Madison Messenger - February 24th, 2019

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PAGE 2 - MADISON MESSENGER - February 17, 2019 www.madisonmessengernews.com London Fire & EMS acquires former EMD site By Kristy Zurbrick Madison Editor The London Fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Department now owns the former Madison County Emergency Medical Department (EMD) station at 40 E. Center St. The city acquired the property as part of a division of assets following its split from the EMD last year. The property transfer took place on Feb. 1. The plan, said Chief Todd Eades, is to turn the facility into a satellite fire and EMS station that will be staffed around the clock. It will be home to one fire vehicle and one EMS squad vehicle. The department’s main station at East High Street will have three fire vehicles and two EMS vehicles. “The satellite station makes it closer for response in the southern area of the city. It RETIREMENT SALE 25% OFF Everything in Stock! LAMP SHADES 5,000 in Stock! JOHNSONS LAMPSHOP LAMPS • FIXTURES • SHADES 8518 East National Road (US 40) 8 Miles East of Springfield (937) 568-4551 (Please bring your lamp BASE for proper fitting of Shades) Wednesday-Friday 10-5 • Saturday 10-4 www.johnsonslampshop.com HELPING HEALTHY WOMEN STAY YOUNG gives us a fire piece down there which is something we’ve been wanting to do for a long, long time,” Eades said. The station is located south of the railroad tracks that bisect the city. The department has inspected and assessed the building to determine what needs to be done to make it operational as a fire and EMS station. “No major changes are needed,” Eades said. The first priorities are to get phone, Internet and cable in place so that the notification system for dispatching calls can be set up. The to-do list also includes repairing Messenger photo by Kristy Zurbrick a noncompliant gas line and vent hood, painting and drywalling where necessary, The London Fire and EMS Department acquired the former Madison County Emergency purchasing furniture, appliances and fixtures, and possibly replacing the glued- as a satellite station, equipped with one fire vehicle and one squad vehicle. Medical District station on Center St. on Feb. 1. The department plans to use the building down flooring which is coming up in some Street. places. Eades said he does not know when the satellite will be up and Eades also is working with the Ohio Board of Pharmacy on an running. application for a controlled substance license for the facility. The “We’re working as fast as we can. We want to get in there as fast department already has one for its main station on East High as we can,” he said. Downtown parking permits possible By Kristy Zurbrick Madison Editor London city council is looking to offer overnight parking permits for downtown residents. Currently, it is illegal for anyone to park their cars between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. on Main Street between High Street and Center Street and on High Street between Union Street and Madison Road. Those hours are reserved for street cleaning when necessary. “I can move better and sleep better. I am in a much better mood. I can do more with my family and I’m actually looking forward to the summer so I can work in my yard. I’m looking forward to retirement now!” R.H. Forever Young Dwyer Chiropractic 139 S. Main St., London, Oh 43140 740-852-1965 www.dwyerchiropractic.com Legislation introduced at the Feb. 7 council meeting would allow anyone who lives in the downtown district to apply for a permit to park overnight. Anyone without a permit would be restricted to parking no more than two hours at a time between 5 p.m. and 8 a.m. The permits would be free and good for 90 days at a time. Applications would be available through the police department. Applicants would need to supply their name, address, make and model of vehicle, and telephone number. The permits would not be in effect during street sweeping, snow emergencies, festivals, special events, and any other time the city notifies permit holders the permits are not in effect. Mayor Patrick Closser said the permits would benefit downtown residents and the city. Residents would be able to park closer to their homes. The city would have a way to contact residents who need to move their cars during times when the permits are not in effect. The proposed legislation will be up for a second reading at council’s Feb. 21 meeting. Council also held a first reading on the transfer of funds for various departments’ capital expenses for the year. They include: • $510,000 for the street department for storm sewer and road work, as well as roof repair at the department’s facility; • $312,000 for the fire and EMS department for lease payments on EMS start-up equipment, technology upgrades and fire gear; and • $150,000 for the parks and recreation department to go toward installation of a splash pad at the city pool. According to Closser, the project will cost between $270,000 and $310,000. Council approved $90,000 in capital funds for the police department to purchase two vehicles. In other action, council: • started the process for annexing the land where the street department’s new headquarters sit. The four acres are part of Union Township. The street department moved last year from its shared space with the fire department to the former Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) garage at 1460 State Rte. 42. • approved a $65,000 bid for the sale of the city’s property at 6 E. Second St. The building was home to council chambers, the mayor’s office and the safety-service director’s office. Those facilities are now located at city hall at 20 S. Walnut St. • gave Joe Mosier, safety-service director, permission to enter into a contract with ODOT for resurfacing of State Route 142 between Keny Boulevard in London and the West Jefferson village limits. The city’s share of the project is $26,954. The project is slated to go out to bid in March and be finished this year.
www.madisonmessengernews.com February 17, 2019 - MADISON MESSENGER - Page 3 Group will focus on downtown An independent agency representing By Kristy Zurbrick Madison Editor The city of London now has a Historic Downtown Revitalization Commission. On Feb. 7, city council approved Mayor Patrick Closser’s appointments to the commission. The fivemember board is made up of London residents and individuals who own buildings or businesses in the downtown area. Members are Jackie Bryant Call, Todd Fisher, David Mabe, Joe Russell and Shannon Treynor. Each is serving a two-year term. The commission will work with business owners and property owners to: • create a list of needed renovations in the historic district; • develop strategies to attract business; • identify policies or regulations that interfere with business; • create a strategy to deploy targeted resources; and • bring recommendations to city council for consideration. Appointments to the commission have been a long time coming. Council approved creation of the group in 2015. At the same time, they approved creation of a Historic Downtown Revitalization Fund. Money for the fund comes from collection of delinquent income taxes. The fund is set up to receive 100 percent of the first $50,000 collected by the Central Collection Agency, a company the city hired to pursue delinquent taxes. After that, 50 percent of the money collected will go to the fund. Distributions to the fund began in 2015; it currently stands at $12,081. The commission’s first meeting is tentatively set for 5:30 p.m. March 12 in the council conference room at city hall, 20 S. Walnut St. Other Appointments Council also approved the following appointments recommended by Closser: • Donald Hawkins to the Board of Zoning Appeals, five-year term; • Christie Adkins to the Playground and Public Recreation Commission, three-year term; • Phil Taylor to the Historic District Review Board, three-year term; and • Gary Peters, Tom Cox and Steve Lelonek to the Income Tax Board of Review for two-, four- and six-year terms, respectively. Contact t us toda y to find out how you can save money on your home insuran Dwyer Insurance Agency 63 N. Main Street London, OH 43140 (740)852-0654 Ashley Winebrenner, Agent PRESIDENT'S DAY 2019 This coming Monday, February 18, 2019 is President's Day here in America—a day set aside to honor two of our most famous Presidents: George Washington, “The Father of Our Country,” and Abraham Lincoln, “The Great Emancipator.” Let’s take time on that day to be thankful not only for these two truly great Americans, but for all of our leaders who have helped to make our Nation what it is today. Free tax prep help in London AARP Foundation Tax-Aide volunteers are offering free tax preparation at the Madison County Emergency Management Agency, 271 Elm St., London, from now through mid-April. Appointments are required. Hours are 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays. Call (740) 852-3001 for an appointment. Because of the new tax law, demand is expected to be heavier than in previous years. Residents are urged to schedule appointments as soon as possible. While Tax-Aide’s focus is on low- to moderate-income senior citizens, the service is available to anyone, regardless of income or age. Volunteers certified and trained by the Internal Revenue Service are available to: • prepare and file U.S., Ohio and, where applicable, school district tax returns; • prepare and file Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) tax forms; • determine eligibility for Earned Income Credit, Child Tax Credit and child/dependent care deductions; • calculate taxes due on income from stocks, bonds and retirement accounts; RESIGNED Continued from page 1 morals and ignore recent events that have taken place,” she stated. In a phone interview on Feb. 12, Vansickle said that, like Ward, she believes council and the administration should be doing more to investigate the loan agreement for the water plant and finding ways to alleviate the financial burden on residents. Also, both Vansickle and Ward allege that village officials are not following Ohio Revised Code or Roberts Rules of Order for running meetings in some instances. While she is no longer on council, Vansickle stated, “I will not give up on helping the residents and standing up for them.” Burns’s resignation letter simply stated, “Due to reason too numerous to list at this time, I am resigning from my position on village council of Mount Sterling, • complete tax forms involving itemized deductions, education expenses and credits, and cancellation of debt; and • prepare and file simple self-employment returns. Documents taxpayers should bring with them to a Tax-Aide appointment include: • driver’s license or photo ID; • Social Security card; • last year’s tax return; • income statements, such as W-2 forms from work, 1099 retirement income forms from pensions and Social Security, brokerage account statements, and interest statements from banks; • Expense statements, such as 1098 form showing mortgage interest paid, forms for educational expenses, church and charity donation receipts, and a list of medical expenses. Last year, 1,500 volunteers prepared 80,000 tax returns at 285 locations across Ohio. A person does not need to be a member of AARP to use the service. The service is free. For details and a list of other Ohio tax preparation locations, go to aarp.org/money/taxes/aarp_taxaide. effective immediately.” When contacted by phone, Burns said she planned to issue a more detailed statement in the near future. About the resignations, Martin said, “This came, not as a shock, but a little of a surprise about how it was done. However, we will keep moving forward, we still have a team and will be just fine. I guarantee it.” “I am anxious to get these seats filled,” said David Timmons, council president pro tem. “We have important legislation and positions we need to fill. We have issues with potholes, need to hire an administrator and a new water operator/utility worker. We need to get these seats filled quickly so we can get to work.” In addition to Timmons, the remaining members of council are Lowell Anderson and Rebecca Martin. Anyone interested in filling the vacancies on council can submit a resumé and/or letter of interest to cbricker@mtsterling.org. E F Since 1908 Eberle-Fisher Funeral Home/Crematory www.eberlefisherfuneralhome.com Dana Fisher 103 North Main Street London, Ohio 43140-1144 (740) 852-2345
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Madison Messenger - February 24th, 2019

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