Canal Winchester Messenger - January 9th, 2022
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www.columbusmessenger.com<br />
Spreading the wealth with bed tax grants<br />
By Linda Dillman<br />
Staff Writer<br />
Heads in beds are putting money into city of <strong>Canal</strong><br />
<strong>Winchester</strong> coffers and helping to benefit both local<br />
tourism and non-profit organizations throughout the<br />
community.<br />
The city levies a six percent transient occupancy<br />
(bed) tax that is assessed when guests use lodging furnished<br />
by a local hotel, motel, or similar business. One<br />
half of the tax revenue benefits Destination: <strong>Canal</strong> <strong>Winchester</strong>,<br />
which is the city’s designated visitor and convention<br />
bureau.<br />
<strong>Canal</strong> <strong>Winchester</strong> City Council designates the other<br />
three percent to fund the annual bed tax grant program.<br />
During its Dec. 20 meeting, council approved a resolution<br />
distributing <strong>2022</strong> bed tax grants to 13 organizations<br />
that applied between Oct. 1 and Nov. 30 for funding.<br />
The list of recommended grants includes: $2,000 for<br />
Boy Scout Troop 103 to repair, maintain an operate a<br />
troop bus; $2,000 for the BrockStrong Foundation for<br />
their <strong>2022</strong> Labor Day Baseball Tournament; and $2,000<br />
to the CW Art Guild for the <strong>2022</strong> Mural Project.<br />
David’s Way/<strong>Canal</strong> Village asked for $2,000 for computers,<br />
a printer and supplies and chairs for older<br />
adults; $2,000 for Friends for Life Animal Haven to fund<br />
their City Kitty Round Up; $2,000 for Veterans of Foreign<br />
Wars Post 10523 for supplies and advertising for<br />
the annual Veterans Day Celebration and $2,000 for Indians<br />
Cross Country Boosters Dr. Bender 5K Classic.<br />
<strong>Canal</strong> <strong>Winchester</strong> Finance Director Amanda Jackson<br />
anticipates new hotels will add to the bed tax fund and<br />
asked council for their advice on how additional funding<br />
should be distributed.<br />
“Do we put it in the general fund?” asked Jackson.<br />
“Do we put it in parks? Do we put it towards the historical<br />
society? What do we do with it?”<br />
A preliminary suggestion put 10 percent of any excess<br />
in support of the historical society; 10 percent to<br />
the CWICC, which is a non-profit that allocates bed tax<br />
grants for building improvements; 45 percent set aside<br />
for city parks; and 35 percent to the organizers of the<br />
Blues and Ribs Fest and the Labor Day Festival.<br />
“My hope is that a certain portion of that could be allocated<br />
for a DORA (designated outdoor refreshment<br />
area for supplies),” said Councilwoman Jill Amos. “It’s<br />
also one of the things that can attract and draw people<br />
in.”<br />
Councilman Bob Clark said additional park money<br />
could help accelerate construction instead of city administrators<br />
trying to find funding.<br />
Councilman Mike Coolman felt it was best to wait to<br />
make a decision until the new council is seated after the<br />
first of the year.<br />
Amos used the opportunity to open a discussion on<br />
the DORA and said businesses are supportive of the endeavor,<br />
but would like to see it phased in slowly instead<br />
of held for the first time during a large-scale city event<br />
like the Labor Day Festival, which can draw thousands<br />
to <strong>Canal</strong> <strong>Winchester</strong>.<br />
Coolman said the first smaller event is the Art Stroll,<br />
which is held the Saturday after Mother’s Day.<br />
“Their thoughts were if we start to introduce it,<br />
they’ll slowly get their staff introduced to it,” said Amos.<br />
“The restaurants and businesses were hoping for a slow<br />
thing, to work it in and make it sustainable. I think it<br />
can be done. I think the businesses are on board to<br />
help.”<br />
Madison Township news<br />
<strong>January</strong> 9, <strong>2022</strong> - MESSENGER - PAGE 7<br />
The Madison Township trustees approved moving their regular<br />
meeting dates in <strong>2022</strong> to the third Thursday of each month. However,<br />
the annual organizational meeting will take place on Jan. 4<br />
at 5 p.m.<br />
In other Madison Township news:<br />
•As announced in November, the township’s gas aggregation<br />
contract with Columbia Gas has expired and all residents enrolled<br />
in the program were returned to the gas company’s standard pricing<br />
default.<br />
“We did not renew…because rates were so high there was no savings<br />
for residents,” said Madison Township Administrator Susan<br />
Brobst.<br />
According to communications specialist Jessica Woodworth, the<br />
township does anticipate another aggregation contract in the future,<br />
although an exact date is not known. Consultant Trebel LLC<br />
is watching gas rates continuously and will secure a contracted rate<br />
when prices drop.<br />
“This will allow Treble to shop for us,” said Brobst, regarding a<br />
resolution giving permission to the company to pursue lower gas<br />
and electric rates and to secure those rates with the approval of the<br />
trustees.<br />
•The trustees authorized Brobst to submit a grant application<br />
for state capital funds to improve drainage at Brobst Park.<br />
“We continue to have more and more issues with flooding at the<br />
park,” said Brobst. “Last week, due to a lot of rain, we had to close<br />
the park early.”<br />
<strong>Canal</strong> <strong>Winchester</strong><br />
Board of Education meetings<br />
The <strong>Canal</strong> <strong>Winchester</strong> Board of Education meets on the third<br />
Monday of each month at 7 p.m. in the <strong>Canal</strong> <strong>Winchester</strong> Education<br />
Center, 100 Washington St. on the second floor in room 204/206.<br />
The public is welcome to attend.<br />
Moses-Mouser Eye Care<br />
Dr. Joshua Morris is a board-certified Optometrist<br />
who grew up in Bellville, Ohio. He<br />
completed his undergraduate degree at the<br />
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Dr. Morris attended The Ohio State University<br />
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his Doctor of Optometry Degree in May 2019. After completing his<br />
studies, he was awarded the “Primary Vision Care Clinical Excellence<br />
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Dr. Morris is a member of the American Optometric Association, the<br />
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He is excited to practice full scope optometry, diagnosing and treating<br />
a variety of ocular disorders and diseases in patients of all ages, but has<br />
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On a personal note, Dr. Morris and his wife Tess, enjoy spending time<br />
with their family, friends, and their Bernese Mountain dog Maverick,<br />
cheering on The Ohio State Buckeyes, trying new foods, and exploring<br />
Columbus breweries.<br />
Q: How often should someone with diabetes<br />
get an eye exam?<br />
A: Someone with diabetes should see an eye care professional at least<br />
once a year for a comprehensive dilated eye exam.<br />
Q: How can diabetes affect my vision?<br />
A: Over time, diabetes damages small blood vessels throughout the body,<br />
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Schedule your diabetic eye exam today<br />
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6441 <strong>Winchester</strong> Blvd. E., <strong>Canal</strong> <strong>Winchester</strong>, OH 43110 614-963-3827