During a caucus session held prior to the regular May 28 Jackson Township meeting, trustees voiced their opposition to annexation of quarry land on State Route 104 to Columbus.
According to a report by Township Administrator Mike Lilly, the applicants and their legal representatives presented information to the Southwest Area Commission on May 21 regarding the proposed annexation. The major point of the proposal focused on potential land use as a future lake and park for Columbus.
"On behalf of the board, I want letters opposing any annexation of the gravel pit on 104," Trustee David Burris stated emphatically. "They’ve (Columbus) given us the dump and they’re not going to stick us with anything else.
"We had meetings with Buck Reinhart (an attorney representing the applicants and former Columbus mayor) and we don’t trust Buck Reinhart. I want to see the city (Grove City) start a campaign to stop the annexation. The nearest (Columbus) fire station is on Parsons Avenue. They can’t service the area. They are jeopardizing mutual aid with us. It needs to be stopped ahead of time."
Fellow trustee Bill Lotz said, in addition to the township and Grove City, an auto auction on SR 104 is also opposed to the annexation.
Representatives from Columbus want to annex the property and eventually turn it into a recreational outlet, similar to Antrim Park. Last year, both Jackson Township and Grove City turned down annexation proposals from the gravel company.
White and McDowell road intersection
The board discussed and approved a cooperative agreement with Franklin County and Grove City regarding improvements at the intersection of White and McDowell Roads.
Burris emphasized the township is committed to $200,000 and nothing more. If there are overages, he said the township is not liable and the financial burden would fall on the shoulders of the county and city.
"The best way to stop any overages is when it goes out to bid," said Sharon Reichard, Grove City Administrator. "It’s the county’s project and I don’t foresee any problems."
Burris added, "This is and has been a high priority. It is a dangerous, dangerous intersection. This is our second cooperative agreement and it says something about the township, city, and county’s ability to work together."
New firefighters
The Jackson Township Fire Department roster grew by five following a swearing-in ceremony of new part-time firefighter and paramedics.
"It’s a good group of guys," said Fire Chief Lloyd Sheets. "I think they’ll be very happy here."
Joining the ranks are Brandon Scott, John Wisenbarger, Chad Layton, Thomas Collins and James Irwin. Three of the new firefighters – Wisenbarger, Irwin and Layton – are Grove City High School graduates. Collins lives in Prairie Township near Galloway and Scott is also a firefighter with Scioto Township.
Cots for the zoo
The board declared a quartet of old emergency cots surplus before approving the sale of one – for a dollar – to the Columbus Zoo.
Sheets said the zoo requested one of the cots to move animals around following medical procedures in their veterinary program.
