s and Menchies will all be on hand, giving out free ice cream, Italian ice and frozen yogurt, respectively,” it said. “What goes better with sum-
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See NATIONAL, page A6