Southwest Messenger - July 26th, 2020

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By Andrea Cordle Southwest Editor Grove City councilman Roby Schottke remembers flooding in the area back in the 1970s when he was first buying a home. He said in the early 2000s he remembers not being able to get to work on Park Street due to water in the downtown area. Then Schottke fielded calls from concerned residents about their properties flooding due to a 10-year rain event in March of this year. “This is not a brand-new thing,” said Schottke at the March 20 council meeting. “This flooding issue is not going away, and By Andrea Cordle Southwest Editor The City Beat PAGE 4 - SOUTHWEST MESSENGER - July 26, 2020 www.columbusmessenger.com Wet basement program considered in Grove City it is time to help.” Schottke introduced legislation that would enact a wet basement grant program. The plan is to set aside $200,000 from the city’s sidewalk program to fund the wet basement program. The program is designed to help property owners with flooding issues in their homes. According to the legislation, grant money would be provided as a one-time reimbursement and matched at 50 percent of private investment up to a maximum of $5,000. Homeowners eligible would be in historic flood prone areas within Grove City bounded by Parlin Drive on the north, Hoover Road in the east, Casa Boulevard on the south, and Demorest Road through Rockledge Street on the west. Those who apply for the program must submit an inspection report and estimate by either a plumber, home inspector or contractor. Applicants also must be current in their real estate property taxes and must be in good standing with local, regional, state, and federal taxing authorities. Grove City Council approved two pieces of legislation that would clear a path for Some of the projects that would be covered are measures that would prevent basement flooding like installing a backflow prevention device or replacing a sump pump. In May, Cindi Fitzpatrick, the city’s service director addressed flooding concerns and potential solutions after a severe rain event in March, which dumped several inches of water in the area in a short amount of time. After that event, the service department received about 100 calls or emails from residents who reported water in their basements. According to Fitzpatrick, the older neighborhoods in Grove City saw the most impact from the storms due to an aging stormwater drainage system. “Most of the flooding occurred in areas where sewers were built before 1960,” she said. Fitzpatrick said she supports a program to help residents with flooding issues. However, she believes the proposed wet basement program should have a narrower the Pinnacle developer to build more homes. The actions were discussed at the July 20 meeting though not all council members were on board with the plans. With a 3-2 vote, council approved the annexation of approximately 74 acres located west of State Route 104 and south of White Road. The property was in Jackson Township and was annexed into the city so the developer, Joe Ciminello, could build a residential subdivision that would include 180 single family homes and 29 condominiums on about 60 acres of land. The proposal also calls for a 10-acre park. According to Ciminello, this housing development would be an extension of the Pinnacle Club development. Council president Christine Houk and councilman Ted Berry voted against the annexation ordinance. Berry said the area along State Route 104 and White Road is already cramped and overcrowded. “We just keep on developing in that area,” he said. Berry said he would like to see more park land and natural areas in the city. Houk said she is concerned about adding more of a burden to the schools and township emergency workers. She is also concerned about the added traffic and the city not having infrastructure improvements in place. “We seem to be chasing something I can’t quite define,” said Houk. “It’s frustrating to watch it happen.” With a 4-1 vote, council also approved a scope and target the areas most affected by flooding. The city’s administration has been evaluating a private property protection grant program that would be like the dry basement project in the city of Columbus. This grant program would support the installation of backflow preventers in private residences. Grove City Mayor Richard “Ike” Stage said he wants to take care of health risks and take care of people but sees the wet basement program as “far reaching.” Schottke said he does not see the program as being any different than the city’s sidewalk program or the Town Center commercial grant program where the city matches funds to help the property owner with maintenance issues. To clarify the intent of the wet basement program, council agreed to delay the vote on the legislation and discuss it again in August. Pinnacle extention gets clear path for development Blood drive at Kingston Center The American Red Cross Blood Drive meets in the Kingston Center, 3226 Kingston Ave., from 1-7 p.m. the first around the southwest pre-annexation and development agreement with Ciminello regarding the property along 104 and White Road. Houk voted against the measure. According to Chuck Boso, the city’s administrator, this agreement would use funds generated through the Pinnacle TIF district to make infrastructure improvements along White Road and State Route 104. The new homes would then be added to the TIF district already in place. The original TIF agreement was enacted in 2003 when the Pinnacle was first built. Ciminello said the funds from the property have already helped the city fund infrastructure improvements along Buckeye Parkway. “We have paid forward,” said the developer. “We can’t proceed with the development without White Road and State Route 104 infrastructure improvements.” According to the legislation, the city would use $9 million to widen White Road, install a traffic signal at the White Road and State Route 104 intersection (with approval from ODOT), put turn lanes on White Road and State Route 104, and extend water lines along the roadways. Boso said the improvements would be completed in phases. Houk voted against the measure with concerns that the city is paying for all the improvements and she said she fails to see where the developer is contributing. “This is a considerable amount of money,” said Houk. “Why are we not asking the developer to contribute?” Wednesday of each month. To schedule an appointment call 1-800-448-3543 or visit the American Red Cross Blood Drive website.
www.columbusmessenger.com around the southwest Slow-pitch softball in Grove City Grove City Parks and Recreation is offering adult slow-pitch softball leagues for a late summer/fall season featuring a 1- 1 starting pitch count instead of the onepitch format used in most fall leagues. Register by team through July 31. Leagues playing one night per week are available for women’s, men’s and co-rec teams at competitive and recreational levels. The women’s league plays Mondays; men’s leagues play Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays; and co-rec leagues play Fridays or Sundays. The registration fee is $290 per team for an eight-game season that begins the week of Aug. 16. Teams play at Fryer Park, 3899 Orders Road, as daylight permits. Monday through Friday leagues move to Windsor Park, 4330 Dudley Ave., to play under the lights once needed. Registration is by team with payment due in full by the managers’ meeting Aug. 6. To register, call the parks and recreation office at 614-277-3050. For more information, call the Grove City Parks and Recreation office or visit GroveCityOhio.gov. Mask-a-on The South-Western Council of PTA will host a Mask-a-Thon from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 8. Residents are asked to drop off new/unused over-the-ear disposable or homemade cloth face masks to any of the four South-Western City Schools high schools (Grove City, Central Crossing, Franklin Heights and Westland). Monetary donations will also be accepted. The masks will be given to students in the district. Drive-by cookout LifeCare Alliance will host a drive-by cookout at the E.L. Evans Senior Center. Lunch will be grilled and then passed through the vehicle’s window from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. July 29 and on Aug. 5. This event is for those 60 and older. There is no cost for the lunch but donations are welcome. The Evans Center is located at 4330 Dudley Ave. in Grove City. For more information, contact Leah Bunck at 614- 437-2854 or lbunck@lifecarealliance.org. Food Truck Festival and Shop Hop The Heart of Grove City is hosting the Food Truck Festival and Shop Hop from 4 to 9 p.m. Aug. 7. Patrons can enjoy a summer evening strolling and shopping in the historic Grove City Town Center. For additional information, visit www.heartofgrovecity.org. July 26, 2020 -SOUTHWEST MESSENGER - PAGE 5
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Southwest Messenger - July 26th, 2020

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