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THE EARLY BIRD NEWSPAPER S U N D A Y, D E C E M B E R 6 , 2 0 1 5
The Merchant House gets closer to opening RYAN BERRY
MANAGING EDITOR editor@earlybirdpaper.com
Darke County Auditor Carol Ginn checks some of the numbers that will go into the 2016 budget she is preparing for the December 30 meeting with the Darke County Commissioners. (Bob Robinson photo)
County budget in good shape; indebtedness a concern BOB ROBINSON
ASSOCIATE EDITOR brobinson@earlybirdpaper.com
GREENVILLE – “I don’t like debt,” Darke County Auditor Carol Ginn said, noting this year alone the county is paying over a half million dollars ($535,407.52) in interest and principle on the Wagner Avenue complex. “If we have the revenue we’d be better off to pay it down now.” The comment was in light of good news for the county. “We’re in really good shape,” she said. “Increase in job creations... sales taxes are up.” Ginn estimates the county will have $4,044,854.07 in unencumbered revenue – carryover – that can be used for next year. Carryover is important as it is needed to pay bills and make payroll until the current year’s receipts start coming in. Ginn also credited the Commissioners and county department heads for the role they played in the county’s position. “They took the steps needed to cut budgets when the monkey was on our back,” she said, noting 2006 and 2007 when the carryover was as low as $892,000 and insufficient to pay bills and meet payroll. “They know what came before and don’t want to go back to that.” “I’ve tried to be conservative on expected revenue,” she said. “If it exceeds my expectations – as it did last year – I would like to see major transfers to the bond fund.” She added current indebtedness on three Wagner Avenue bonds is $5,840,000. “My absolute best thing would be to pay this off in 10 years. It’s good for the citizens of Darke County to be out of debt.” One problem plaguing Darke County is the drug problem. The Sheriff’s proposed 2016 budget is nearly a third of the pro-
posed General Revenue budget ($5,701,000 out of $18,616,240). “That affects other departments as well,” she said. “More arrests mean more prosecution; the judge has to deal with more probation requirements… every county in the state has the same issue, if not worse. It’s a constant battle.” A continuing area of concern, however, is Wagner Avenue and now South Industrial Park. Both involve debt and, at least to some extent, taxpayer funds. Wagner Avenue, for instance, needed $210,394 from the General Fund to help make bond payments. “They are working hard to get renters out there,” Ginn said, “but until that happens it’s not making enough to cover expenses.” She added it’s the same thing with South Park. “The commissioners have signed contracts (obligations) for $1,583,813.10. Bills paid so far come to $496,116.69, while revenue received so far is $250,621. The county had to advance the rest ($245,495.69).” She noted the commissioners have obtained a WPCLF grant for $727,207.20 which the county hasn’t yet received. “It’s no interest, but it still has to be paid back,” Ginn said. There has also been participation by the CIC for $100,000. The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) has paid $150,621 for the property it has purchased and has committed to another $210,000. “The commissioners told me there is interest from two other buyers but I’ve seen no sales agreements as yet,” Ginn said. Until that happens, she noted, expenses will have to be covered from taxpayer funds. Ginn will be submitting the 2016 budget for signatures to the commissioners on Dec. 30 at their regular public meeting.
GREENVILLE – Five months ago downtown Greenville learned it would soon have a new restaurant, The Merchant House (located in the former Sportzers building). Since then the anticipation has been at an all-time high. When are they going to open? What will it look like inside? Those questions and many more have been posed to the owners almost on a daily basis. Although they were shooting to open this fall, the treasures that were beneath one remodeling project after another have pushed the opening date back a little as they try to incorporate the building’s history into the décor. George (Georgianne) and Randy Lambright, along with Randy’s daughter, Cassie and her fiancé, Chris Campbell, have put a lot of work into bringing the community a top notch family restaurant. While most would want to get rid of the old, The Merchant House crew decided it wanted to keep the old and get rid of the newer. The inside was stripped to the original walls only to find a beautiful brick that was in great condition. According to Campbell, there were many other treasures hidden behind walls and ceilings that were torn down. They found several
While it may look like there is still a lot of construction work that needs to be done, Chris Campbell says the restaurant area is about 80-percent complete.
columns that were threestories high and most likely original to the building. These columns rested beneath the most beautiful ornate molding. Campbell explained, “As we went along, the vision changed. We would find new things behind things. It has taken us longer than we expected.” Campbell noted they are getting closer to finishing the project. “The front of the house (bar and restaurant area) is 80-percent done. Most of the work we are doing now is touch up and then we’ve got to clean the floors.” Work is also being done in the kitchen area where
the floors had to be taken down to the original floor. The walls were also stripped and new walls were put up. They have been able to rehabilitate some of the equipment that was in the kitchen, but there will also be a lot that is new. Campbell believes it is about a 50/50 split on new verses old equipment. While they complete the renovation of the building, The Merchant House is starting to test its food. “We are probably about 85- to 90-percent complete on the menu, but we haven’t been able to test most of it yet,” said Campbell. Over sixweek’s worth of work went into developing the corn-
bread that will be served in the restaurant. “It has to be perfect,” he said. Although a date for the opening has not been set, he hopes they will be able to begin training the staff in January with the hope of opening to the public in February. “We would have liked to be open by now,” said Campbell. “We had two rough dates we were shooting for and we knew if we didn’t get open by the holidays that we weren’t going to open during the holidays.” The Merchant House is currently selling gift certificates and you can keep up with their progress by following them on Facebook.
Non-profit group focuses on teaching the performing arts BOB ROBINSON
ASSOCIATE EDITOR brobinson@earlybirdpaper.com
GREENVILLE – “We saw there was a need for a lot of children in the area of the performing arts… it helps in building strong fundamental values for the children. And we wanted to offer it at an affordable price.” That was the goal of three founders of The Final Bow… Hillary Holsapple, and Becky and Joel Hootman. Two years later the studio offers music, dance and theater, has 100 students and has just received its 501c3 designation. Holsapple and the Hootmans are directors while the organization is overseen by a local board of parents. “We are a non-profit organization,” Holsapple said. “We’ve been working with the fees we collect and donations from businesses and individuals. The 501c3 designation makes it easier for us to seek donations because now they’re tax deductible.” She added donations also fund a limited number of scholarships. The organization’s first major fundraiser is a Christmas performance of the Nutcracker at the Light-
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The Final Bow Director Hillary Holsapple, kneeling right, works with beginner tumbling students while her student assistant, Hannah Rice, left, looks on. (Bob Robinson photo)
house Christian Center, All Seasons Place, on Dec. 11, 12 and 13. “This performance includes singing, acting and dancing,” Holsapple said. “It will be a musical as opposed to the traditional ballet.” She added, however, that Final Bow will be taking a small group of girls to see the Nutcracker at the Dayton Ballet. Doors open at 6 p.m., dinner at 6:30 and the performance begins at 7:30. Sixteen classes will be performing with students ranging from ages three and up.
Cost for the event is $12. According to Holsapple the meal will be catered, featuring chicken breast, green bean salad, potato and roll. “There will also be a special guest,” she added. “Santa Clause will be there to meet with the children and guests.” “We need support from local businesses and individuals,” Holsapple said. In addition to dance skills such as tumbling, pre-ballet, tap, jazz and contemporary and more, they do community activities, such as visiting
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nursing homes, to help students learn fundamental values. “This is important for the children in Darke County and surrounding areas.” For tickets or information contact Holsapple at 459-8078. The Final Bow is also on Facebook and has a website, www.finalbowkids.weebly.com. Final Bow is also taking registrations for its Spring Season. The spring performance will be about “Through the Decades.”
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303 S. BROADWAY GREENVILLE
548-4242