Amherst News-Times, 2002-09-25

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Amherst News-Time
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WIDNISDAY, September 25, 2IHI2
AMHIRSI, OHIO
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City to upgrade N. Lake railway bridg J
by JASON HAWK
News-Times reporter
City builders might soon be encountering more of the same problems that have slowed construction
efforts on the Jackson Street Bridge.
Council committee members
voted Monday night to authorize
safety/service director Sherrill
McLoda to apply for OPWC Issue II
Round 17 grants in the amount of
$150,000 and $100,000.
If the applications are approved,
the grants will fund an improvement
to the railway bridge on North Lake
Street near Milan Avenue.
Pending approval, council will
take bids on the project, which city
documents call the North Lake
Street Pavement, Widening, and
Pedestrian Tunnel Project
Preliminary engineering plans are
currently being completed to give
the city an estimate on costs, which
city officials have tentatively
mariced as $380,000. The building
and lands committee will apply for
$230,000 in funding and the balance
will be paid Irom the street improvement fund.
The plans indicate that the existing sidewalk under the railway
bridge will be removed to allow
workers to widen the street To
compensate for foot traffic, the
plans call for the installation of a
pedestrian tunnel through the over
pass roadside embankment
However, because the project involves working on or near railway
tracks, railroad company approval
and involvement in the planning and
execution of the work will be required, and may cause delays similar to those experienced on the Jackson Street Bridge project
"When working with the railroad,
we'll need an awful lot of time,"
Higgins told committee members,
pointing out that planning will likely
stall the start of the project until the
summer of 2004.
But Higgins also pointed out the
urgency of the project
"With the opening of the new (junior high) school, we feel this is a
very important project and the
quicker we get it done, the better,"
he said.
Increased safety in the school
zone is one of the motives for redoing the underpass. Two years ago,
10-year   old   Carson   Hamby-
Two new cops
on patrol force;
reservist back
from war duties
The Amherst police department
took steps last week to alleviate its
law enforcement personnel shortage
by hiring two new officers.
Patrolmen Michael Taliano and
Kurt Oehlstrom began active duty
last week.
Both.officers were part of the first
police academy class to go through
Lorain County Community College's training program.
Taliano, who grew up in Lorain
and now lives in Amherst, graduated from Bowling Green State
University. He was honorably discharged from the Air Force and currently is in the Army National
Guard.
He was drawn to the profession
because his father was also a police
officer, he said.
Oehlstrom grew up in Cleveland
and then moved to Parma, where he
graduated from Valley Forge High
School in 1994. At the age of 17, he
entered the U.S. Marine Corps. He
left the Marines with an honorable
discharge.
He has wanted to be a police officer since he was very young, he
said.
"I've always wanted to be a po-'
lice officer in a city that I'd like to
live in," said Oehlstrom, who lives
in Lorain but plans on relocating to
Amherst in the near future.
Taliano and Oehlstrom believe
that their extensive military training
and experience with firearms will
prove beneficial in their new jobs,
they said. In addition, Oehlstrom
brings extensive martial arts experience with him. He is undefeated in
seven martial arts tournaments.
The patrolmen are in the first
steps of field officer training, and
will gradually take on more duties
and responsibilities over the next 14
weeks.
"Right now we're just starting to
New patrolmen Kurt Oehlstrom (left) and Michael Taliano (riQht) are confident in the training
and abilities they bring to the Amherst Police Department. Oehlstrom is undefeated in seven mar
tial arts tournaments, and Taliano has had extensive weapons training as part of his military
background.
learn the city, the people, businesses, and different sectors of the
city," said Taliano.
The two officers said they plan to
make a career of police work in
Amherst
"I would imagine that I'm going
to finish in Amherst," said Oehlstrom. "I can't imagine leaving."
In addition to the two new offic
ers, the department has also been
bolstered by the return of Sergeant
Dan Makruski, who was called to
military duty in the Army Reserves
last year.
Rittcnour was killed while riding his
bicycle near the railway bridge.
Although the proposal to city
council will go through the customary three readings instead of being
fast tracked, the mayor asked com-
mittee members to declare
emergency status.
Higgins also said that the project
will be bumped up on the city's to-
do list if the city is turned down on
funding for the Henry, Hall, and
Tenney Street sewer projects.
State
audit
shows
minor
errors
by JASON HAWK
News-Times reporter
A recent state audit of Amherst
city government showed bookkeeping discrepancies, but will have no
effect on operations, said city auditor Diane Eswine.
After completing a review of city
spending for 2001, Ciuni ft Panichi,
Inc., the independent accountant
hired by the city to audit records,
noted several anomalies.
Ciuni & Panichi met with Eswine
and mayor John Higgins to discuss
findings at a post-audit hearing,
where the accounting firm told officials that filing purchase orders after
receiving invoices was one of the
city's problems.
"That's been a problem for us and
CONTINUED on page 12
Sean Bailey
Troop 427's Sean Bailey
awarded Eagle Scout title
Commissioner candidates
debate jobs, county cash
by JASON HAWK
News-Times reporter
Two worthy opponents locked
horns Wednesday night during a debate between candidates for Lorain
County commissioner.
Democratic incumbent Betty
Blair squared off against Republican
challenger Eric Flynn, who lost the
race to Blair two yean ago by a
small margin.
The debate was taped as part of
the "Amherst Debates: Your
Choice, Your Voice" series that will
air on cable access channel WACC.
Talking to people and getting
their opinions on issues is an important part of being a commissioner,"
said Blair in her opening remarks.
Blair, who has served three terms
as Lorain County commissioner,
gained the endorsement of four major local newspapers during the last
election.
Flym emphasized his background
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Commissioner Betty Blair (D) and her challenger, Eric Flynn (R),
say they have different tactics for cultivating prosperity in Lorain
County. Voters will have to decide which to choose in elections on
Nov. 5.
in business as a strong point in his   fesskmal politician," he said, "this
opening remarks. is what it's all about: it's about oar
"Unlike the others, I'm not a pro- CONTINUED on page 12
Sean Bailey, a member of
Troop 427 of Amherst, was
honored June 9 with the presentation of his Eagle Award, scouting'* highest honor.
Bailey served the troop as
bugler, troop guide, counselor
in training, assistant senior patrol leader, camp staff and patrol
leader. He earned 24 merit
badges and IS special awards.
He has been an active member
of Troop 427 since 1996.
Bailey's Eagle Service Project involved refinishing eight
tables and 30 chain far the Heritage Presbyterian Church.
The work included stripping,
sanding and repainting the
chain and tables.
The project benefited not
only the church, but also Ihe
Lorain Fiwiily YMCA, since
they hold a day care service for
children after school and on
weekends at the church facility.
A ceremony and reception
were held for Bailey at the
church; he is the son of Michael
and Roxaane Bailey.
Steele, Lake Ridge teens
named merit semifinalists
Six Steels High School students
and a senior at Lake Ridge
Academy hive been aimed aemifi-
nalistt in the 48th annual National
Merit Scholarship Program.
They now have an opportunity to
continue in the competition for
some 8,000 Merit Scholarship
awards that win be offend m the
spring. Merit Scholarships are
by about 500
nd higher
The six Steak awniflnahata in-   aad
elude Jennifer Beight, who plans lo
study Ff«|^«-VRltgH** literature and
hopes to become a high school
teacher, Kristen Cookaey, who will
major in political science and pursue
a career in public relations; David
Hadaway. who plans to rsudy astronomy and become a chemist; Joseph
Strickler, who will study electrical
and plans a career as a
laeor, Nicholas Tests,
who wiH stady marine biology and
a earner aa a cottage professor,
Teets, who will study
chemistry end plane
OOCtOf.
io become a
Escuro, who is a
Ridge Academy la
viUe, has also been i
at Lake
her coarse of study at cottage,
to become a
Be-
to
advance to fiaaUet
competing far a Merit
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