Amherst News-Times, 2001-05-02

              She's running for your life — Page 3       Council debates buying truck — Pag
Amherst News-Tim<
J>   Z
Wednesday, May 2, 2001
Amherst, Ohio
1
!
No competition on May 8 for council see
Several council and city seats are
up for re-election this year. But
there are no party contests in the
May 8 primary.
The real race will be this fall after
candidates in next Tuesday's primary advance without competition
from within their own parties.
In the race for president of council, incumbent Democrat John Dietrich of Candy Lane, is running un
opposed by a Republican candidate.
Incumbent Democrat Diane Eswine, of Leavitt Road, will have a
challenger this fall from Republican
Michael Kent Sutton, of Ravenglass
Boulevard in the race for the position of city auditor. Sutton is a
member of the Amherst school
board and this will be his first run at
an  elected  city  administrative
position.
in the race for city treasurer.
Democrat incumbent Kathleen Litkovitz of Cherry Valley Drive, will
advance to represent her party in the
fall race, as will newcomer Daniel
S. Gross, of Pyle South Amherst
Road, a Republican.
In the race for the three councii-
at-large  seats,  three  incumbent
Democrats will automatically advance. They are Nancy Brown of
Elyria Avenue, David Kukucka of
Charles Avenue and David Williams of Shadylawn Drive.
Only two Republicans appear on
the primary ballot. They are Nicholas Brusky of Cherry Valley Drive
and Barbara Kilgore of Stonchedgc
Way. Both have made unsuccessful
attempts at council seats in previous
I
elections.
In the First Ward, incumbent
Democrat Terrence Traster of Milan
Avenue is the only candidate listed.
In the Second Ward, Democrat
incumbent Edwin Cowger of
Middle Ridge Road will represent
his party in the fall election, as will
newcomer to the scene, Ronald
Skolnik of Ravenglass Boulevard,
IftiUJfeft
reprcscntiri i party.
In the Third Wara, incumbent
Democrat Steve P'Simer, of Brennan Drive, will face Republican
Mark Costilow of Lincoln Street.
And in the Fourth Ward, incumbent Republican Jennifer Wasilk of
Greenlawn Drive will this fall face
former council member John Mis-
hak of Sunrise Drive.
Firefighters from Lorain County and neighboring cities got a
chance to look at new fire safety equipment and trucks during the
firefighters' annual trade show held this year at the Amherst Fire
Blazing topic
Department. Several companies were represented during Thursday's show including: Verizon Wireless, B&C Communications,
Keystone Fire Apparatus, Inc., Spill Tek, Stonewall Uniform, Arch
Paging and Kenwood Communications. Even the dogs got into the
act.
Who knows? Questions
on bridge repair abound
by YVONNE GAY
News-Times reporter
Construction woes continue to
plague the Jackson Street bridge
project and communication seems to
be at the root of the problem.
The bridge was scheduled to be
completed by June 1; now a September opening is speculated.
Tempers flared as council members discussed the problems surrounding the bridge during its regular meeting two weeks ago. Almost
everyone had received complaints
Teens jam
to raise
money
for wigs
program
by YVONNE GAY
from residents voicing concerns and
wanting answers.
'The contractor blatantly lied to
all of us," council-at-large member
Nancy Brown said. "It's shameful.
(We've had other bridge projects
going on) and this bridge has been
down the longest."
Brown was referring to an April 9
council meeting with Dennis Bender
of Bender Construction. Bender told
council the reason work hadn't begun was because of the problems he
was having with the railroad officials, and that they were not being
cooperative.
He told council he would be bringing his equipment to the bridge
on April 12, and would start without
the railroad. He also added that the
railroad had been giving other builders a hard time. Bender told council he had tried contacting the railroad twice, with no success.
Brown asked Bender if the city
would suffer any repercussions from
the railroad issue and Bender replied, "no."
During a recent council meeting
Brown said she has received a number of complaints from residents on
CONTINUED on page 12
News-Times reporter
Four bands from the Marion L.
Steele High School belted out renditions of Metallica and Weezer in the
name of charity last month during a
Wigs for Kids benefit concert
Diamonback, Blis. Rising De-
scension and Simple Figure played
to a crowd of 260 screaming fans
and raised $350 for the Rocky River
Wigs for Kids chapter. The organization offers hair replacement systems for children experiencing hair
loss due to chemotherapy, radiation
therapy, alopecia, bums or other
medical conditions.
Metal lockers Bill Anderson, Steven McKinney, David Sugerik,
Nick Gargasz and Justin Scardini of
Rising Descension organized the
event. The two-year-old group recently made its mark with a mind
blowing January performance at
Cleveland's historic Agora Theatre,
when they opened for Cold Hand of
Christ The group has also played at
The Flying Machine in Amherst
Anderson suid he hoped the concert
held at Amherst Cinema, would not
CONTINUED on page "
J road]
CLOSED I
"
Problems continue to plague the Jackson   Street bridge project and residents want answers.
Amherst Township voters
eye 3-mill fire levy issue
Simple Figure (above), Rising Descension, Blis and Diamonback
played to 260 fans at the Amherst Cinema and raised $350 to aid
"Wigs for Kids." Below, some girls get ready to party.
SEE SPOtToiT*^
COO
200I METAL CONCERT
7:00
A 3-mill Amherst Township fire
protection levy will appear on the
May 8 ballot. Township officials
say it is needed to pay for the increasing cost of fire protection.
Amherst Township is covered by
two fire service contracts, one with
the city of Amherst and another
with South Amherst.
Amherst Fire Department covers
the areas of the township north of
the turnpike, while South Amherst
Fire Department covers the area of
the township south of the turnpike.
The township Safety Task Force,
which is made up of residents appointed by the trustees to investigate
safety services, has provided information on the upcoming levy in the
form of questions and answers. Information provided by the task force
follows:
• Why b a 3-mill levy required
for Are protcctioc?
The current 1-mill Amherst
Township fire protection levy is significantly less than the annual cost
of fire protection provided to the
township. To pay for the cost of fire
protection, the township must dip
into the general fund, reducing the
amount of funding for other
services.
Over the past six yean, the cost
of fire protection in the township
has been as follows:
1995 $31,292
1996 .$64,226
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ijFjFO    ••alll:.aHIHIIMMM'HI(aH»*>H>  WjVfJrxfJ
1999 $112,122
2000 $125,784
As Amherst Township grows, we
can expect the cost of fire protection
to increase. The proposed levy-
should provide funding for our fire
protection for years into the future.
Additionally, Amherst Township
is contractually obligated to purchase a pumper/tanker truck. Cost estimates range from $235,000 to
$325,000.
If the 3-mill levy passes, the
township trustees will cancel the
current 1-mill levy.
• Why is the township buying a
pumper/tanker truck?
The pumper/tanker truck is being
purchased for the benefit of Amherst Township residents. This truck
will be owned by Amherst Township, but leased to the city of Amherst for $1 per year.
The pumper/tanker truck will be
used predominantly for Anient
Township fire protection, as many
areas in the township have no fire
hydrants.
• When was the last levy passed
for fire protection, and how ranch
revenue is generated?
A levy was passed in November
of 1990 that provides $63,000 to
$67,000 per year for fire protection.
• How will this proposed levy
affect taxes?
Taxes will increase 20 cents 10 40
cents per day, depending on real estate market value of a home. The
following table provides an estimate
of the increased tax payment:
Value Additional tax
$100,000 $73.27
$150,000 $109.91
$200,000 $146.54
• How will the lack of fire protection impact ray homeowners'
insurance?
If fire protection is not available
in Amherst Township, you home insurance will increase.
• What fe the longevity of this
proposed levy?
This will be a continuous, levy.
• Is Amherst Township plan-
■ing on starting a fire
department?
There is no plan to start an Amherst Township foe department The
Safety Task Force and Amherst
Township trustees have determined
it is more cost effective to purchase
fire protection« from neighboring
municipalities.
• Want happens if the levy
fails?
If the levy fails, and die township
clerk cannot certify that there an
enough funds to pay for fire protection, residents may be left without
fire protection. The Ohio Revised
Coda don not in tuns* th
sion of fin ptrmniiun.