By Rick Palsgrove
Southeast Editor
The city of Groveport’s financial department received the Auditor of State Award with Distinction from State Auditor David Yost for its financial practices.
“This is the highest award given by the auditor,” said Tim Kraft of the state auditor’s office. “The city of Groveport received a 100 percent clean audit report. Our office audits 5,800 entities and only about 5 percent of those earn this award.”
This is the second year in a row the city received this award.
“This shows the transparency is there in our city,” said City Councilwoman Jean Ann Hilbert.
Added City Councilman Shawn Cleary, “This is fantastic!”
Finance Director Jeff Green credited the finance department staff of Amy Hartung and Anna Krigbaum for the state recognition.
“We’re proud of the job we’ve done,” said Green.
Groveport Park parking lot
The city plans to pave the lower gravel parking lot in Groveport Park in 2017 at a cost of $467,878. According to City Administrator Marsha Hall the amount includes paving, a pedestrian path, lighting, design and contingency costs, and inspection costs. The paved lot will have 108 parking spaces.
Hall said the project is being delayed until 2017 so its cost can be included with other facility improvements the city plans to make that year, including a new building at the old water treatment plant site, paving the area around this new building, and constructing a new golf maintenance building.
“We can then issue bonds for all the projects,” said Hall. “We would rather not spend an additional $470,000 out of our general fund balance.”
Founders Bend playground
Council passed an ordinance to allow Hall to pursue a grant and agreement from PlayCore, Inc. DBA GameTime to obtain playground equipment to be installed in a 5.3 acre open space located west of the Founder’s Bend subdivision. The grant would pay for 50 percent of the cost of the playground equipment.
Hall plans to meet with Founders Bend representatives to see what kind of equipment they want. The city would obtain the equipment before the end of the year and store it until it can be installed in the spring. Hall said, ideally, the equipment installation would be completed by a joint effort by city workers and Founders Bend volunteers.
“This would make it a true community project,” said Hall.
Hall said the cost of the equipment is still to be determined.
More commercial development
Council heard the second reading of an ordinance to amend the zoning of 41.4 acres located at 2850 Rohr Road to allow VanTrust Real Estate to construct a 432,000 square foot building and a 598,000 square foot building for light manufacturing and assembly.
