Amherst News-Times, 2002-08-28

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Sunoco attendant foils robbery — Page 3  1   Library sets fall storytimes — Page 5
Amherst News-Times
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NX I DMSDAY,  August  2K, 20(12
Kids greeted
by food court,
more choices
for lunchtime
by JASON HAWK
News-Times reporter
On Amherst's last summer day
before the start of school, Wanda
Warford looked tired. All day long,
she had directed the frenzied flow of
workers around her as the finishing
touches were applied to Marion L.
Steele High School's new cafeteria
and kitchen facilities.
"There will be something for
everyone, both teachers and students," said Warford, who serves as
cafeteria superintendent for all of
the district's schools. "We're going
to be able to offer a lot more
choices. I think it's great. We were
so limited before,'* she said.
New to the school this year will
be a food-court style "scramble system" featuring different food stations. Each will offer a unique variety of foods for students and teach-
Sewage
plant
needs
repairs
by JASON HAWK
News-Times reporter
City council members will discuss next week major measures to
overhaul the Amherst sewage treatment plant.
According to Charles Allen, environmental engineer for the Ohio
Environmental Protection Agency's
division of surface water, the current plant has reached its hydraulic
capacity.
"Amherst is in the design stage of
updating sewage treatment." he
said, adding that the current plant is
in violation of regulations, and not
meeting the requirements of its
permit
Today, the plant is capable of
handling 2.25 million gallons of
sewage each day. Due to a growing
population, increasing environmental-concerns, and sanitary considerations, the plant will have to be expanded to handle 3.5 million gallons
per day. During storms, said Allen,
the plant will be able to peak at two
to three times the normal flow.
One of the mam concerns is that
the plant can't keep up with sanitation demands, and as a result, waste
solids and harmful chemicals are
making their way back into the water supply.
According to Allen, Amherst water supply exceeds its ammonia content limits. If these levels continue
to increase, fish and aquatic bacteria
will be killed off, decimating the
area's fragile ecological balance.
' Standards require that water hold
only 12 mg/L ammonia. 10 mg/L
carbonaceous biochemical waste,
and 12 mg/L suspended solids.
Current levels exceed these
limits.
"Sewage systems are only meant
to last 20-23 years," said Allen.
"The Health Department tried to get
i residents to fix their systems as best
as was possible, but over time the
problems have compounded until
they've reached a peak," be said.
One of these peak problems is
that because the plant's capacity is
already stretched, overflow and ex-
cess rains cause sewers to back op
aad run into the street At one point.
CONTINUIDon
ers to choose from, including pizza,
subs, salad, grill, fruit, main course,
and snack stations.
"We're also able to offer healthier
choices, because now we have refrigerated serving areas where we
can lay out salads, fruits, and yogurt," said Warford.
The new system is the part of the
major building project that has
changed Steele's capacity to serve
the students efficiently.
"Previous years, staff would bake
and prepare food in the old kitchen
and then transport it all the way
down the length of the building to
the multipurpose room and to the
other areas where seniors were
served," said Warford. "Every day,
we went back and forth. It was terribly inefficient, time consuming,
and labor intensive," she said.
Growing school attendance also
made serving and seating nearly im-
CONTINUED on page 10
Students enjoy the new cafeteria facilities during the first school
lunch of the year. The kitchen, serving and eating areas were designed in part by district cafeteria supervisor Wanda Warford and
feature multiple food stations. There's something for everyone,"
said Warford.
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Cool dip
Kids enjoy the last dog-days of summer at the Maude Neiding    many kids wont get a chance to visit the pool now that school is In
Park pool. Although the pool will stay open through Labor Day,    session.
Auxiliary recruiting for members
by JASON HAWK
News-Times reporter
The Amherst Police Department
is looking for seven more good men
or women lo serve as auxiliary police officers, said Rich Wolf, who
currently serves in the auxiliary and
owns Rich's Auto Body on North
Main St
"People don't think that the Amherst police do a lot, but they don't
see a tenth part of it," said Wolf.
According to Wolf, auxiliary officers are used much more than is
typical ia other cities. "Some cities
just want their auxiliaries to march
in parades, but we're very active
here,'* he said.
Wolf originally wanted to be-
come a police officer after finishing
his military service during Vietnam,
but was held back because of a motorcycle injury. He finally look the
patrolman's test at the age of 50.
"Here's a chance where some
young guys can teach an old guy
new tricks." be joked.
"I'm used to working with lough
military types," said Wolf, who was
a US. Navy gunner's mate. "With
my experience, I can tell you with-
CONTINUEO on pefle 2
Council
will set
budget
meeting
by JASON HAWK
News-Times reporter
City council members wrestled
with financial issues last Monday
night as committee reports reinforced projections of brewing shortfalls on the horizon.
"We need to be more forward
thinking," said council-at-large David Williams. "Citizens don't want
us to go from year to year. They
want us to have a plan," he said.
According to city auditor Diane
Eswine, Amherst is looking at a deficit of more than $1 million, based
on estimations on this year's spending and next year's expenses.
The. heart of the problem, according to mayor John Higgins, is that
waning net profits have brought less
tax money from Amherst businesses, resorting in a shortage in the
city's general fund.
Residential taxes don't flow into
this fund, being diverted instead to
the street improvement fund. One of
the temporary solutions to the problem, according to council members
and city administrators, might be to
transfer surpluses from the street
fund to the general fund.
Some council members, however,
object to this course of action.  .
"People come up to me in church,
even, and say, 'Don't you touch that
street improvement fund. If there's a
surplus, then fix my street'." Williams told committee members.
City treasurer Kathleen Litkovitz
agreed. "I hear from a lot of citizens," she said. "I'm stopped by
many people at church, the office,
and in public who don't want the
street fond touched," she said.  •
"We've got to start beating that
drum and getting new businesses ia
here,*' she said. "We've got to
tighten our belts. There are aseas we
could cut back in. even for just a
year."
Cc-uncil-at-larte Nick Bnisky
suggested instating a five-year plant
to set dates and spending expecta-
for projects aad needs.
"We can transfer fmde aC wa
Rich Wo* works win the Antharst Poace De-
partment aa a member ol Is auxMary una:. Wolf,
and captain Dennis Soger, are totting for new
members, both men and woman, to Join tha next
auxiliary training class that starts In January.
want* but that's net -ping to tnh*
nt-ail'iiia 2007." ba said, "M*a*f
cities haws adopted i-laos sto« tftt-tk