By Bruce Kettelle
Seven Trotwood residents in Ward 1 submitted applications for the Trotwood city council seat vacated by Vice-Mayor Joyce Sutton. Sutton was promoted to Mayor last month upon the resignation of Darreyl Davis.
The city charter directs city council to fill the vacancy within 60 days. Interviews of the candidates will be conducted before council votes on a successor later this month
The applicants are: David W. Norvell, Herbert T. Marshall, Geraldine Newberry, Wanda M. Adams, Nicole Johnson, Tanya E. Jackson, and Anita Schmaltz.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
High Tech Targeted For Mall Site
By Bruce Kettelle
Trotwood officials want the former Salem Mall site to become a long-term technology anchor for the city’s future. In a turnaround from previous discussions that included attracting concentrated retail to the location, new consultants have recommended a strategy to bring research and development offices to help replace the region’s 100-year dependence on the automotive industry.
Similar to the Tech Town project in Dayton, Trotwood’s yet to be named center will offer entrepreneurs expertise to identify new markets for inventions and assistance in identifying venture capital sources.
“EMTEC specializes in finding applications for new technologies and commercializing them,” said Frank Svet the company’s president and CEO. EMTEC will become the city’s technology experts in the project. “We’re going to provide them the knowledge infrastructure.”
The physical planning falls on Norm Essman Consulting and a master plan design firm to be selected soon. Essman is a former economic development specialist with the City of Dayton and had a hand in the Tech Town project planning.
“We won’t have to repeat the hardships Tech Town went through,” said Essman. He said to expect the firms locating here to be researching and prototyping new products. Actual manufacturing would not take place on the campus.
According to Essman, “These tech workers tend to be younger, entrepreneurial (meaning they work too much), and like to live and play near their work.” He wants the master plan to take these factors into consideration for both the mall site and surrounding area.
After hearing the presentation to city council on March 22, Trotwood Mayor Joyce Sutton Cameron was encouraged by the change in strategy. “We were aware that a completely commercial project was not the way to go,” said Cameron. “Technology is the future, we want that here to sustain growth and jobs.”
Trotwood city manager Mike Lucking supports the shift for the site. “We are trying to leapfrog the community forward with a concept that lasts generations.”
Lucking expects the master planning to move ahead quickly. The consultants believe the skeleton roadway plan presented last fall by Bird and Hauk can be utilized for the technology center. Lucking wants to start construction of the first interior roadway in the spring of 2011. The city will seek federal funds to pay for those infrastructure costs.
Trotwood officials want the former Salem Mall site to become a long-term technology anchor for the city’s future. In a turnaround from previous discussions that included attracting concentrated retail to the location, new consultants have recommended a strategy to bring research and development offices to help replace the region’s 100-year dependence on the automotive industry.
Similar to the Tech Town project in Dayton, Trotwood’s yet to be named center will offer entrepreneurs expertise to identify new markets for inventions and assistance in identifying venture capital sources.
“EMTEC specializes in finding applications for new technologies and commercializing them,” said Frank Svet the company’s president and CEO. EMTEC will become the city’s technology experts in the project. “We’re going to provide them the knowledge infrastructure.”
The physical planning falls on Norm Essman Consulting and a master plan design firm to be selected soon. Essman is a former economic development specialist with the City of Dayton and had a hand in the Tech Town project planning.
“We won’t have to repeat the hardships Tech Town went through,” said Essman. He said to expect the firms locating here to be researching and prototyping new products. Actual manufacturing would not take place on the campus.
According to Essman, “These tech workers tend to be younger, entrepreneurial (meaning they work too much), and like to live and play near their work.” He wants the master plan to take these factors into consideration for both the mall site and surrounding area.
After hearing the presentation to city council on March 22, Trotwood Mayor Joyce Sutton Cameron was encouraged by the change in strategy. “We were aware that a completely commercial project was not the way to go,” said Cameron. “Technology is the future, we want that here to sustain growth and jobs.”
Trotwood city manager Mike Lucking supports the shift for the site. “We are trying to leapfrog the community forward with a concept that lasts generations.”
Lucking expects the master planning to move ahead quickly. The consultants believe the skeleton roadway plan presented last fall by Bird and Hauk can be utilized for the technology center. Lucking wants to start construction of the first interior roadway in the spring of 2011. The city will seek federal funds to pay for those infrastructure costs.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Onshoring May Save Ohio
By Bruce Kettelle
Caterpillar is the latest company to announce plans to bring a manufacturing plant back to the US. Economists call this onshoring, the opposite of offshoring. Offshoring has been blamed for taking jobs out of the US and Ohio since the free trade agreements took effect in the 1990’s.
The difference today according to an article in yesterday’s Wall Street Journal is the economics are shifting to make domestic production attractive again. They cite shipping and logistics costs, quality control, loss of intellectual property, and a highly skilled underemployed US workforce.
The main attraction for Caterpillar and others to move production offshore were lower labor rates available in Mexico and China. Those labor rates have begun to creep up as the workforce in those countries begin to expect higher standards of living.
Another major factor influencing the onshore movement is dollar exchange rates. The weak dollar makes US goods more attractive to other countries.
In Ohio and Trotwood this should be viewed as good news. In the case of Caterpillar this area may be an attractive location to build a new manufacturing plant. It would be close to their new Clayton distribution facility due to open near the end of this year and surrounded by an experienced manufacturing workforce.
It looks like onshoring should become part of Trotwood’s economic development vocabulary.
Caterpillar is the latest company to announce plans to bring a manufacturing plant back to the US. Economists call this onshoring, the opposite of offshoring. Offshoring has been blamed for taking jobs out of the US and Ohio since the free trade agreements took effect in the 1990’s.
The difference today according to an article in yesterday’s Wall Street Journal is the economics are shifting to make domestic production attractive again. They cite shipping and logistics costs, quality control, loss of intellectual property, and a highly skilled underemployed US workforce.
The main attraction for Caterpillar and others to move production offshore were lower labor rates available in Mexico and China. Those labor rates have begun to creep up as the workforce in those countries begin to expect higher standards of living.
Another major factor influencing the onshore movement is dollar exchange rates. The weak dollar makes US goods more attractive to other countries.
In Ohio and Trotwood this should be viewed as good news. In the case of Caterpillar this area may be an attractive location to build a new manufacturing plant. It would be close to their new Clayton distribution facility due to open near the end of this year and surrounded by an experienced manufacturing workforce.
It looks like onshoring should become part of Trotwood’s economic development vocabulary.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Trotwood Tornado Sirens Will Sound On April 5th
By Bruce Kettelle
Six newly installed emergency sirens will be tested simultaneously for the first time on April 5th at noon. The new sirens replace Trotwood’s aging siren system, which has been dysfunctional for over a year.
The new sirens were funded by a FEMA grant coordinated by Trotwood Fire and Rescue. One additional siren is yet to be installed in the southern portion of rural Trotwood. Fire officials believe the new locations will provide better coverage for alerting the public to emergencies such as tornado warnings.
The sirens will be tested each Monday at noon throughout the year. The sirens are located at 1333 N. Lutheran Church Road, 3031 Shiloh Springs Road, 4385 Salem Avenue, 4510 Seybold Road, 15 W. Trotwood Boulevard, and 909 Miller Avenue. A seventh siren is yet to be installed on Old Dayton Rd.
Six newly installed emergency sirens will be tested simultaneously for the first time on April 5th at noon. The new sirens replace Trotwood’s aging siren system, which has been dysfunctional for over a year.
The new sirens were funded by a FEMA grant coordinated by Trotwood Fire and Rescue. One additional siren is yet to be installed in the southern portion of rural Trotwood. Fire officials believe the new locations will provide better coverage for alerting the public to emergencies such as tornado warnings.
The sirens will be tested each Monday at noon throughout the year. The sirens are located at 1333 N. Lutheran Church Road, 3031 Shiloh Springs Road, 4385 Salem Avenue, 4510 Seybold Road, 15 W. Trotwood Boulevard, and 909 Miller Avenue. A seventh siren is yet to be installed on Old Dayton Rd.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Winter Strikes Trotwood - February 2010
Snow piled up in February around this Trotwood
farmhouse. Trotwood had the second snowiest February on record
By Bruce Kettelle
February 2010 was beautiful with a mess of winter in Trotwood. A string of storms dropped over 20” of white stuff starting with 6” on the 5th.
Cities and counties declared periodic emergencies as road crews had trouble keeping up with the frequent deposits. Persistent freezing temperatures insured none of the snows would melt leaving a white blanket until the March thaw. Even by March 10th patches of snow remained, stubbornly resisting temperatures approaching 60-degrees.
Conversations at local diners of more snow coming were initially met with contempt that gave way to acceptance. Succumbing to the daily donning of snow boots and heavy clothes the adventurous found new worlds to explore in their own back yards.
Icicles hung from nearly every eave. Boughs laden with heavy snow touched the ground. Country roads regularly drifted over again even days after the most recent snowfall when cold winter winds whipped at the frozen mass.
Ponds froze solid. Previously frustrated snowmobilers finally got their fill. Cross-country skis sold out in local shops. And by the end of the month you couldn’t buy a snow shovel anywhere.
Melting snow in March delivered a big dose of
mud season to the area. Stepping off the pavement anywhere usually
upset area moms as the dirt got tracked inside.
It was one for the record books becoming the second snowiest February on record for the Dayton area. Officially 23” of snow fell, just 2” shy of now third place 2003, but well behind the 1910 record of 31.6.
Thoughts now turn to spring as gardeners watch for the first crocus blooms and farmers hope for perfect planting weather. Memories of this February will fade quickly as we all revel in the warmth of spring.
Geese were frozen out of their ponds all February.
On March 8th they were exploring the melting edges of the ice
at Larchtree Golf Course.
Monday, March 8, 2010
City Eyes Lower Interest Rates
By Bruce Kettelle
Trotwood leaders are eyeing lower interest rates to convert most of the city’s debt into long-term notes.
During most of the past decade Trotwood has used short-term one-year notes to finance the city’s investments.
“This was a conscious strategy to wait,” said Jeff Rink of Key Bank, the city’s bond advisor. Rink presented the case at the March 1 city council meeting. He said the time is close to convert the debt into long-term bond notes.
Rink said the short-term rates have been very favorable but things look like they are beginning to change. He expects the city to qualify for a rate around 5%.
Acting city finance director Patricia Shively said the city would combine several existing debts into one for six months to give the bank time to arrange the long-term package. The components include $3.8-million for the Salem Mall acquisition, $2.5-million for the Toys-R-Us acquisition, $1.7-million for improvements along Olive Road for the GM distribution facility, and $100,000 for the East Main St water line replacement.
The city council voted unanimously to issue the 6-month bond anticipation note for $8,255,000.
Rush said he would prepare by August a 20-25 year bond package for the funds. He expects the city will attract favorable rates.
Council member Mary McDonald asked Rush if it would be difficult to find someone to purchase the city’s bonds. He said, “Cities as fine as Trotwood are having no trouble selling their debt.”
Trotwood leaders are eyeing lower interest rates to convert most of the city’s debt into long-term notes.
During most of the past decade Trotwood has used short-term one-year notes to finance the city’s investments.
“This was a conscious strategy to wait,” said Jeff Rink of Key Bank, the city’s bond advisor. Rink presented the case at the March 1 city council meeting. He said the time is close to convert the debt into long-term bond notes.
Rink said the short-term rates have been very favorable but things look like they are beginning to change. He expects the city to qualify for a rate around 5%.
Acting city finance director Patricia Shively said the city would combine several existing debts into one for six months to give the bank time to arrange the long-term package. The components include $3.8-million for the Salem Mall acquisition, $2.5-million for the Toys-R-Us acquisition, $1.7-million for improvements along Olive Road for the GM distribution facility, and $100,000 for the East Main St water line replacement.
The city council voted unanimously to issue the 6-month bond anticipation note for $8,255,000.
Rush said he would prepare by August a 20-25 year bond package for the funds. He expects the city will attract favorable rates.
Council member Mary McDonald asked Rush if it would be difficult to find someone to purchase the city’s bonds. He said, “Cities as fine as Trotwood are having no trouble selling their debt.”
Historical Society Annual Spaghetti Dinner March 27
The Trotwood-Madison Historical Society will hold its annual Spaghetti Dinner on Saturday, March 27, from 4:30 – 7:30 p.m. at the Trotwood Church of the Brethren, located at 208 E Main Street, Trotwood, OH. Tickets may be purchased at the door $7.00 for adults and $3.50 for children age12 and younger. The dinner includes spaghetti (featuring their homemade sauce), salad, garlic or plain bread, homemade desserts and beverage. Meatless sauce is also available and carry-out dinners can be purchased.
Proceeds go to the Iams Homestead Preservation Fund. For more info call 854-4505 or visit http://t-mhs.blogspot.com/
Proceeds go to the Iams Homestead Preservation Fund. For more info call 854-4505 or visit http://t-mhs.blogspot.com/
Saturday, March 6, 2010
TUCC Cabbage Roll Dinner March 20
The famous Trotwood United Church of Christ Cabbage Roll Dinner will be held Saturday, March 20 4:30-6:30PM at the church 18 N. Broadway in Trotwood. The meal includes cabbage roll(meat loaf available) real mashed potatoes, green beans, salad, and dessert. The cost is $7 per adult and $3.50 per child 10 years and younger. This is the 15th year for this semi-annaul feast-come enjoy and visit with friends and make new friends. Call 837-1261 for more details.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Applications Sought For Empty City Council Seat
Bt Bruce Kettelle
The Trotwood city council is accepting applications for the vacant Ward 1 city council seat. This is the seat held by Joyce Sutton Cameron who was elevated to the position of Mayor after the recent resignation of former Mayor Darreyl Davis.
Applications are available on the city’s web site or at the government center and must be submitted by March 26th to the clerk of council Lois Singleton.
According to the city charter applicants must be a Trotwood resident for at least one year and currently be residing in the area known as District (Ward) 1. The city council is required to fill the vacancy within 60 days.
Interested residents should complete the city’s volunteer application although there is a small annual stipend paid to city council members. A boundary map showing District 1 is available on the web site or at the city offices.
Completed applications may be delivered to the city offices or submitted by email or facsimile to 854-0574.
Questions about the process should be directed to Lois Singleton 854-7212 or by email lsingleton@trotwood.org. For forms maps and other information visit www.Trotwood.org
The Trotwood city council is accepting applications for the vacant Ward 1 city council seat. This is the seat held by Joyce Sutton Cameron who was elevated to the position of Mayor after the recent resignation of former Mayor Darreyl Davis.
Applications are available on the city’s web site or at the government center and must be submitted by March 26th to the clerk of council Lois Singleton.
According to the city charter applicants must be a Trotwood resident for at least one year and currently be residing in the area known as District (Ward) 1. The city council is required to fill the vacancy within 60 days.
Interested residents should complete the city’s volunteer application although there is a small annual stipend paid to city council members. A boundary map showing District 1 is available on the web site or at the city offices.
Completed applications may be delivered to the city offices or submitted by email or facsimile to 854-0574.
Questions about the process should be directed to Lois Singleton 854-7212 or by email lsingleton@trotwood.org. For forms maps and other information visit www.Trotwood.org
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