Canal Winchester Messenger - September 4th, 2022

Madison Township Police seek to purchase new cruisers
www.columbusmessenger.com September 4, 2022 - CANAL WINCHESTER MESSENGER - PAGE 7
By Linda Dillman
Staff Writer
“We want to make sure we want to have
the equipment we need and also be fiscally
build” plan for the intersection.
“I thought it would be a good fit for the
•Additional security cameras are being
installed in the police department, public
Madison Township Police Chief Gary
responsible,” added Trustee Chairwoman area,” said Watkins.
works, and administrative buildings after
York wants to take advantage of a chance to
Michele Reynolds.
Township crews are installing a fourinch
raised crosswalk on the north side of ment with EPS. While the cost for the proj-
the trustees approved a purchase agree-
purchase two new 2023 cruisers from Byers
York asked the trustees to approve a
Ford by submitting a non-committing letter
shared vehicle agreement with other the intersection, along with ramps and ect was higher than expected, Brobst said
of intent.
Franklin County departments that are part striping. The same improvements are the township hopes to have the cameras installed
prior to the end of the year.
“Each year I look at the budget and
of OTARMA insurance. Cruisers would be planned for Dunloe Road and Dunloe Place
needs for the department,” York said during
shared on an as-needed basis for coverage next year.
“All of the material is available and not
an Aug. 18 Madison Township trustees
and protection when vehicles are out of •Madison Township Administrator on backorder,” said Brobst. “We have a camera
at the front door at the community cen-
meeting. “With supply chain issues, we’re
service. The agreement is similar to one Susan Brobst reported on a resolution to request
dropping the speed limit on Swisher ter. With our system, we’ll be able to
seeing the delay (in vehicles). It (letter) secures
our place in line. We’re not the only
shared by the fire department with neighboring
municipalities
Road to 35 miles per hour. The Ohio Department
of Transportation–through the •A fall tire collection is scheduled for
monitor from cell phones.”
agency impacted by this. This could have a Other Madison Township news
snowball effect if we skip another (purchasing)
cycle. The cost has gone up as well. perintendent Dave Watkins reported on ef-
of discussion–determined the criteria re-
until dumpster capacity is reached. The col-
•Madison Township Public Works Su-
Franklin County Engineer and after years Sept. 27 at Brobst Park from 1-7 p.m., or
We’re looking at $122,234 total, including forts to slow down drivers who ignore the ducing the speed limit was met.
lection is for residents of Madison Township,
including Groveport and Canal
new equipment.”
speed limit and pose a threat to pedestrians “This is something the county engineer
York said the Grove City Police Department
ordered new vehicles in January and intersection.
seems like it’s been a long time coming. ger vehicle sized or smaller, can be accepted.
crossing at the Dunloe and Hatfield roads has been looking into,” said Brobst. “It Winchester. Up to 10 rimless tires, passen-
has yet to receive them. He said a Byers “We have quotes that unfortunately We’ll send it (the request) to the engineer’s Residents must bring a driver’s license or
Ford representative said vehicle costs have came in double what I was budgeting,” said office and they’ll take it through the rest of a utility bill to show residency eligibility.
increased $5,000 to $6,000.
Watkins. In response, he explained a “quick the process.”
Franklin County RISE program invests in families
The Franklin County commissioners announced
a new investment in families and
local child care providers called Franklin
County RISE.
The partnership with Action For Children
will invest nearly $23 million over two
years to support Franklin County families
who are struggling to pay for child care as
well as child care providers and staff. This
is the most significant investment ever in
the local early childhood learning system,
and builds on earlier funding from the city
of Columbus. The funding comes from the
American Rescue Plan and is intended to
help families who are facing the “benefits
cliff” in which they make too much to qualify
for Publicly Funded Child Care (PFCC)
but too little to actually afford child care, as
well as the early learning centers and teachers
on which they rely.
“As we reimagine what our child care
system is going to look like coming out of the
pandemic, some have tried to frame it as a
choice between increasing affordability or
improving quality,” Franklin County Commissioner
Erica Crawley said. “As a single
mom of twins, I can tell you parents don’t
see it as an either/or proposition - and neither
does Franklin County. Early care and
education is an educational, workforce, and
economic issue and must be top priority requiring
our investment now.”
Nearly one in six of the child care centers
in central Ohio that closed during the
COVID-19 pandemic has not reopened, and
half of those remaining report that they are
not able to cover their expenses. Families
rely on child care to help prepare children
for school and so that the parents can work,
but high-quality care can cost more than college
in Franklin County, and parents who
make as little as $25,000 per year don’t qualify
for assistance. Franklin County RISE
will help alleviate these struggles in three
ways: early learning scholarships, incentive
payments for child care programs, and financial
supports for child care workers.
“Providing high-quality child care and
running a business are both challenges even
in the best of times,” said Commissioner
John O’Grady. “Our new Franklin County
RISE funding for both child care centers
and their staff will help to keep them afloat,
incentivize quality, and ensure that great
teachers don’t have to abandon their passion
for jobs in other fields.”
Franklin County RISE includes $11.4
million in scholarships for families facing
the benefits cliff, and 500 students are expected
to be eligible for up to $10,000 per
year in scholarships.
The support to providers totals more
than $11.3 million in four funding areas: as
many as 750 providers are expected to receive
up to $3,000 per year for taking on
low-income families, up to $10,000 for improving
their state ratings, and up to $5,000
per year for expanding to non-traditional
hours. In addition, $500,000 of the RISE
funding is dedicated to emergency rental assistance
for child care workers. These teachers
are predominantly women and people of
color and chronically underpaid, with an average
wage for credentialed lead teachers
averaging just $12.22 per hour–about 41
percent of the median income for Franklin
County. RISE teacher supports will offer an
average of $3,000 in rental assistance payments
per household.
“What a cruel irony for parents to be told
that even though their job doesn’t pay
enough to afford child care, it makes them
ineligible for child care assistance,” said
Commissioner Kevin Boyce.
Action for Children is a child care resource
and referral agency for both families
and providers in central Ohio, offering parent
education and seminars, training and
technical assistance for teachers and
providers, as well as advocacy and workforce
development. Action for Children is already
administering some child care scholarships
and signing bonuses funded by the city of
Columbus which will be rolled into the
Franklin County RISE initiatives. Action for
Children will administer Franklin County
RISE, serving as the point of contact for families
and early learning centers, determining
program eligibility, and administering the
scholarships and grants.
Visit RISE.FranklinCountyOhio.gov for
informations
eastside
Messenger
(Distribution: 6,500)
Rick Palsgrove........................Canal Winchester Editor
southeast@columbusmessenger.com
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