Legacy Businesses Are Not Born Overnight

By Bruce Kettelle

As the Dayton region loses one legacy business after another from Frigidaire, to Delphi and now NCR it makes one wonder what the next Dayton legacy will be.

Legacies like these are not built overnight, they grow so gradually that most would not realize they have become a legacy until they start to downsize.

Fire destroyed Trotwood’s legacy business back in 1981. Thousands of campers and travel trailers were built on North Broadway for delivery all across the country. Trotwood Trailers were respected for their innovative features and high quality construction. Many still survive today but the company does not.

Now almost 30 years later Trotwood still searches for its new legacy business. Right now, somewhere in town, someone might be inventing something in their garage like Ray Kuntz and Warren Wagner did back in the late 1920’s. These schoolteachers occupied their summers in a garage on Grand Av designing a prototype canvas tent on wheels to take camping.

Despite the economic gloom of the Great Depression in 1932 they opened Trotwood Trailers and by 1950 they grew to control 20% of the camper trailer market in Ohio. There were many models to choose from and one of their largest models can still be seen in the mobile home park on E Main St. It was a regular sight to see 12 trailers rolling out of town every day on their way to customers across North America.

Their neighbors tolerated the pair working long hours from their ‘home office’ not realizing the impact their inventions would have on the trailer world from innovative axle systems to the first side entry door trailer. Like the bar owner in Dayton that invented a cash register to keep his employees honest to the brothers experimenting with aerodynamics with a wind tunnel in their bicycle shop, ideas that become legacies can be born just about anywhere.

No one knows what Trotwood’s next legacy will be but the timing is right to see a new idea nurtured amidst the ashes of the current recession. So the next time you see your neighbor burning the midnight oil offer a little encouragement. They just might be defining the direction of Trotwood’s economic future.

This Trotwood Trailer is the last one located in the mobile home park on East Main St in Trotwood, Ohio. It was being renovated when this picture was taken in August 2009.

Trotwood Madison School Registration Underway

 

New students in any grade and all kindergarteners planning to attend the Trotwood-Madison City School District this year need to pre-register. The district's annual Central Registration drive is underway and students planning to attend the first day of school on August 17 must register on or before August 13th. Late arrival students may register until August 28th.

Central Registration is open every day through August 28th except August 14th when they will close for new teacher orientation. Parents and guardians may come to the central office at 444 South Broadway between 8:30 and 4:00 pm daily and until 5:00 pm on Wednesdays. There is a list of required paperwork available at the district's registration web page http://www.trotwood.k12.oh.us/registration.htm

The registrar’s office encourages families to come early to make sure your child has all the paperwork complete in time to start school. The 2009 T-M school year runs from August 17, 2009 to June 3, 2010.

Trotwood Chamber Golf Outing September 14

You can win a car from Golling’s Arena Dodge with a hole-in-one during the 2009 Trotwood Chamber of Commerce Golf Outing. The event will be held at the ChiChi Rodriguez signature Moss Creek Golf Course in Trotwood on Monday September 14 with a shotgun start at 1pm. Registration and the pre tee off lunch begins at 11am.

The chamber's golf outing returns from a 12 year break with more fun and prizes than ever including an Daequan Cook autographed basketball jersey from the Adidas' Midwest Shoot-Out II, a future round of golf at Moss Crrek for four players with cart, and an overnight stay in a Jacuzzi Suite at Holiday Inn-Englewood. The $75 per person entry fee includes a tasty box lunch provided by Jerri's Catering and the scrumptious steak dinner by Moss Creek.

Some of the sponsors include Golling’s Arena Dodge, Liberty Savings Bank, Maria-Joseph Living Care Center, Summit Towing, Trotwood Rotary, Dayton Nutra Foods, and
Dayton Power & Light. There are additional donations from 5th/3rd Bank, Cub Foods, Key Bank, Dayton Development Coalition, Algo Pest Control, and Account Angel Bookkeeping. More sponsors are being added daily.

Players will enjoy the rolling fairways on the former Shearbrook Farm. The 7200-yard course feature wide bent grass fairways enjoyed by players of all levels. Moss Creek is truly Dayton's hidden gem.

Entry forms are available on the chamber's web site http://trotwoodchamber.org/ENTRY_FORM_2009.pdf or call 837-1484. Businesses interested in becoming a sponsor should contact Marie Battle at the same number.

Kids Triathlon August 8

Kids age 5-12 are invited to compete in the Kids Triathlon at 8am on August 8th at the United Thological Seminary 4501 Denlinger Road. Kids will have a chance to test their skills by age group in swimming, biking and running. The courses get longer for the older kids. Organizers encourage the participants to train before the event to improve their times.

Entry forms are available at the Trotwood Government Center (3035 N Olive) and the Trotwood YMCA (506 E Main). Entry fees are $25 for the first child and $20 for each additional sibling in a family. Paid entrants get a T-shirt, finisher's medal and refreshments. Top three finishers in each age group will receive a trophy. The event is being provided through a partnership between the City of Trotwood, Dayton YMCA, and United Theological Seminary. For more info call 361-6825.

For pictures and results visit http://www.speedy-feet.com/

Bumper Crop At Farmers Market

By Bruce Kettelle

Rain, Rain, Rain. It delayed planting of some crops this spring but for produce growers it means good looking bumper crops on Trotwood vegetable stands.

“These are some of the best looking green beans we’ve ever had,” said local farmer Donny Rowe from behind his stand in Olde Town on Saturday morning. Despite the morning rain there is a steady stream of shoppers pulling in for sweet corn, squash, pickles, and the green beans.

Not everyone just buys a pound or two as evidenced by one woman carting off two bushels of the crisp green legumes. Rowe watched her pulling out and said that load will keep her busy this weekend putting them up for winter.

Cool rainy weather has persisted this summer. If the temperatures remain cool this week it may qualify this July as the coolest July on record.

The larger field crops in the area seem to be benefiting from the weather as well with corn going to tassel along most area roads. Residents will notice some corn fields look a little shorter, Rowe says those fields were planted late because of the wet spring and are still trying to catch up.

The Trotwood Farmers Market is open Wednesdays from 3-6 pm and Saturdays from 9 am to 4 pm. The farmers market is located in the parking lot of the former Dolly Madison bread store at 21 E. Main St across from the Depot in Trotwood Olde Town. The market continues rain or shine through October 24.

Developer Wanted For Old High School

By Bruce Kettelle

Built in 1913, the last remaining building on the former high school site is heading for the wrecking claw unless an entrepreneur is found in time.

Trotwood Madison City Schools will vacate the landmark brick structure when they relocate their board offices to the former middle school next year. The board then plans to give the building the same fate as all their other vacated buildings.


The districts ambitious building construction program over the last six years has delivered a new high school, middle school, two elementary buildings and a pre-k.

But there are some in the community that would rather not see this building torn down. The Trotwood Madison Historical Society took a hard look at acquiring the building three years ago. Their analysis showed the building to be rehab-able but as a small organization they lacked the needed funding.

Since then the city has tried to identify possible takers and brought several prospects out for a tour. None of those have blossomed into a solution.

The district is willing to talk to anyone interested said assistant superintendent Rexann Wagner. “We do not want to be held responsible for another vacant building,” said Beverly explaining why they have budgeted to have it demolished.

She said the district does not have a recommendation for what the building could become, that would be up to the new owner. Presently the site is zoned residential and abuts an area zoned neighborhood business.

Former school buildings have been successfully redeveloped in other areas into apartments, condominiums and office space. Their unique architectural character has made them ongoing assets in those communities. One local success story occurred with West Milton’s high school, it is now senior apartments.

“I would like to see the building saved with an appropriate use,” said Regina Kleinhenz of the historical society. “It’s a piece of Trotwood history.”

She encouraged anyone in the community that may have contacts with any developers to let them know there is a great opportunity right here in Trotwood.

Trotwood Seeks Pay Cuts To Balance Budget

By Bruce Kettelle

On Monday July 20 Trotwood City Council approved a new contract for the city manager and authorized him to negotiate with the city employees to seek deep cuts to mitigate a $557,000 budget shortfall.

The 2009 budget developed last fall included conservative revenue expectations but the deepening recession and growing unemployment have taken a toll on the city’s income taxes. Trotwood’s unemployment rate in June rose to 15.3% according to the state department of jobs and family services. That’s the highest rate in Montgomery County where the average is 12.4%.

“The shortfall is a reflection of the nine month downturn which no one fully predicted in Trotwood, Montgomery County, the state, or the nation,” said Trotwood city council member Rap Hankins.

Besides income taxes, which the city monitors on a month-to-month basis, Trotwood city manager Mike Lucking said property taxes are declining too. “The county projected a 2% decline last fall, our budget projections were even more conservative than that,” he said. “We will know in about a week what the second half numbers show.” Property taxes are due every six months.

Lucking said the third area is a reduction in money from the state’s local government fund. Yesterday the state budget office notified cities to expect a 14.4% decrease in this year’s allocation. That’s about what the city expected and is already included in the $557,000.

“This budget is a moving target and impossible to know how it will turn out,” said Lucking.

To keep from draining the city’s already small reserve fund Lucking has been negotiating with the city’s four unions and non-union employees.

“We’ve proposed to the entire organization, in order to reduce the projected deficit, to take a 7 ½% wage rollback and 80 hours furlough, (unpaid time off) that will result in an 18% reduction in wage cost through the end of the year.”

The unions are expected to respond next week and Lucking met with the non-union city employees Friday. Lucking does not want to use layoffs authorized by the city council but fears that less desirable solution would be necessary if the unions do not agree to the wage reductions.

“Layoffs are not a good solution, they adversely effect service delivery, increase unemployment liabilities and health insurance liabilities (cobra), and the city will have to pay for unused leave which uses up more cash flow.” “We are a thin organization right now with no excess spending or personnel.”

Lucking’s new contract includes the same cuts that employees will bear. But that was not enough for two city council members who voted against his new 3-year agreement.

Council member Mary McDonald read a long list of criticisms. She said she didn’t believe the city should continue with Lucking. She cited the lack of economic development, poor communication with council members, excessive spending on the Salem Mall site, and for not expecting the city’s recent shortfall. She was joined in the 5-2 vote by council member Bettye Gales.

Hankins defended the manager for the council majority. “You have to look at what is happening in the entire region and how this effects Trotwood . . .what isn’t clear is if the manager should be held accountable for things beyond his control.”

Mayor Darreyl Davis also supported the manager. “We must hold ourselves as well as the city manager accountable for a new direction,” he said. “Our region has suffered 10-12,000 jobs lost in the past two years, this effects us.

Hankins attended a presentation by University of Dayton Economist Richard Stock Wednesday. Stock’s economic forecast for the region doesn’t show signs of recovery until 2011. He also suggests that Trotwood, Harrison Twp and Jefferson Twp could be the slowest to recover because of the higher age of their respective workforces. These communities also have a higher percentage of African-American population which has seen greater impact from the elimination of manufacturing jobs.