Wednesday, November 25th, 2009

Board OKs Memorial High School demolition

St. Marys

By Janie Southard
ST. MARYS - The question of demolishing the 1923 high school building was resolved when the school board gave the go ahead at a special work session this week.
Discussion continues on other issues including stadium location and whether to build a field house, among others.
Several avenues have been explored to put the Memorial High School/McBroom buildings to use by the district, the city or another entity. But, across the board, the renovations would be too costly. Plus the annual maintenance and utilities is more than $138,000. For a time, it appeared the Ohio National Guard was interested in the building, but renovations were prohibitive.
"We tried to give it to the city, but they didn't even want the bare ground," school board member Rees McKee quipped.
Demolition of the buildings is part of the Ohio School Facilities Commission master plan, which the board adopted more than a year ago. That plan has the state paying for 61 percent of the demolition cost.
The proposal is to demolish the complex up to the Cook gymnasium, which will be buttoned up for continued use by the district. The plan calls for demolition by November 2010.
The issue of a pedestrian bridge over U.S. 33. seems to be sliding into obscurity, due literally to lack of interest.
Several school board members said at the recent work session they have been approached by the community with both praise and objections concerning the proposed pedestrian bridge that would solve the problem of students walking on the state Route 66 overpass to the new 6-12 school building. The ball park estimate is between $1.4 and $1.7 million.
"We (the school) cannot apply for funding. The city would have to be the grantee and they are not interested," district Business Manager Kurt Kuffner said.
This week's session was lengthy and lively as board members, academic and athletic staff as well as community members voiced concerns and offered suggestions. Most conversation concerned the stadium location, a topic that overlaps many issues.
With no state funding available, a new stadium or renovations to the present one would fall to private donations. According to board member and athletic facility committee member Craig Gottschalk, this has always been the plan.
He also is strong on the board's promise to put any surplus of money (for example, bids coming in low for the school construction project) toward bond retirement.
"I thought that was our original goal especially with times as hard as they are ... We need to develop short- and long-term plans (regarding athletic fields, locker rooms, storage, etc.)," he said, adding he personally would never vote to abandon the present Skip Baughman Stadium.
"Skip wouldn't have cared where the stadium is. He would have been happy playing ball in the parking lot," observed Al Solomon, county sheriff and a soccer coach.
Because the topic overlaps others, the discussion tended to wander. If the stadium remains where it is, should the old concrete bleachers be demolished along with the 1923 building and new bleachers be constructed, some asked. But, why should money be put into the old field if eventually a new stadium will be installed at the new 6-12 complex, others said.
On the other hand, if the old stadium remains with new bleachers, why not build a field house on the site of the former 1923 building thereby providing locker rooms, showers and concessions.
The immediate concern of coach Mark Hollars, who attended the meeting along with athletic director Joe Bline, was where will kids practice, play and change next school year. There were a flurry of suggestions and lengthy general comments.
Gottschalk reiterated his position on short- and long-term planning as well as his priority of retiring bond debt. Board President Ralph Wiley pointed out that paying on the debt would not be a savings, but only early retirement.
The next work session is 6 p.m. Dec. 16 in the district service center.
Additional online stories on this date
All administrators, classified staff, cafeteria managers and executive secretaries at Celina City Schools obtained two-year salary increases on Monday night. [More]
St. Marys River
The process to form a St. Marys River Watershed group should begin in the next few months.
Andy Kleinschmidt, OSU Extension educator for Van Wert C [More]
Subscriber and paid stories on this date
Mercer County
Mercer County commissioners are applying for more than $800,000 in stimulus funding to boost energy efficiency in the Central Services Building in Celina.
ST. MARYS - City council members tabled the proposed amendment to the cat control ordinance until May. Monday's vote would have been the third readin
St. Marys
A 19-year-old St. Marys man admitted in court Tuesday that he left a homemade bomb at a gas station in the city nearly a year ago.
Jesse McDermitt
Grand Lake Health Center's "Road to Fitness" begins in 2010 with three events taking place along the Miami and Erie Canal.
The Miami and Erie Canal
One Celina High School student was cited for having alcohol and tobacco in his car on Tuesday, found during a random drug sweep of the high school, middle school and nearby parking areas by the Celina Police Department.
Marion community
Mercer County commissioners have begun soliciting bids for an estimated $4 million sewer system project in Marion Township.
Commissioners on Tuesday set Dec. 17 as the date to open all submitted bids.
New Bremen
NEW BREMEN - Village employees will not be receiving cost-of-living raises as a result of action taken by councilors Tuesday night.
The decision came following a 30-minute executive session with councilors also meeting behind closed doors on Nov. 10 to consider compensation of public employees.
Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry
After going five combined overtimes in the last two playoff games, including a four-overtime thriller against rival
St. Marys center will open to public age 50 and up
ST. MARYS - A funding campaign will begin soon for an exercise/swimming facility open to anyone in the area 50 years and older.
The planned Life En
Remodeled Russia restaurant to serve new purpose
RUSSIA - An open house will be held Sunday from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the newest Hogenkamp Funeral Home.
The 6,100-square-foot building, which form