Amherst News-Times, 1999-03-03

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Wednesday, March 3,   1999
Amherst, Ohio
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County sees 'Amherst' in sewer resolute..
by QLEN MILLER
News-Times reporter
A tie-in to Amherst's sewer
system could be a solution to
the so called "sewer to no
where" in Amherst Township.
The idea was presented to
county and city officials last
month by a small group of
Rt. 58 property owners and '
has "definite possibilities,"
city engineer Milt Pommeranz
said.
Pommeranz, mayor John
Higgins and representatives
from K.E. MacCartney and
Assoc., the consulting engineers who designed the $3.5
million township sewer, were
scheduled to meet with
county engineer Ken Carney
yesterday to discuss the proposal's feasibility.
Amherst's sewers have the
capability of handling the projected 85,000 gallons of affluent that would' move
through the •ewer each day.
Pending economic growth
along Rl 58, Pommeranz said
county engineers project the
amount will increase to
750.000 gallons daily in the
future.
Regardless, he said the increase also could be handled
by the city on completion of
a $2 million upgrade of the
city's water treatment plant
on North Lake Street near Rt.
2. The project is scheduled to
be done next year.
Built in 19%, the township
sewer was laid by the county
along parts of Middle Ridge
Road and Rts. 58 and 113 in
anticipation of economic
growth for the proposed turn
pike interchange on Rt. 58.
County officials envisioned
connecting it to Lorain's west
side sewer system and treatment plant but never had a
formal agreement with the
city. Shortly after its completion, Lorain officials refused
to allow the connection be-
CONTIIMUED on page 3
Tax levy's
language
needs CC
workover
The effort to place a half percent
income tax for street maintenance
on the Nov. 2 ballot was put on hold
last week until a resolution and
companion ordinance authorizing
the levy can be clarified.
As written, the council resolution
calls for an "increase*' in the municipal income tax to one and a half
percent, language city council members fear may cause voters to think
the city is seeking approval of a 1.5
increase above what is currently being collected.
The companion ordinance seeks a
half percent renewal of the same
tax, which expires Dec. 31, 2000.
Regardless, council members want
to ensure what they approve will not
confuse voters.
Council agreed to send the resolution and propoeed onlinance back to
its ordinance committee until the
confusion can be resolved. The delay will allow city council clerk
Olga Si vinski to research how an ordinance authorizing a fire renewal
tax levy is written.
The confusion arose after council
members said the Nov. 2 ballot language will be based on what is approved by council.
Council president Wayne Whyte
noted the city is not seeking a 1.5
percent increase, only the renewal
of the half percent used to maintain
streets and bridges.
Passed by voters 10 years ago, it
now raises $1.5 million a year for
repairs.
Treasurer Diane Eswine and auditor Kathleen Litkovitz agreed with
Whyte, saying the language may
confuse voters if it is not clearly
stated that only a half percent renewal is being sought
Law director Alan Anderson
noted the confusion stems from the
Ohio Revised Code. The ORC gives
council the authority to approve up
to one percent without voter approval. Any additional tax must be
approved by voters.
"So, you'd be increasing it from
the one percent to one and a half,"
he explained. "That's how you'd
have to word it in acceptance with
the revised code."
Some council members questioned if the resolution is needed at
all. Anderson said it is but should be
adopted after the ordinance is
approved.
He contended the language could
be explained as part of any tax campaign promotional effort. But some
council members said further clarification is needed before the issue is
placed on the ballot because of the
importance of the tax levy. Without
it, mayor John Higgins previously
has said street, bridge and some
■ewer work would have to be seriously curtailed because of insufficient funds.
•Twme.iflwerelorjkiiigaihis.
I would think taxes are going up oae
and half percent," councitnaB John
Tliiharr said. 1 would bet $1,000
that 50 percent of the voters are going to think nil ii the care."
« jjorsjn County Board of Elections
director Matty* Jacobcik agreed
 W, recking crew
City water department employees Lee Camera (left) and Drew
Woodings are far from water as they tear down old office walls In
the San Spring Building. City employees are being used to help
make way for the renovation of the future city hall building.
Law director will be challenged
by QLEN MILLER
News-Times reporter
Vermilion law director and Lorain attorney Kenneth Stumphauzer
is challenging Alan Anderson for
his job as Amhent law director.
Stumphauzer, a Democrat, and
Anderson, a Republican, are among
eight Democrats and seven Republicans whose names will appear on
the May 4 primary ballot for Amherst public office.
Anderson could not be reached
for comment. If elected in November, Stumphauzer aid he intends to
serve as law director for both cities.
Both positions are pan-time and his
duties could be split between the
two communities, he said.
He noted that much of his practice involves municipal law. He
served as Lorain's assistant law director for 12 yean and law director
in the early nineties. He has been
Vermilion's law director tor about
three yean.
Anderson has been Amhent law
director since 1996 and previously
served as law director in the
eighties.
Mayor John Higgins has no Republican challenger and will be unopposed in the Nov. 2 general election
for mayor unless an independent
candidate files by May 3. the deadline for independent candidstsa
CouncUrnan-at-laige John Dietrich does not have s Republican
challenger for the presidency of dty
council either. He will succeed
longtime council president snd
May Primary Roundup
Council-at-Large
D: Nancy Brown
D: Dave Kukucka
D: Dave Williams
R: Mark Vostilow
R: Barb Kilgore
R: Dennis Walters
R: Bob Sisler
Only three Republican* wll advance to fall election.
D:
R:
D:
R:
~!
Ward One
Ward Two
Ward Three
Terry Traster
John Dunn
Ed Cowger
Steve P'Simer
Michael Nolte
D:
Ward Four
John Mishak
D:
R:
Law Director   „   .
Ken Stumphauser
Alan Anderson
D:
Council President     , w  ________
John Dietrich
D:
^OF                   John Higgins
councflmember Wayne Whyte, who Williams, of 901 Shadylawn Dr.,
has aaroiounced his retirement from said he waa encouraged to seek a
city service. council seat by many friends and
Dietrich's   vacancy   as neighbon.
Louaclnw SI hay is being sought The primary was forced by Repu-
by David WilMaaas. who chaired laat Wicaw, four of whom are seeking
year's citizens coiwinir that re- three council st-lsrge seats. Wil-
coteanniatid a laMttee mayor lor tiamf is seeking one. The other two
Ihs dty. ass occupied by Nancy Brown sad
David Kukucka, who are both seeking reelection.
Mark Costilow, of 206 Lincoln
St., Barbara Kilgore, of 20 Shadylawn Dr., Dennis Walters, of 150
Orchard Hill Dr., and former councilman Robert Sisler, of 216 Crosse
Rd., are the Republican challengers.
The top three Republican vote-
getters will run against Brown, Williams and Kukucka in November.
Kilgore, Walters and Williams
each have attended recent council
meetings. Kilgore has spoken out
against the dry's decision to temporarily repeal a section of an ordinance setting the minimum and
maximum amounts allowed within
an electric revenue account
The repealed section allowed
council to raise electric rates if the
minimum fdl below $350,000 and
give rebates if it exceeded $1
million.
Williams is a supporter of downtown revitalization efforts and Walters recently voiced concern about
the number of liquor carryout
licenses in the city.
Former city auditor and Republican John Dunn, of 162 Woodhill
Drive, has filed to challenge Democrat Tory Traster for tte first ward
council seat in November. Michael
Nolte, of 162 Woodhill Dr., will
challenger Steve P'Simer, of 611
Brennan Dr., a Democrat.
Fourth ward Democratic councilman John Mishak, of 491 Sunrise
Dr., is tunning uncfapoaed.
The only poets not ap for election
are the cky auditor and tieasuwr.
The city council clerk is aEpohaed
by council.
Stop signs can't be used for traffic
•ctor mmmtrM McLods ted s^au^M^ to control traffic. V tte ia tte teses
tte R*t 22 dty ceeadl dty did ptM ton, ltea seem always strjp signs on
fcr mm tw 40 West is a etesce aa astern mte Street sad C
ISreetareaaaasssmThare- ossM aw tte dty. hicLode and February.
No atop signs esa te placed on
W. Martin Street to alow down
id consol traffic. If the   ia the hopes of gwtiag three-way
West Martin at Long
Candy Lane ia catty
_ _j placed on tte baBot could
reify tte iasse is s coatiaiwtioa of
tte existing half percent tax levy,
not a sew one. thereby svoidtng
W. Martin Street to alow down dart* tte H*. 22 dty coned. dty*d|*tettera.tteait-en always nop signs oaWejt Martin at Long
uaffk.resotirereaidewjoftteaea atesttej fer aseai ttea 40 West ta a daises aajautewy wcewtat Street and Candy Lane in early
rurf booed. ltealateutasaaasaafctte.Tteas- ansa* are tte dty, ifcUda twd February.
^^ ijanm astlilpastt M ite two cewtdL
tt'saaataatttelswtoapasdtatit waste age ssakasrSaMMoa of      Jtasteni petes teas taaa sated Couad. tattered tte patWoa to
■*».■ *»* »*°* «? *— » ^mSamma SiHuluag to te swas^tesa* te jgusstes McUatettei II    ll|iii     i aad
control those who might Ignore ate ate teas fltest       • attest tte pM. aaparasBy wtoa law director Ate. Aatenc* far
Bate par how q»*ed (test oa fte       ^        _        _.r          Laws waft* to aad fee* awdy becauw k had ae aasteate te
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Ttei's tte ted aew aetey as** stowtlptiMipPaf; i   te^atete:teA i Ijlrtp-t siMsi te posted.
Unwanted
land may
net city
extra $$$
Pending city council's approval, the city stands to earn
$272,000 from the sale of unwanted property in Amherst
and on West Erie Avenue in
Lorain.
The proposed sale of the
two properties — an old city
water department storage garage on Park Avenue and
lakefront land originally purchased in the fifties for a water treatment plant — was announced at a Feb. 21 council
meeting.
The Lorain land is being
sold to Scott Sprenger of
Sprenger Enterprises, Inc. for
$251,000 and the Park Avenue property to Jay Murray
Jr., of 882 Cleveland Avenue.
Mayor John Higgins said
Murray plans to demolish the
garage and build a residence
on the land, which is zoned
residential (R-l).
The use of the West Erie
Street property is unknown,
although city officials noted it
is located adjacent to the
Anchor Lodge Nursing Home,
which is owned by the Sprenger Retirement Centers.
Just how the proceeds will
be used remains in question
pending research by law director Alan Anderson. According to Anderson, the proceeds
should be placed in the water
revenue account because both
pieces of land were purchased
yean ago using water department funds.
But mayor John Higgins
said he would tike the proceeds to be placed in the
city's general fund because it
will help pay for the remaining share of the $600,000 the
city must contribute to pay
for a proposed West Side
Park. About $300,000 in developer impact fees charged
by the dry already has been
net aside for the project
Under a 1997 agreement,
the city, the Lorain County
Metropolitan Pari, District and
private amtributors must each
pay for a thud of the $1.8
million 60-acre facility.
Higgins coaattsadod tte properties eventually became tte
property of tte city, not tte
said te hopes to resolve tte
question by reattaching tte
Tte paadWg mat of tte
is tte lint ia
to tetsaar ate city's
finance* by seating dty mai
that it not tetej need. Mtwy
are wtet Ittajtae has previ
OBa^Jbailateal 0T
atssas  atas aots given te tte
dtyby
in tea of
•ai are!