By Rick Palsgrove
Southeast Editor
Citizens in Groveport’s Founder’s Bend subdivision want to see the city install playground equipment in the greenspace in their neighborhood.
Resident James Chilton told Groveport City Council on Aug. 24 he thinks the city owned vacant lot between two houses on Landmark Road would be a good spot for a playground.
However, the narrow 42 x 120 foot lot Chilton mentioned actually leads to another broader open space of about 5 acres owned by the city. According to the city’s 2010 Park System Master Plan, the 42 x 120 foot lot on Landmark Road is shown as the potential entryway to the 5 acre site. Under the master park plan, the proposed long term plan for this 5 acre site calls for the installation of a playground, shelter house, and the maintaining of undeveloped open space for unorganized play of field sports. Also, according to the master park plan, a concrete drainage swale bisects part of this property.
“We need to research this further and see what would fit there and then possibly consider it during the budget process,” said Groveport City Administrator Marsha Hall, who added there are also grants available for playground equipment.
City officials plan to review the master park plan and discuss which park projects could be pursued at future council meetings.
Projects
Council approved the 2016 capital improvement plan, which includes pursuing Ohio Public Works Commission funding for: the $2.6 million Hendron Road reconstruction from Main Street to Glendening Drive (which includes a new water main at Main Street and one from Hendron Road to Lowery Court); and the $702,000 phase one of the west Bixby Road pavement rehabilitation from near Falk Court to Madison Christian School. The second and third phases of the west Bixby Road project will be in future years.
The plan allots $350,000 in 2016 to repave Cherry Street east of West Street, College Street south of Main Street, Walnut Street south of Main Street; to re-stripe the city’s portion of Saltzgaber Road and Commerce Center Drive; and to crack seal streets in the Founders Bend, Elmont Place, Newport, Westport subdivisions.
The Wirt Road pedestrian/sidewalk improvements from Heritage Park to Main Street are also to be completed in 2016.
Other future projects include: in 2017 – $625,000 for new water mains for Seymour, Crescent, and Delane streets; $100,000 for water services replacement for Front Street; in 2018 – $354,000 for Higgins Boulevard pavement reconstruction; $720,000 for north Center Street reconstruction; $385,000 to widen Groveport Road at the Groveport Park entrance; and $588,000 for water main improvements on Elm, Center, and West streets west of College Street.
Proposed projects yet to be scheduled include: State Route 317, Saltzgaber Road, Pontius Road intersection improvements; Groveport Road reconstruction from Swisher Road to State Route 317; Hamilton Road pedestrian improvement from the railroad crossing to Cruiser Park; Rohr Road/State Route 317 intersection improvements; and Toy Road pavement rehabilitation from Centerpoint Parkway to Swisher Road.
Police sergeants contract
Council approved a new three year contract effective July 1, 2015 with the city police department’s four sergeants.
Under the contract, the sergeants will receive a 3.5 percent annual salary increase in the first year of the contract, a 4 percent increase in the second year, and a 4.5 percent increase in the third year. The sergeants will also receive an additional personal day per year.
Council approved the city’s patrol officers’ new three year contract effective July 1, 2015 in August, which provides a 3 percent annual pay increase each year and an additional personal day per year.
These contracts do not apply to the department’s lieutenants, captains, and chief, who are non-union.
