The national economy is struggling, but Groveport’s industrial parks appear to be weathering the financial storms.
At Groveport Village Council’s July 14 meeting, Groveport Economic Development Director Jeff Green reported that the vacancy rate in the village’s industrial parks is only 13 percent.
"We have 16 million square feet under roof," said Green, "and only around two million of it is vacant. (Considering the rest of central Ohio) we are in good shape."
Green told council that it may want to look at adopting some incentive programs to make some of the older, unoccupied warehouses, such as the empty Radio Shack facility which no longer is tax abated, more competitive.
The industrial parks contribute significantly to Groveport’s income tax revenue, while June figures are not yet available, in May the village’s income tax revenue was $573,615, an increase of $60,575 over May 2007. As of May, the village’s income tax collections for the year were up 26 percent compared to 2007 and 21 percent above projections for 2008.
Groveport Police news
•Police Chief Gary York reported that officers are focusing part of their traffic enforcement efforts on Wirt Road and have recently issued 14 citations in the area.
•Patrol Officer Josh Gilbert was named "officer of the quarter" for his efforts on the job.
•Groveport detectives located and arrested a suspect in connection with an attempted kidnapping incident in Newport Village.
Other Groveport news
•Mayor Lance Westcamp – along with Councilwoman Jean Ann Hilbert, Law Director Kevin Shannon, Finance Director Ken Salak, and Human Resources Director Brenda Lovell – interviewed three candidates for the vacant village administrator position on July 17. Westcamp stated a second interview would be scheduled for the finalists, but added he has not set a date for naming the new administrator.
•A pre-construction meeting for Groveport’s bike path, which will connect to Three Creeks Metro Park, was held July 16. Engineer Steve Farst stated construction on the bike path should begin within 10 days of that meeting with completion of the path expected within 75 days. The approximate 7,000 foot, asphalt bike path will extend north from Front Street, through Elmont Place, through Cruiser Park, and then connect to Three Creeks.
•Council heard the first reading of an ordinance to contract with Groveport Madison schools to place a school resource police officer (SRO) at the high school on a daily basis during the 2008-09 school year. Groveport Madison’s share of the cost of the officer would be $45,877 while the village’s share would be $20,611.
•The Links at Groveport was battered by deep flood waters in late June. Golf Director Tom Walker said the new suspension bridge over Little Walnut Creek "held up well (in the flood) and received only minor damage." Walker said for the most part the golf course "rebounded well" from the flood except for: hole 14 where part of the tee and 80 percent of the fairway was lost; hole 11 where there was an 80 percent loss from the fairway bunkers to the green; and hole 8 where there was a 70 percent loss to the fairway. The damaged areas will be reseeded.
•Effective Aug. 1, all picnic shelter reservations will be handled by the village’s parks and recreation department. Also, effective immediately, all tennis court reservations will be handled by the parks and recreation department. Call 836-1000.
