July 28, 2011
Staton looks ahead to future in UA By LIN RICE ThisWeek Community Newspapers
When Virginia Barney leaves her position as Upper Arlington city manager in October after 11 years, the post will be taken by Ted Staton, currently city manager of East Lansing, Mich., and formerly a longtime Ohioan. Upper Arlington ThisWeek interviewed Staton by phone July 25 to hear his observations on the city and his expectations of his new job. ThisWeek: How are your prepara-
tions for moving your family to Upper Arlington going? Staton: It’s been a little challenging figuring out the logistics of our move, getting the kids enrolled in Ted Staton school and finding a place to live while still fulfilling my obligations (in East Lansing). But my plan is to begin here on Oct. 10, and we’ve found a house here that will nicely meet our needs, and we’re
hoping we can formalize that arrangement. TW: Several local officials cited the similarities between Upper Arlington and East Lansing when discussing your credentials. Do you see the two cities as being comparable? Staton: The proximity to a large, Big Ten university is one similarity, and another is the fact that both communities lay in the shadow of the state capital. With that, you get the impact of state government felt more prominently in your community, and I also think offi-
cials of jurisdictions near the statehouse end up being called on to testify in issues of municipal interest. I did a good bit of that in Michigan, and would be willing to play that role here as well. TW: You’re coming to the city at a time when changes are occurring at Kingsdale and on Lane Avenue. Staton: I want to be sure to acknowledge that I’m still studying the details, but what I see on Lane and Kingsdale is an impressive repositioning of those areas for future use. I read
with great interest some of the stories on the traffic calming plans for (the Lane Avenue neighborhoods), and that work is similar to what we’ve done in East Lansing to make streets safer for pedestrians. That’s an issue (in East Lansing) as well. I think any time you have a mature community, the redevelopment of older commercial properties becomes a sensitive issue to the neighbors that surround the property, and we have to adSee FUTURE, page A2
Zoning board hears dispute regarding playhouse Riley told attorneys for both couples that board members didn’t have enough information to make The Upper Arlington Board a decision, the parties reached a of Zoning and Planning post- tentative settlement that gives poned decisions on items re- them 60 days to resolve their difquested by two residents at its ferences and return to the board. If no decision is reached during regular meeting July 18. The board listened to details mediation with the city attorney involving a dispute between Bob Jeanine Hummer, Riley said, the board will and Jessica make a deciGierhart of Fisher Place A closer look sion. Riley told and their the Gierharts Zollinger Road In a report to the board, the that the playneighbor, Mike city staff noted that the house should Carroll. The case appeared to be mainly not remain on Gierharts wanta personal dispute between the property ed the board to neighbors and questioned longer than an reconsider a whether it was rational to additional 10 decision about penalize the Gierharts for a years and the dismanstructure built by the added that it tling of a playhouse’s previous owners. should be rehouse which moved earlier Carroll says inif it is no longer used by the coutrudes on his property line. An earlier determination by ple’s children. He also stated that the city’s code compliance offi- the playhouse will have to be cer stated that the structure dismantled if the family sells the should be dismantled or re- property. In another matter, the board moved. The Gierharts told the board postponed a request by Thomas that the playhouse had been on Reitz to permit the installation the property for more than 10 of an eight foot high privacy years without previous com- fence at his Berkshire Road plaints. They suggested Carroll’s home. The maximum height noraction was nothing more than a mally permitted for fences is six personal vendetta. feet. In a report to the board, the Reitz, who says that a current city staff noted that the case ap- landscaping plan is not adequate, peared to be mainly a personal wants to provide screening bedispute between neighbors and tween his home and the neighquestioned whether it was ra- boring Whole Foods building, tional to penalize the Gierharts which is undergoing renovation. Although Riley expressed for a structure built by the house’s previous owners. After BZAP chairman T.J. See DISPUTE, page A3 By KIM TOLLEY
This Week Commnity Newspapers
Market festival set for Aug. 3 Upper Arlington’s Parks and Recreation Department will host an afternoon of expanded Farmers Market activities in celebration of the peak of the growing season. The Harvest Festival is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 3, from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m., at the UA Senior Center, 1945 Ridgeview Road. Expanded activities at the market include samples of market offerings transformed into tasty bites, entertainment and fun for the kids with various farm animals. The weekly Farmers Market is held rain or shine. Additional event details can be found at www.uaoh.net, including a summary of the types of produce shoppers can expect to see as the season progresses. Those with questions, may call 583-5300.
Photos by Eric George/ThisWeek
Marisa Craig, 53, cools off at the Reed Road Water Park on July 22.
City offers options to beat the heat By LIN RICE ThisWeek Community Newspapers
While the temperatures slipped down into the high 80s early this week, the recent heat wave — likely to rev up again later this week — was the hottest in years for Upper Arlington and the rest of central Ohio, according to the National Weather Service. The NWS issued several heat advisories and excessive heat warnings in the past couple of weeks, with temperatures approaching the 100 degree mark. Despite oppressively high temperatures, residents of Upper Arlington have several options for beating the heat. To aid residents who may not have air conditioning or other options, the Upper Arlington Division of Fire has been acting as a drop-off point for donated box fans, according to public information officer Dan Kochensparger. “All of the fire stations in the county are drop-off points for donated fans, and those normally are going to LifeCare Alliance,” he said. “We’ve had several drop-offs since June, in response to that first campaign of
sponded to nine heat-related incidents — two “regular” EMS runs that came in through the city’s 911 system, and seven others related to the Nationwide Children’s Invitational golf tournament that took place at the Ohio State University Golf Course. All of those requests were cases of heat exhaustion or heat cramps, and were treated by fire personnel stationed on standby at the tournament, he said. While the UAFD has responded to several calls for mutual aid in the past few weeks, there have been no structure fires in Upper Arlington to deal with, he said. “With the heat the way it is, you’ll see us hydrating a lot more ahead of time and after, and when there is a fire, that’s a lot more taxing physically,” he said. “What you’ll really see is that something that might typically be a one-alarm fire might turn into a two-alarm, just beBella Lewis, 6, pours water on her head to keep cool during a cause the weather is really rebreak at the Reed Road Water Park July 22. quiring us to rotate our crews the summer.” older adults or chronically ill more often. “Unfortunately, the same gear Kochensparger said about 45 residents in Franklin and Madithat protects us from the heat fans have been collected at Sta- son counties. tion 72 to be distributed by LifeSince July 19, KochenspargCare, a nonprofit that serves er said, the fire division has reSee HEAT, page A3
Buckeye Tailgate to benefit Project Lifesaver By LIN RICE ThisWeek Community Newspapers
Organizers of Upper Arlington’s Project Lifesaver are asking for some more community help to keep the program up and running. For the second year in a row, Arlington Court Nursing Home will host a Project Lifesaver fundraiser on its grounds. The Buckeye Tailgate is scheduled for the early evening of Aug. 5, said Upper Arlington Senior Center administrator Sally Gard.
You have a hole in your house.
“The Project Lifesaver program has been around for about three years, and we host a fundraiser each year to bring in more money for the supplies we need, which are given out for free,” Gard said. Project Lifesaver is a service offered to Upper Arlington residents who are at risk of wandering away from their homes and becoming lost or disoriented. “This can be anything having to do with older dementia patients, or children with autism — anyone with a tendency to wander is given a wristwatch with a radio fre-
quency signal,” Gard said. “If they become lost or their caregivers don’t know where they are, the police department can use the signal to find that person in under 20 minutes. “The program saves a lot of money in terms of emergencies,” she said. “This is one of the two times of the year that it’s even more important, when it’s extremely hot or extremely cold out — the people who have the wristbands might not be dressed
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See TAILGATE, page A2