Amherst News-Times, 2000-04-26

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Amherst News-Tiim
3
Wednesday, April 26, 2000
Amherst, Ohio
Lieutenant is named new police chief
by KEITH GRIBBINS
News-Times reporter
Amherst's police division issued
in a new era of leadership and management Wednesday, April 19 at
city hall.
Twenty-eight year police veteran
Lonnie Dillon slid up to a podium
with mayor John Higgins and proceeded to recite the oath of office
that would make him the new police
chief of the City of Amherst
Dillon picked up the torch that
former chief Bill Hall carried with
the city for 23 years, and has readied himself for the challenge of
keeping the community safe and
growing.
"I'm elated. I'm really looking
forward to the challenge," Dillon
said of his new job. "Everyone has
ideas that they'd like to see happen.
I have some, and I would like to
look into them."
Dillon competed for the position
with 24-year veteran and current
captain Babara Cowger-Vilagi. The
two took a civil service exam Tuesday, April 10, and their scores varied by only a few points, according
to safety-service director Sherrill
McLoda.
*T'm very happy. We had two
good candidates," McLoda said.
"He's (Dillon) been on the force a
long time. He knows the city. He
knows the people he'll be working
:
ii
The Amherst Police Department issued in a new era of departmental management Wednesday April 19 when 28-year veteran
Lonnie Dillon replaced longtime former chief Bill Hall. Pictured, left
with. He has a lot of experience and    plish as a chief."
is familiar with the technical aspects       Dillon started on the force as a
that he needs to know and accom-    part-time patrolman in 1972 and has
to right, mayor John Higgins speaks while Dillon shakes hands with
captain Babara Cowger-Vilagi.
since tackled every position in the
department except for captain.
The seasoned veteran has spent
nearly his entire life with the local
community, and is hoping to have
their input
"I want to talk with the people.
Work with them and let them know
what's happening. I want to get their
thoughts on what we can do to
achieve and make the department
better for the city," Dillon said.
One of his first actions as a chief
will be along those same lines with
a brainstorming session with his
department.
"I want to meet with all the members of the department and get their
input to see what they'd like to happen. And then formulate a plan to
move," he said.
But one of his biggest challenges
will simply be easing into the position, learning the ins and outs of
what it means to be a police chief,
suited Dillon.
"First I need to tackle what a
chief does. I've dealt with every
facet of law enforcement, but I've
haven't dealt with this," Dillon explained. "But it's a challenge I'm
looking forward to."
One of his main objectives is just
to keep the department in as good a
condition as Hall left it, cited the
new chief.
"The chief left the department in
good shape, i don't see any need to
step in and make a lot of changes.
I'm hoping to fall right in line" Dillon said. "I'm sorry to see him
(Hall) go. He was a pleasure to
work for and with."
CONTINUED on page 2
Board gives nod
1or $25 million
construction of
new junior high
by PAUL MORTON
Nawa-Times reporter
When school starts in the
fall of 2002, seventh and
eighth grade students in Amherst could be going to a
new junior high school, after
the board of education voted
last week on a plan to relieve
overcrowding.
The board voted unanimously to address overcrowding
in the schools by building a
new 800-student junior high
school for grades seven and
eight and building additions
and alterations to Marion L.
Steele High School and the
current Nord Junior High. The
cost of the plan would be about $23 million, compared
with $35 million for a new
high school.
Superintendent Robert Boynton said the cost difference
was part of the reason the junior high option was chosen.
Other factors included nostalgia for the current high
school and the difficulty in
purchasing the land necessary
for a new high school.
"We've had the community
meetings, the meetings with
all the organizations, the coffees, and in all those discussions, I came to the conclusion that the junior high and
adding on to the high school
was the best solution." Boynton said. The bottom line is
listening to the people in this
community."
;. The bond is expected to
vote July 24 to put • bond
levy on the November ballot
to pay for the new building.
In the meantime, they will
ask the county auditor to calculate the millage necessary
to raise the estimated $23
million.
Treasurer Salah Elhindy reminded the bond that voices
turned down the last bond
levy request of $16 million
two years ago. But board
president Ron Yacobozzi said
if the bond levy fails this
time the alternative could be
worse.
"If we don't pass a bond
issue of some type, split sessions become a reality," Yacobozzi said.
If the bond issue passes,
the new junior high school
would be built on 27 acres
the school district currently
owns adjacent to Harris
Elementary School. A new
high school would require a
minimum of SO acres, according to Ron Cocco of Clark &
Post Architects.
In addition to the new
building, the plan approved
by the school board would
add 12 new science classrooms, a "cafetorium" (combination cafeteria and auditorium), a new kitchen, and a
fine arts wing at Steele High
School, as well as additions
and improvements at Nord.
Also, a new walkway would
be created at Steele in the
back of the building, parallel
to the current main corridor
to improve student traffic
flow.
When seventh- and eighth-
grade students enter the new
junior high for the 2002-2003
school year, Nord would be
turned over to grades five
and six. Harris would become
a fourth-grade building, Powers would house grades two
and three, and Shupe Middle
School would be used for
kindergarten and first grade.
In order to get the new
building ready for the start of
school in 2002, the board approved several other measures
to start design work on the
school before voters approve
the necessary money. Boynton
■aid the needs assessment and
space requirement study to be
done ahead of the election
CONTINUED on paga 2
*"**4-»* - *""**
U.S. Congressman Sherrod Brown, D-Lorain, held two "Com-     prescription drug prices, trade practices, and Social Security in his
munlty Chats" Tuesday, April 18, one of those with residents of     community meeting Tuesday afternoon.
South Amherst. Brown focused on a number of issues, including,
Brown 'chats' in South Amherst
by KEITH GRIBBINS
News-Times reporter
State representative Sherrod
Brown made a stop in South Amherst last Tuesday to talk to his constituents at a town meeting at town
ball.
Locals got the chance to foe
questions at the U.S. Congressman,
D-Lorain, and get a feel for how
their local candidate represents them
as well as express what they may
need from him in the future.
"This was great, especially for
midday. The participation was really
good, and we had a nice mix."
Brown said.
The congressman bellied up to
the full house and pointed to the
brace around his torso, acquired
from a recent car accident, joking,
"It's not a bulletproof vest"
That laid-back atmosphere was
the forum for the group discussion
as Brown focused on Social Security, prescription drugs, trade relations, Medicare, and other issues
along with the crowd to sort through
any concerns that the attending
public may have had.
Brown began the community chat
with a lecture, centering on the
budget surplus, prescription drug
prices, and trade relations with
China.
He also advised citizens to be
"cautious" about the surplus. Tax
cuts may not be the right way to go,
explained Brown; he hopes to move
the surplus to help pay the debt
CONTINUED on page 5
AFD turns out to support full-timer
by KEITH ORWBINS
Newa-Timaa reporter
Someone must have thought city
hall was burning to the ground.   <
Around 20 or so Amherst firefighters converged on the city building Monday evening, April 17 to
fight a Maze of a different tort. The
department's administration and
crew flooded the city's biweekly
to
for the request of a full-time fire
chief position that sat in front of city
council.
Current chief Ralph Zilch and officer and firefighter Scott Dunlap
fronted the department's push Monday by answering questions and giving informational support for the
full-time request. The hour-long discussion with city council seemed to
finally quell any doubts members of
council had about the position and
by the end of the discussion council
unanimously agreed, 6-0, to move
the ordinance to the floor of council.
"I'm happy. You've got io be. Of
course, I'll be happier when the final day comes," explained Zilch,
citing council still needs three more
leadings to go before the position
will be final. "But it's good Hot we
can get started or. the things we
need to get done in this town. It
looks good right now."
Hie request, originally made in
November of 1999 by Zilch, had
been tabled a number of times, sent
to the floor of council, and then sent
back to committer meetings over
the past months. Members of council were unsure of many of the aspects of the position, including pay
scale, classification, die city's ability to afford the job, and if the workload deen^ ttw position
Zilch and company filled
CONTINUED on paga 2
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