Groveport Messenger - November 27th, 2022

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PAGE 4 - GROVEPORT MESSENGER - November 27, 2022 www.columbusmessenger.com Groveport City Council to reconsider fireworks ban By Rick Palsgrove Groveport Editor On Nov. 28, Groveport City Council will vote on legislation to expand the use of personal fireworks within the city limits. The city’s existing law bans the use of personal fireworks within city limits. If approved, the proposed legislation would make the city consistent with state law to allow the use of personal fireworks on designated days during the year. The legislation would allow individuals to possess consumer grade fireworks and to discharge them on their own property or on another person’s property with permission on the following days: New Year’s Day; Chinese New Year; Cinco de Mayo; Memorial Day weekend; Juneteenth; July BUY ONE! RENT ONE! 3, 4, and 5 and the Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays preceding and following; Labor Day weekend, Diwali; and New Year’s Eve. State law permits local governments to restrict the dates and times when individuals may discharge consumer grade fireworks or to impose a complete ban on the use of consumer grade fireworks. A previous attempt to enact the legislation failed earlier this year. Councilman Scott Lockett brought it back before council because he said all the council members were not present at the prior vote. At council’s Nov. 21 committee meeting, resident Greg Keller recommended council limit the use of personal fireworks to only the Fourth of July holiday instead of the full slate of holidays listed in the state law. 370 Main Street & 370 Rear • Groveport, OH 43125 “It’s a very fine line between consumer vs. commercial fireworks,” said Keller. “Either kind can kill or maim. It’s a hazard in an urban setting because there’s not enough room to ensure safety.” Keller also said the loud noise of fireworks is harmful to military veterans suffering from post traumatic stress syndrome and to people’s pets. “Protecting the safety of the citizens is job one for council,” said Keller. Council will vote on the fireworks issue at its Nov. 28 meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the municipal building, 655 Blacklick St. Other news •Bruce Smith, one of the organizers of the Blacklick Haunted Park held in October, said the event drew about 1,800 visitors this year and raised $8,608 that will be split between the Groveport Food Pantry and Groveport Madison Human Needs. “You’ve created an amazing event for the city,” said Councilwoman Jean Ann Hilbert. •Groveport Madison Schools is requesting a zoning variance for 4180 Bixby Road from Groveport City Council to allow the construction of a school bus garage facility. The school district wants to build a new $4.5 million transportation center that would include a 9,900 square foot bus compound building, along with the accompanying bus lot and parking lot, at 4180 Bixby Road. Because the 129 acre site is zoned as rural, it needs council to approve a variance for it. T he site is located on school districtowned land at the northeast corner of Bixby and Hendron roads abutting Three Creeks Metro Park. “Basically, we’re out of space (at the existing bus garage located behind the District Service Center, 4400 Marketing Place, Groveport), said Groveport Madison Communications Director Jeff Warner earlier this year. Buses will continue to be parked at the District Service Center, 4400 Marketing Place, Groveport, while the district’s new transportation center is under construction. Warner said earlier this year that, if all goes well, the district hopes to open the new bus facility in the summer of 2023. •Council is also considering a zoning variance request for property at “0” Hendron Road (site of the former Groveport Madison Recreation Club swimming pool site, which is now a vacant lot) to allow for the construction of 4,067 square foot veterinary clinic. The site is currently zoned for suburban office, which does not include veterinary offices as a permitted use. Original Hardwood Floors 3-4 Bedroom 2-Story 2 Bedroom Ranch Marylee Bendig 580 Main St., Groveport Marylee Bendig Team (614) 218-1097 marylee@maryleebendig.com www.maryleebendig.com ASBURY SOUTH UMC 4760 Winchester Pike Columbus, Ohio 43232 Telephone: 614-837-4601 Rev. Sherri Upchurch Blackwell Sunday Worship 10 a.m. Inside and Parking Lot Sunday School 9 a.m. Be a Part of Our Local Worship Guide Our Worship Guide is geared toward celebrating faith and helping readers connect with religious resources in our community. Make sure these readers know how you can help with a presence in this very special section distributed to more than 19,000 households in the Groveport area. Contact us today to secure your spot in our Worship Guide. 614.272.5422 • kathy@columbusmessenger.com Groveport Messenger GROVEPORT ZION LUTHERAN, NALC Christ Centered, Mission Driven Traditionally Grounded 6014 Groveport Rd., Groveport, OH 43125 PHONE: 614-836-5611 PASTOR BRIAN MCGEE Sunday Worship 11 A.M. Christmas Concert - Sun. Dec. 11, 7:00 pm Celebrate the Christmas Season with an evening of beautiful music. Cookie Reception Following
www.columbusmessenger.com Groveport Madison gets updated enrollment estimates By Rick Palsgrove Groveport Editor Groveport Madison Schools officials recently received updated student enrollment projections and will use the information to determine how to address overcrowding issues in the district. One issue is determining the cost and finding funds to create more space at the high school. The numbers Earlier this year the district contracted with Cropper GIS Consulting for a school capacity study and an enrollment demographic study at a cost of $35,500. Also, as part of the Master Facilities Plan process, the board also approved contracting with SHP Architects for $77,000 for facility planning regarding the potential renovation, expansion, or replacement of the district’s existing elementary and middle schools. The district’s current student enrollment is 6,351, according to district officials. As of October 2021, the district had 6,271 students. Enrollment was 5,569 in 2015-16. Total enrollment is expected to rise to 6,652 by 2029-30. According to district officials, here is the current, updated enrollment per school building (building classroom capacity is in parentheses): Asbury Elementary: 488 (385); Dunloe Elementary: 492 (444); Glendening Elementary: 477 (480); Groveport Elementary: 464 (408); Madison Elementary: 354 (359); Sedalia Elementary: 629 (456); Middle School Central: 467 (463); Middle School North: 510 (583); Middle School South: 467 (485); High School: 1,889 (1,500). Making space at the high school According to district officials, the original design capacity for the new high school was set at 1,500, based on the Ohio School Facilities Construction Commission’s Facilities Master Plan (which included OSFCC enrollment projections). When the OSFCC shared its enrollment projections, the board and the district’s administration disagreed with the OSFCC, believing their projections to be substantially low, especially at the high school. “Despite the districts objections, the high school was constructed for 1,500 students,” said Groveport Madison Superintendent James Grube in an interview. “Knowing there were already 1,900 plus high school schools enrolled before its opening, the district spent a portion of its local share of the project’s budget on upgrading the foundation and HVAC components of the building to accommodate a future addition to the front of the southeast wing of the school.” Grube said discussion centers on building out classrooms in some of the extended learning areas at the end of each of the school’s wings. He said there is space to construct 12 classrooms within the existing footprint of the high school building. Groveport Madison Communications Director Jeff Warner said there is almost $5 million in funds left over from the high school construction project. Of this amount $2.4 million is the district’s local share and $2.6 million is the state’s share. “We believe we should have those funds,” said Warner. However, the OFCC considers the project closed and rejected releasing the remaining state funds to the school district. Warner said the district also has about $1 million in its permanent improvement fund available. The Groveport Madison Board of Education approved obtaining estimates for potentially constructing more space at the high school. Warner said the project to create additional space at the high school would entail converting existing space within the building’s wings. He said the work could be done this summer. Modular classrooms Regarding the elementary and middle schools, it is not yet determined how many additional modular classrooms will be needed. Currently the district has 24 modular classrooms in use, including a single quad-classroom unit at Groveport Elementary, two double-classroom units at Asbury Elementary and Dunloe Elementary, and six double-classroom units at Sedalia Elementary. The cost of additional modular classrooms is still to be determined. Warner said the modulars would most likely be leased and that the northern part of the district is in the most need of space. Ballot issues A potential bond issue to fund new buildings could appear on the November 2023, May 2024, or August 2024 ballot. A bond issue must pass by August 2024 or else the district would have to reapply for OFCC funding. The district’s five year renewal general operating levy is tentatively scheduled for the November 2024 ballot as that is latest date it can be approved for the district to start collecting money in 2025. DestinationOutlets.com 800-213-9083 8000 Factory Shops Blvd. Jeffersonville, OH 43128 November 27, 2022 - GROVEPORT MESSENGER - PAGE 5 We are the BEST community newspaper! Need advertising? Call Doug Henry at 614-272-5422. DOWNLOAD OUR MEMBERSHIP APP
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Groveport Messenger - November 27th, 2022

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