Amherst News-Times, 1998-11-18

              _
a
tgiving service is set — Page 3      Mayor's job is now full-time — Page 16
Lmherst News-Times
to)
w;
r*
18.   14MH
Amherst    Ohio
Residents don't
want new utility
building built
close to them
by OLEN MLLER
News-Times reporter
Some residents fear the city's
plan to build a $535,000 utility storage and office building off Middle
Ridge Road may lower their property values or cause disturbing
traffic noise.
Glenn Loughrie and John Johnson both live on property adjacent to
the planned facility; they questioned
its location during a Nov. 9 city
council meeting.
Regardless, council initially approved allocating funds for the
building, although two more readings of the ordinance are needed in
order for it to become final.
Both live next to an access road
to Ihc facility. In addition, Loughrie,
who said the facility will be located
behind his property, said he fears it
will adversely affect the value of the
home he purchased six years ago.
"It was worth S250.000 until this
water tower and utility building project started. Now, I wonder," he
said.
The answer may come in the
coming months. Loughrie said he
plans to have his property reappraised and will demand the city
reimburse him if its value drops.
Several years ago, he claimed a
building inspector assured Mm city
ordinances require road right-of
ways to be at least 60 feet wide. The
access road adjacent to his property
is about 50 feet wide.
"I'm talcing a hit on this, me and
the other people who live there," he
added. "This isn't a good idea."
But mayor John Higgins said the
road also will provide utility access
to nearby lots on which property
owner Richard Schneider plans to
build four homes not far from the
utility complex. Schneider offered
to give the city about 2.9 acres in
exchange for access to city utilities.-
The city readily agreed because
the land's height will enable the city
to spend less money on the nearby
water tower. As now planned, the
750,000-gallon lank only needs to
be 160 feet tall to help resolve a low
water pressure problem in neighborhoods to the north with a lower
elevation. ;
If placed elsewhere in the area;
Higgins said the water tower would
have to be at least 40 feet taller,
Each additional foot would cost the
city an estimated $3,500, a total of
$140,000 more.
In addition, the water tower wilt
be located at the southern most edge
of the property near the Ohio Turn*
pike. It will be painted white with a
green stripe around it. The word*
Amherst and Comets will be painted
in gold.
But Loughrie and Johnson say
they question the location of the
utility building more than the water
tower. Johnson, who bought i
nearby home three months agoj
seemed to be satisfied when the
mayor explained city traffic going to)
the complex would be minimal. ;
In addition, city utility supervisee
Don Woodings said he plans to ere*
ate a noise buffer with trees an)
grassy mounds.
The structure is being built \v
house electric department trucks and
equipment for which there is no
room at the city utility complex h>
cated off N. Lake Street
About four employees will use
the facility.
Following the meeting, Higgins
said the access road could have been
placed elsewhere, although its loci-'
tion was a key factor in Schneider's:
donation of the land.
The choice of other land would:;
have cost the city at least an addr* '
tional $150,000 to $200,000, he
added.
Businessman gets charge
from battery-powered idea j
by QLEN MLLER
Newt-Times reporter
Tom Stock is an entrepreneur who likes taking risks.
His philosophy has made him
successful and, if everything
goes right, could make him
more successful in the future.
The owner of Stock's Elec-
tronic's ft Security, he was
on the cutting edge of the
home security and electronic
monitoring equipment business
when it was first jntroduced
about 20 years ago.
Stock gambled oa the home
security business aid left his
job as an assembly line
worker at the Fort Motor
Company plant in Lorain.
He picked a winner.
Bat now he's taking
another chance with a product
line most people use every
day. About two months ago,
he opened up Battery Power
in the Amherst Plan, a store
that sells nothing but tonnes
- every kind imaginable.
Mock said mere ia • big
ausfeat tat batteries; m-tea am
at least 25.000 spactoky hmte-
*mmw    ■—aaaa^    aaa—paaaa as      aj|   11 ■   _—^g/      mamamaaar
tarn, maat of which be Has in
stock or cm get by
WXm^amm
batteries can be successful because they think you can get
them anywhere. Wrong."
He just smiles and looks at
his checkbook. Stock remembers the similar comments
people made years ago about
the viability of selling and installing home security
equipment
Stock said his income now
surpasses what he made at
Ford thanks to his home security business. He thinks selling batteries can make him
even more money.
He first got the idea of
starting an all-battery store
more than a year ago, an
idea that got an enormous
charge early this year during
a visit to Florida.
Stock learned about a chain
of franchised stores throughout the South that specJaHis
in battery sales only. He become convinced after visiting
one, where he learned the businessman's profits paid off
his investment in seven
"So. if it works there. I
can definitely make it work
here. Otherwise they wouldn't
have 123 atoms." he added.
Stock's
remote-controlled golf cast
that follows a golfer around
the greens; it is controled by
a device on the golfer's belt
Others are special batteries
for wheelchairs, car phones,
the security equipment he
sells and services, special car
and boat batteries snd even
personal computers.
Stock is on the verge of
becoming a wholesale distributor of batteries as well.
"What doesn't run on
electricity runs on batteries
these days — nearly everything.'' he explained. "A lot
of them are specialty batteries
that you have to run around
looking for."
His business philosophy is
simple.
"I don't see myself taking
a risk, just being first," ha
added. "If being first is talcing a ri*. then okay, but I
e*inajU^a*»    maam a     mjeaMmm    mama     maaaaammmmm\am    **■
business it being sum k a
worth the risk,
at it I'm
fat
moveu ma
c
of Ma
The security
he
Ertripmrmur Torn Stock atooha up hattariaa
eman have questioned ■
mmmmmmt'   B*4   mmmm\   tmmmmmmmSmm
mme.. mmmm TmWmjr etam % mmm
8 ttom thai aeSs aotMaa
rim for everything and any-
tarim aaai can't la bought in
(flaoaaat or auto
So, I
if I
A
hap tha
Rl 113 fat
I
00 IW9 mmmft
mmVt
MM
aji'jaia*
"...'"
>mSmT
maaa
I ■■'. • - ■•♦•■•■■■■'