By Rick Palsgrove
Southeast Editor
Residents from Groveport’s Westport subdivision presented a petition to Groveport City Council asking city officials to conduct a noise and traffic study for State Route 317, which is just west of the neighborhood.
“The traffic and accompanying noise has increased dramatically,” said resident Charlie Beardmore. “With all the warehouses nearby, there are more trucks and cars and there are also more emergency runs.”
Beardmore said there is also increased noise from the nearby warehouse operations.
“They collect trash at 4 a.m. and you can imagine what that sounds like,” said Beardmore.
Beardmore noted that, some time in the future, State Route 317 in the area could likely be expanded from two to four lanes.
“When that happens, that would be a good time to install a noise wall or other sound abatements,” said Beardmore.
Mayor Lance Westcamp said city officials would discuss the noise situation at council’s committee of the whole meeting at 8:30 a.m. on Oct. 22 at The Links at Groveport, 1005 Richardson Road.
Downtown development
The new, 10,800 square foot Ace Hardware, located in the Groveport Town Center on Groveport’s Main Street across from Groveport Elementary School, recently opened and Groveport Finance Director Jeff Green said construction of the second commercial building planned for the development could begin by the spring of 2015.
This second structure will be a 7,296 square foot multi-tenant commercial building that will be located just west of Ace Hardware. Potential occupants for this building include restaurants, delicatessens, coffee shops, independent retailers, and small commercial offices. However, city officials indicated no tenants have been confirmed for the multi-tenant building.
The site also includes a new 91-space public parking lot extending northeast from Main Street to Elm Street on former Ohio and Erie Canal land and a bike path that will eventually connect Main Street to the city’s Blacklick Park.
Water tower painting
Council turned down a request from Motts Military Museum Director Warren Motts to add the words, “Home of Motts Military Museum” to the city’s water tower on South Hamilton Road when the tower is repainted in 2015. Motts had also requested the tower be painted red, white and blue.
Council rejected the request because it would add $50,000 to the cost of the project. Council decided to re-paint the tower its existing color with “Groveport” painted on it in black letters.
“The painting, both exterior and interior, of the water tower is part of our 11 year tank maintenance agreement with Caldwell Tank,” said City Administrator Marsha Hall. “Our annual cost for the long term maintenance contract is $40,446.”
Hall said the water tower is painted every 11 years.
Columbus water and sewer rate hike
Hall said the city of Columbus is considering raising its water and sewer rates by 3 percent effective Jan. 1, 2015. In addition to Columbus residents, the water rate increase would affect the portion of Groveport residents who are on the Columbus water system. The sewer rate increase would affect all Groveport residents as Groveport is on the Columbus sanitary sewer system.
