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THE EARLY BIRD NEWSPAPER
W E E K E N D E D I T I O N - M AY 2 0 , 2 0 1 8
THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE GREAT DARKE COUNTY FAIR!
Construction to detour residents for a year RYAN BERRY
MANAGING EDITOR editor@earlybirdpaper.com
Early Bird seeks pictures of graduates GREENVILLE – Do you have a high school or college graduate this year? The Early Bird and Bluebag Media want to highlight their accomplishment. On June 3, The Early Bird will publish a special edition honoring this year’s graduates. To participate, send us their picture with the school they are graduating from and their parents’ names by May
29, 5 p.m. Pictures and information can be sent via email to editor@earlybirdpaper. com (please put “Graduate” in the subject line of the email. Submissions will also be accepted by mail or in person to The Early Bird, c/o Graduate, 5312 Sebring Warner Road, Greenville, Ohio 45331.
Hardee’s gets approval on preliminary plans RYAN BERRY
MANAGING EDITOR editor@earlybirdpaper.com
GREENVILLE – Hardee’s moved a step closer to reality in Greenville when the Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously accepted preliminary plans for a subdivision and development. Hardee’s is hoping to build on .71 acres in the Rural King out-lot at the corner of Russ and Wagner Avenues. Chad Henry, planning and zoning director for the city, recommended approval of the preliminary plans, but pointed out the city would need some questions answered before the final plans are approved. Henry questioned how many parking spaces the development would leave Rural King and “does that suffice for what they’re doing?” He stated, “A reason the Planning Commission could have reservations about the split is that we’re creating a non-conformity on Rural King. From my point of view, contingent upon that question being answered, I don’t see an issue with the subdivision.” Henry also has concerns with access points to the restaurant. “We didn’t want to approve any new drive approaches for this lot,” he said. He encouraged the Hardee’s developer to work with the current property owner to come up with an access plan. There are currently three access points to the Rural King parking lot, but the one off Wagner could cause concern for motorists trying to turn left from the parking lot. He cautioned that if it weren’t dealt with correctly the city could be facing a similar situation as
Maid Rite on North Broadway and the Dairy Barn on Sweitzer, but at the busiest intersection in the city. Henry would like to see a solution to the issue before the final plan is approved. The Planning Commission also approved a development plan for McDonald’s, 1237 Sweitzer St. The business is planning to give the exterior of the building a facelift and refresh the lobby. The biggest addition will be a side-by-side drive thru, which the company hopes will address vehicle stacking issues onto Sweitzer Street. The remodel will make the store ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant throughout and will also provide an accessible path from the sidewalk to the store. Henry was concerned with maneuverability on the east side of the property, but after discussing the issue with the fire department they believe they would be able to get any type of apparatus they would need through. In other business, the commission: * Approved a development plan for Lock & Stock Storage at 395 Martin St. * Approved a development plan for Harvest Land, 619 Sater St., to replace an old warehouse recently demolished with a new 6,000 sq. ft. warehouse. * Approved a minor subdivision for Comfort Inn, 1190 Russ Road. The business purchased the lot next to their current facility and Henry deemed it was a buildable lot providing a building can be built that does not violate current zoning regulations by maintaining proper setbacks, contains parking spaces adequate for capacity and access can be obtained from Benden Way.
GREENVILLE – Greenville motorists will need to steer clear of Sweitzer/4th Street for the next year or more as work to rebuild the road is scheduled to get underway next week. Councilman Doug Schmidt questioned the road closed signs stating how long the road will be closed, “The signs they brought in yesterday, I assume they changed the dates on them. They brought one in that was sitting out in full view that said the road will be closed for 375 days.” Safety Service Director Curt Garrison responded, “That is correct. Technically the road will be closed for 375 days.” Garrison explained that even though they are doing the road in phases, the entire road is closed to public travel for 375 days. “We will maintain as much local access as possible,” Garrison shared. Trees will be cleared first and then Brumbaugh Construction will begin
milling the entire section of road from Pine Street to the curve on Sweitzer/4th Street. He noted, the road from the curve to Sycamore may also be milled, but not entirely to leave a drivable surface. They hope to have the first phase of construction completed by late fall with the end of paving season. Work will continue on the second phase as weather allows during the winter season. For the first phase, parking will be restricted from Pine to the curve and resident are asked to use their alleyway parking. Homes without access to the alley will be required to use sidestreet parking. There will be no on-street parking. Garrison pointed out the property owners have been advised of the situation. “We waited a long time for this project to come to fruition so we are excited about that,” he said. The city completed infrastructure projects in that area last year. The city will return to the Greenville City School Board of Education meeting to once again pitch the merits of a 30-year Down-
A sign has gone up at the corner of Pine and Sweitzer to announce the road closing on May 21.
town Revitalization District (DRD). The nine DRDs would encompass 90-acres and the city would get 70 percent of the increase in property values in the form of a TIF (Tax Increment Financing) to be used to revitalize businesses, infrastructure, streetscaping, etc. According to Garrison, the school board balked at the idea of losing nearly 70 percent of revenue from year 11 through 30 of the DRD. Although a proposal
was not submitted by the board, Garrison suggested they wanted 50 percent of the city’s 70 percent, which would leave the city with 20 percent to reinvest into the community. Councilmen Jeff Whitaker and John Hensley suggested going back to the board and offering a 50-50 split. The city wants a 30-year DRD to get the most out of the program. However, council could choose to do a 10-year DRD without school board’s approval.
Gazebo removed from courthouse lawn SUSAN HARTLEY
STAFF WRITER shartley@earlybirdpaper.com
GREENVILLE – The Darke County Courthouse gazebo has found a new home. Waymire Brothers of Rossburg recently moved the gazebo to Alice Bish Park on Ohio Street, due to the impending courthouse steps renovation project. It’s not clear whether the gazebo will be placed back on the courthouse lawn following the renovation, said Commissioner Mike Rhoades. Rhoades also said commission is going back to the
drawing board, having to “re-think” the direction the steps project will now take. During a recent discussion with elected officials, Rhoades said, Darke County Common Pleas Court Judge Jonathan P. Hein suggested he would like to see a safe “one way in, one way out” of the courthouse. The new front steps would still be usable in case of an emergency, but the main entrance and exit would be moved to the rear of the courthouse. In April, commissioners approved an agreement with Mote & Associates for professional architectural
The courthouse gazebo was recently moved to Alice Bish Park by Randy Waymire of Waymire Brothers. (Justin Dark photo)
services regarding the design and renovation of the courthouse steps. Commissioners have
said they hope to complete the courthouse steps renovation project yet this year.
Former board member questions retire/rehire plan SUSAN HARTLEY
STAFF WRITER shartley@earlybirdpaper.com
GREENVILLE – Greenville Board of Education on Thursday approved 5-0 to conduct a public hearing to consider a retire/rehire motion for Superintendent Doug Fries. Prior to the board approving the hearing date, former board member Dave Ernst addressed the issue of Fries’ retire/rehire during the public portion of Thursday night’s regular meeting. Ernst asked Fries if he was “pleased with the work you’ve done” as Greenville’s superintendent, to which Fries answered “yes” while acknowledging “there’s al-
ways work to be done.” Ernst then asked Fries since he was happy being superintendent at Greenville, then “why did you apply to other districts” last summer and “including Troy this winter?” Ernst went on to say Fries’ name had been reported in an area newspaper report concerning Troy’s search for a superintendent. After the meeting, Ernst was asked to clarify which newspaper he had seen Fries’ name, but he could not. Fries said he did not apply to Troy City Schools, but that he did look at other options last summer, including “some jobs I looked at were conducive to a family situation that doesn’t need to be discussed with you.”
A Google search did not reveal Fries’ name being associated with Troy’s superintendent search. Troy Superintendent Eric Herman submitted his resignation in January and according to reports, the district received 16 applications before settling on eight candidates to interview. The retire/rehire hearing for Fries will be held at the board’s regular monthly meeting, set for 7 p.m. June 21. Also Thursday, the board voted unanimously to ask voters to renew a 2-mill permanent improvement levy, which will appear on the Nov. 6 ballot. The five-year levy was first passed in May 2014. Monies collected from
the levy are used for remodeling, renovating, and improving school buildings, furnishing and equipping school buildings and improving school sites. If the renewal passes in November, taxes will be collected during calendar year 2019 for use in 2020. In other business Thursday, the board accepted the resignation of elementary assistant principal Jennifer Statzer, who has accepted the position as day-care principal with Xenia Community Schools. The board also approved several contracts, including a two-year contract for athletic director Dusty Yingst and middle school principals Rhonda Schaar and Chris Mortensen.