Some bumpy railroad crossings in Groveport may soon be repaired.
Village Administrator Jon Crusey reported to Groveport Village Council at its Oct. 22 meeting that the Indiana & Ohio Railway (IORY) has made a proposal to the village regarding repairs to the rough railroad crossings at Bixby, Hendron, and Hamilton roads.
"They’re (IORY) showing a willingness to work with Groveport to improve the railroad crossings," said Crusey.
Under the proposal submitted to the village on Oct. 3 the IORY would provide:
•the labor required for the work; and
•the rail, ties, and rubber asphalt spacers for the crossing if needed.
The IORY asks that Groveport:
•provide traffic detour and signage;
•saw cut the existing road surface;
•dispose of all of the old crossing materials;
•provide the rock ballast between and under the ties, about 100 tons for all three crossings at $12 per ton; and
•provide asphalt for the crossings.
The IORY stated in its letter that this arrangement is similar to what has been done in other communities.
Council will consider the proposal further at future meetings.
Bike path extension
Council heard the second reading of an ordinance proposing to extend a bicycle path from the village north to connect with the bicycle path in Three Creeks Metro Park.
The potential route for the approximately one mile path has not been determined as the village is exploring various options.
Councilman Ed Rarey said Metro Parks has expressed an interest in the past to Groveport connecting to Three Creeks Metro Park with a bicycle path. The path would link to the larger Metro Parks/Franklin County Greenways bicycle path system.
Rarey said bicyclists who now use Old Hamilton Road to get to Three Creeks Metro Park, as well as some pedestrians who walk along the road into the village, are in a "dangerous, precarious situation" when using the narrow roadway.
The final reading of the ordinance is scheduled for council’s Nov. 13 meeting.
Other Groveport news
•Council approved amending the deed restrictions for property owned by the Sedalia Medical Center just south of their complex on Hendron Road (the former Groveport Recreation Club swimming pool site) to allow for its use by a financial institution.
Sedalia Medical Center on Hendron Road is looking to sell the southern portion of its lot to the neighboring First Service Federal Credit Union. First Service is interested in the land as the site for its corporate headquarters.
The deed had originally had excluded zoning for a financial institution at the site.
•Council heard the first readings of ordinances to annex two properties: 25.7 and 29.7 acre sites on the south side of Rohr Road west of State Route 317; and also an ordinance to amend the zoning at the sites from suburban office to planned industrial park. Plans call for the construction of a 567,000 square foot warehouse and a 675,000 square foot warehouse on the sites.
•Groveport School Resource Officer Christopher Gyke reported that, since the beginning of the school year, there have been: 27 fights/assaults/disturbances at Groveport Madison High School; seven misdemeanor citations; seven thefts; and three felony arrests.
