The Amherst news-times. (Amherst, Ohio), 1998-08-05 |
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W5*^r*i.*-' ,: ■ ■" ■■ ■ -—«*•« •""• r~rrrrrrT. u-.J»JIJIsW rr~"srrrw,.'CTcryr. ■. *■ ■.-. wr-msx . i» -. x -. -_ •.•'- •-, -<l I, O l-» o o O |J3 X X I— 00 M M c tn o o 3 x CD < X M c m m CO r— CO This pup's gone to cops — Page 3 Full-time mayor is CC decision — Page 5 » o 3> ►-( < O Vmherst News-Times CO o o y. August 5, 1998 Amhorsl, Ohio 50 cents npike, railroad saga goes on, and on... r\> EN MILLER ...... . imes reportsr Despite the Lorain County commissioners' failure to guarantee a vital $500,000 loan for it, there is a slim possibility an excursion and freight railroad may be able to coexist with a turnpike interchange on Rt. 58. The solution is for the county to buy it as long as it does not interfere Heated debate erupts over rezoning by GLEN MILLER News-Times reporter "...to be continued with a war of words." That's the best way to describe a verbal confrontation between two groups of residents over the rezoning of a residential section of N. Leavitt Road north of North Ridge Road. About eight property owners who want their property rezoned from residential to commercial use were out numbered by opponents from the Rock Creek Run subdivision. After an hour of hearing pro and con comments and arguments, city council decided July 27 to adjourn the public meeting until Sept 15 at 6:30 p.m. "We definitely need more input on this," councilman John Dietrich said. The 55-minute public hearing ended at 7:25 p.m. to allow council's finance committee to briefly meet prior to the start of council at 7:30 p.m. Council members decided to adjourn the hearing because of a lengthy city council agenda and then later tabled action on an ordinance on the rezoning proposal. Dietrich said the delay also will give both skies an opportunity to bolster their file for or against .the rezoning. The subdivision abuts Rock Creek Run properly to the east m May, council was presented with a petition signed by more than 100 subdivision residents opposing (he commercial rezoning for fear it will devalue their property or cause an unsightly mess and noise. Among them was Robert Dono- forio. He reminded council of the principle of majority rule despite the endorsement of the rezoning by city planning and zoning officials. "There are 128 of us and (eight) property owners. You represent us,' too. You should take us into consideration," he said. One of the most vocal opponents was George Schuman, of 483 Rock Creek Run. • Even though about 40 Rock Creek Run opponents were present, he said they could not compete with the expertise of Elyria real estate attorney Michael Blaszak, who represents the N. Leavitt Road property owners. Blaszak cited a six-year-old Ohio Department of Trswsportation traffic study that found 7.5 million cars and trucks drive by the 11 properties each year. He and die number is likely to increase if the proposed Ohio Turnpike interchange is built, making the land unsuitable for anything but cctnmcsTcial development. He reminded council that reaon- ing me properties has been ignored by the city for about 20 yam de- spile the iixusawwaettons of • with the construction of the long- delayed turnpike exchange. The idea was proposed by commissioner Michael Ross during the July 30 meeting at which the loan was voted down. He and fellow commissioner Mary Jo Vasi voted against it while commissioner Betty Blair voted for it His concept involves making the abandoned Wellington to Lorain rail line owned by the Lorain Shore Railway Association part of a larger county economic development effort. Ross and Vasi said they felt uncomfortable guaranteeing the loan without more information and documentation on financing and use of the railroad. "All I've heard.is talk. The state is doing this and the association is doing that, but nobody has anything written down," Vasi said. Ross agreed, but said the railroad could play an important part in the county's economic stability and growth. Regardless of the turnpike interchange's design, the county's purchase of the railroad from the excursion group could be a major link for future development It would provide a major connection to the development of the Lorain County Regional Airport, a rail terminal proposed by Lorain officials, the Lorain Port Authority and USS/Kobe Steel. Just how the railroad might coex ist with the interchange will be decided Aug. 10 by the Ohio Turnpike Commission. It will decide whether to use an underpass beneath the turnpike or build a redesigned entrance-Axil using bridges built over the highway. The underpass is sought by the railway association and prompted a deal whereby the railway would pay for a redesign. If the underpass plan is chosen, it will end Lake Shore's dream of a and Ma clients wtve accompanied by Alan Weinetaw, • Cool dip The pool looks inviting, and so do the prizes that accompany the ducks in this miniature pond, set up during the Amherst Public Li brary's Summer Reading Fun Fair. Dozens of children turned out for the annual event, held last week on the library lawn. CONTtftffDee It If a tree falls in the woods...? This one drops too close for comfort Russ Turner and his sisler Marilyn are thankful an old oak tree zigged rather than zagged when its life came to an abrupt end last week. The tree was probably more than 100 years old. Turner and his wife, Melo- dey, were both home about 6 p.m. July 29 when they heard what sounded tiirs*. a limb breaking off a tree. He was inside and she was in the front of 414 W. Martin St.. Marilyn Turner's home. Neither thought much until they heard what sounded like a muffled thud in the back yard. They were astounded to find a huge, 150-foot oak tree had split in two and silently come crashing to the ground — six feet from da) house. The tree, which Rum and Marilyn had grown op with as children, was actually two oak trees that had grown least 100 years ago. The family has lived in their home 34 yean. Ever since they can remember, one half leaned toward me houee and the other half toward me Creek, welsh hi adje- Ruas Turner talks with hit mother, Helen Turner, ae he welts across the trunk of a fal len tree that nearly mltaed crushing their home. cent to aw wan bar daughter. She had always feared one tneak or a branch might ml oa it the houee, eepromXy it a bad atom. But mere was no wind, inouonr or BBBroatasj amy aw. It was anany and ant wmd nomiaal, aoihmg met would uproot a MtV "Yon would anwe dWMnt «swt «MuaM ssssM sssssWsl a laastt *^rw wt^sans ssssrS^p ussaw • ssusssv crash and amnammg else, tmt ao," Halm Tenmr ami "Wo were very lucky." Rum and Unto dry Turner had bean living with Marilyn and Helen Turner for several atonthi while mev looked for a noem of man* own. They movad tern their owe place Seaanmy. Had the mm Men mat am ctoaar, me two anight lave moved hi But there is a bright and profitable end to the tale of the split tree. Rum Turner said his sister stand to made a few extra dollars when the fallen one is cut up. Oak is a valuable lumber. When me cmmai atarts. e^emnw •.ajpamnm ammmp '*jBnW o^e»anaMW will he ante m know the m> lea giant's real age by iag dm nags mams me 26-mile long rail line that would haul tourists plus freight to industries located along the track. If the commissioners had agreed to cosign the loan, the railway association would have been eligible to receive a $1.8 million loan from the Ohio Rail Development Authority. Mark Chappo, the association's president, explained the group has $1.4 million in equity in railroad CONTINUED on page 2 City, twp. must hash over their differences by GLEN MILLER News-Times reporter Mayor John Higgins wants city council and Amherst Township trustees to meet in an attempt to resolve difference that have developed between the two government entities over the last several months. Depending on the availability of members of the two groups, the mayor hopes to hold a joint meeting in city council chambers Aug. 17. Several township policies are being questioned by the city, but the chief concerns involve the proposed Joint Economic Development District (JEDD), free fire protection for the district and the bonding of city utility crews who do work within the township. Higgins suggested the meeting to city council after township trustee David Urig presented him with a list of "demands" during a recent meeting between the two. Talks over the development of a 60-acre JEDD between the Norfolk Southern rail line and Ackerman Road have come to a standstill since Urig and fellow trustee Ronald Leoni have sought changes in an agreement drafted by a JEDD expert and the mayor. The trustees want free fire protection in the area and township voter approval before the JEDD can be* expanded to areas not contiguous to it Both changes are opposed by Higgins and council members. Under the existing agreement, township voter approval only would be necessary to formally create the JEDD, not expand it Higgins and council members contend the expansion process would take at least seven months every time voter approval is sought. The delay would drive businesses away from the JEDD rather than attract them, jobs and additional tax income for the city and township. In addition, the township would have to pay for the issue to be continuously placed on the ballot Trustee David Urig said the current agreement may not be suitable for every area of the township. "Different areas have different needs," he explained. "One area may already have utilities, another may not or it may net be suitable." In addition, Urig said township residents may not warn to give blanket approval for expansion of the JEDD beyond a given area. "We just believe this is the right thing and people should have a voice in what happens, that's al." he added. The demand for free fire protection within the JEDD also disturbs the mayor. TO Mejms's toewladge. no other township JEDD in the stele receives free On protection. "I am am going to send oar finv men out there and ask them to risk their lives or oweq Trf" *w: i f^yi'ft .S: ■ Ai--'. «, rt . *'• '■-V-ivi4' <-'v**'-"-■ -V' ■1 iH^OJL u ■ :- _ A ' mmmamnmmnnmmS , ■■ I WsW'
Object Description
Title | The Amherst news-times. (Amherst, Ohio), 1998-08-05 |
Place |
Amherst (Ohio) Lorain County (Ohio) |
Date of Original | 05-AUG-1998 |
Searchable Date | 1998-08-05 |
Collection | Amherst News-Times |
Submitting Institution | Amherst Public Library |
Rights | Online access is provided for research purposes only. For rights and reproduction requests or more information, go to http://www.ohiohistory.org/images/information |
Type | Text |
Format | newspapers |
LCCN | sn84028333 |
Description
Title | The Amherst news-times. (Amherst, Ohio), 1998-08-05 |
Place |
Amherst (Ohio) Lorain County (Ohio) |
Date of Original | 05-AUG-1998 |
Searchable Date | 1998-08-05 |
Submitting Institution | Amherst Public Library |
Rights | Online access is provided for research purposes only. For rights and reproduction requests or more information, go to http://www.ohiohistory.org/images/information |
Full Text |
W5*^r*i.*-' ,:
■ ■" ■■ ■ -—«*•«
•""• r~rrrrrrT. u-.J»JIJIsW rr~"srrrw,.'CTcryr. ■. *■ ■.-. wr-msx
. i» -. x -. -_ •.•'- •-,
- |
Format | newspapers |
LCCN | sn84028333 |
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