Amherst News-Times, 1998-10-21

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,1.   Ohio
ship tries
[reasons
jvember
fire house levy
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by QLEN MILLER
News-Times reporter
Dozens of people have demanded
that Amherst Township trustees explain their reasons for wanting to
start a township fire department by
placing a 2 mill levy on the Nov. 3
ballot
More than a dozen members of an
ad hoc group calling itself Concerned Township Citizens and other
residents crowded into the township
hall Oct 13 to hear the reasons from
trustees Ron Leoni and David Urig.
Most group members questioned
the need for a township fire department and how only one fire station
could adequately protect homes and
families. Fire protection throughout
the entire township is already provided by the Amherst and South fire
departments, which serve different
sections of the township, the group
said.
Most of the concerned citizens
group are members of the Citizens
for Economic Development which
is headed by retired township businessman Allen Ahlgrim.
Other members include school
board member and landscaper Ron
Yacobozzi, retired auto dealer Pete
.Sliman, and residents Mike Witte
''and Ron Kopco.
The group met at Sliman's home
Oct 12 to announce it was against
ihe levy because, a.township fire department is not needed.
The levy was conceived by Urig
and Leoni, neither of whom have
provided information about the levy
and its purpose, according to
Ahlgrim.
Denny Abraham, a third trustee,
as gone on record as opposing the
levy for much the same reason.
He said the issue was "ill-
conceived and ill-prepared" and "a
knee jerk reaction" to Amherst's efforts to negotiate a new fire contract
Council
declines
chamber's
$$ request
The Lorain County Chamber of
Commerce may have to wait awhile
before city council agrees to a
$10,000 agreement under which the
county chamber would aa as an
economy development advisor for
the city.
Frank DeTillio, chamber presi
dent, got little more than a thank
you from council members after
making a 10-minute presentation on
the benefits of chamber services at
its Sept 28 meeting.
' The objective of the chamber's
services will be to attract high paying technical jobs to the county and
Amherst. Il also would provide the
city economic development assistance as needed.
DeTillio said the city's participation on a contractual basis would
help ensure continued economic development locally and throughout
Ito county.
Tlte chamber's goal is to attract
diversified industrial growth, especially in the area of electronics, he
with the township.
Leoni denied the accusation during the trustees' meeting, saying he
and Urig think it is time for the
township to consider starting its
own fire department.
"I want to put it to the voters and
see if the voters want it," he added.
A $64,000 increase in fire service
sought by Amherst makes the reason "a moot point," he said.
A continuing 1 mill fire levy only
generates about $65,000. Income
from the 2 mill levy probably will
have to be used to pay for the proposed Amherst fire contract, he
added.
"With the price we're looking at
now, without the 2 mills, we probably can do it but it's really going to
be very tight because you're going
have to dip into our general fund,"
Leoni argued.
Ahlgrim said the majority of people remain opposed to the levy, especially if other township funds can
berreappropriated from other uses lo
pay for a new fire contract
The terms of the contract call for
costs to be increased from the existing $46,000 a year to $110,000 annually for five years.
Even though about a third of the
city's responses were in the township last year, the township only
paid for about 10.S percent of the
operating costs of the fire
department
Amherst mayor John Miggins has
said the additional cost is an attempt
to eliminate this discrepancy.
The township's existing fire contract with the city expired Oct 1.
City council has approved a 60-day
extension so contract talks can be
completed.
About $20,000 of the $110,000
would be set aside to purchase a
new 3,000-gallon pumper tanker for
rural fires. The base fee adds
another $40,000 while $50,000 will
CONTINUED on page   3
High climbers
Workmen from the Waco Scaffolding Co. in
Brooklyn Heights climb up scaffolding being
erected for roof repairs to Amherst city hall,
which is scheduled to begin next week.
Halloween parade
starts 2 p.m. Sunday
Get ready, ghosties and goblins...Your time to shine will be
during the annual city-wide Halloween parade on Sunday, Oct 25
starting at 2 pjn.
The parade will form at the San Springs building at the corner of
Forest Street and Park Avenue and end at city hall.
Registration begins at 12:30 pjn. and costume judging begins at
1:30 p.m.
This year, in conjunction with AUState Insurance, the Amherat
Police Department Explorer Pott #422 will be fingerprinting children at the San Springs building from 11:30 ajn. lo 1 pjn.
The Amherst Quarterback Club will be in attendance as well,
selling raffle tickets for a new 1999 Ford Ranger, a fundraiser for
the football program for students in grades seven through twelve.
Refreshments will be available at city hall for &I1 of the parade
participants.
The Amhent Teachers Association, along with the city of Amhent, Girl Scout Cadet Troop #051, and the Amherst Police Department POP Lodge #122 are sponsoring this year's parade.
In the event of inclement weather, the parade wfll be canceled
and'Halloween costume judging will be held at Marion L. Steele
High SchooL
Trick or treating for the city of Amhent will be held the same
day from 3-3 p.m.
Possible skateboarding ramp on tap
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SO conts
City needs
$85,000 to
complete %
fundraiser
by QLEN MILLER
——.^a—^————■ •
News-Times reporter
The city is $85,000 shy of matching a $300,000 challenge grant offered to complete fandraising for the
proposed 60-acre West Side Park.
The matching grant was offered
in the spring by an anonymous donor to help the city raise $600,000
in public contributions for the park.
The donor is on individual accord-
ing to mayor John Higgins.
A series of fundraising efforts
overseen by safety service director
Sherrill McLoda has netted
$215,000 since late spring.
Higgins said she and a committee
of volunteers hope to raise the remainder before the end of the year
by seeking donations from the business and corporate community.
The proposed park is a joint venture between the city and the Lorain
County Metropolitan Park Board,
the first of its kind in the area.
City officials have said the city's
Maude Neiding Park on Cleveland
Avenue and other facilities have become overcrowded due to the city's
growth. The biggest demand for
new park was one that combines nature and recreational or exercise
facilities.
As approved last year, the agreement between the city and the parks
calls for the parks, the city and the
public to each provide a third of the
park's $1.8 million cost
Both the city and park have paid
their shares, or $1.2 million. Rather
. than place a levy on the ballot the
mayor said the pubac portion is being sought from donors.
"We really didn't want to go the
tax route because we realize not
everybody would use this or thinks
it is needed, so we're soliciting from
those who do," he explained.
Failure to reach the $300,000
goal means the city will not receive
the full matching grant Should that
occur, volunteers will have to seek
donations by sending letters or brochures to residents throughout the
community.
The amount sought may be $50
or less, although Higgins said a park
committee hopes a mail campaign
will not be necessary.
Skate boanten may have a place   parents who want a safe place where   letting skate board anHlinisti and   he explaiaed "This is the beat
to practice their tnansuro m rid   utey can pursue their high speed   their parents build ramps on an un-   can do, but it's a start."
"They'd much rather have
cerned people give," he said.     »•-_
Start up work on the park will be
delayed until the entire $600,000
can be raised. ?.
Plans call for the development of
a 13-mile asphalt walking, biking
and jogging, path, a picnic area and
shelter, a children's play area, soccer field and a series of nature activities, such as bud watching and
fishing.
The wooded area will be located
behind the Amherst Police Department between N. Lake and N. Mam
streets.
Future plans call for the possible,
development of a swimming poof
and sports facilities on several acres
of land to the northeast V.
A coat breakdown provided fay'
tlte county metro parks reveals the
most expensive item is a $600,000
asphak trail. Other coats are land ac-
quirilion.$m(»a. two p-ciiK .healers, $100,000; a 40-car tanking lot
road. $1 $0,000; re-
$100,000; a -""—■**
SSOjOOO;
SjOsOffh las
Despite a lack of wdnstrial
growth ia the community, he said
the city and the surrounding area
have benefited from reakkwoal development in ute part aevetal yean.
Last year, council rejected providing the chamber with a "mem-
facrship comributioa" on the advice
CONTINUED on page 10
air if city council allows "quarters"   sport.                                          used portion of a park using their      Ct» obje^veu log* ata* beared ^pijjea" to oebuik be city      The idea was proposed to council  own or donated atcney. den off fewae»«* atteett
park.                                         st its Oct 19 buildings aad lands      Holysjiiraajssiapcrttoaof De- .je>wn*s. a coaajaaatt of
cotvuniitoc
"Pipes" are among the tenausol-      The mayor said he has received   by other people, amtoug* am aeo- they
jer neus on tamtm i
gs and lands      He hss proposed a |«rtion of De-   .joewata. a coanjnaai
Paoat Pa* that is ant heavily used  ^^^ aaonpara aad
has received   by oanv |>eopls. aatotn* the dec.-   r^y claim the ano
oa^skateboardenuMfcr the curved   about 15 inquiries from teenagers   sioa rests with <
nmpsea«naft*B\ey.feta.MM   and their parents within the last   located away fc
snd other tricks. Qmrtractkn wit   month. the eastern aad
giaeeriag aad
$100,000; and
tfftjWOi
S2S.000.ea>
iga  costs.
Am—a m oosmcil'i aaaaNMitv
mmmimmm^mwmsr    "m^^m    ^^sas^s^BBBjvja^^B   ffja^   ^maammmmsms^m^msmmmsw a
According to Higgins. the etty
for pipae, tag or
of the park.
"Warn they l>ai^ w«« be op lo
^  DiafonalRiL,
can ha amis to tin
rmmX 13M|
tarn  aVsVMft %'•
44090.'
 t ( _ _^ _ It also would provide
The idea beloags to mayor John   has no money for pipes, haj or   thorn, hat whamaar It (a it weted *? wan a aafc paw te faaceka
Hiajate. who has been approached   mmll. in its recrentJoa taaaast       lmmftlwaa«a*ma«'onee. We eaa^amm m m ttmimmy mm*
by teenage akats boarders and their      Instead, ths mayor has proposed   would Jam aft ana* am city lead,"
a map of
snafa or the dry