Wednesday, June 16th, 2010

Teamwork lands $200,000 grant for roadwork

Two expanding businesses in Celina industrial park benefit from project

By Shelley Grieshop
CELINA - Mercer County has netted a $200,000 roadwork grant to support two businesses in the Grand Lake Industrial Park on Celina's east side.
The funds will be used to extend and realign Havemann Road into the industrial park for use by Celina Moving and Storage Inc., which plans to build a 60,000-square-foot warehouse on the site. The proposed project will also benefit industrial park tenant Versa Pak, which is expanding its business, Celina Planning and Community Development Director Kent Bryan said.
"Obviously we're very happy about it (the grant). It helps us get the infrastructure in place," he added.
The grant is a portion of more than $9.2 million in economic development grants recently awarded by the Ohio Department of Development (ODD) to aid economic growth. The grants are expected to create 2,756 jobs and maintain 17,565 positions across Ohio.
The cost for the Havemann Road project is approximately $400,000. The city will fund the remaining $200,000 in two ways, Bryan said: "in-kind" funds, meaning city crews and equipment will be tapped for construction, and use of the Staeger Road Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District Fund.
TIF money is gathered from increases in real estate values in specific districts and used for infrastructure and other improvements in those areas.
Mercer County Economic Development Director Jared Ebbing applied for the ODD grant last year. The award was given based on the creation of 15 full-time jobs, which Celina Moving and Storage has promised to add in the next three years.
Ebbing and Bryan agreed the grant and the roadway project was a team effort. They praised the help of Ralph Kraner, owner of Celina Moving and Storage and its parent company, Grand Lake Warehousing LLC.
"This just shows that the county, the city and area companies can work together to make good things happen for everybody," Ebbing said.
The city of Wapakoneta also was awarded ODD money. The Auglaize County municipality will receive $450,000 to create a new north-south access road into the city's industrial area.
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CELINA - More than 12,000 area households and businesses were without power Tuesday evening when a transmission line from Dayton Power & Light (DP&L) Company failed at the corner of Logan and Main streets in Celina.
CELINA - Mercer County Board of Elections members must decide whether to accept a majority of signatures on a petition by Richard Mosier to run as an Independent candidate for the position of Mercer County treasurer.
MARIA STEIN - A Marion Local High School student faces at least one felony charge in connection with a May incident involving possession of a loaded handgun on school property. Additional charges may be filed.
Minster
MINSTER - Plans to complete Webster Street were tabled Tuesday night until village council members receive input from property owners between First Street and Park Place Drive.
NEW BREMEN - Elk Drive residents came to the municipal building Tuesday night to hear details regarding street reconstruction and how it will impact their lives and properties this summer.
GRAND LAKE - A special drawing June 26 will determine who will have permission to trap snapping turtles within the state-protected Mercer Wildlife Area along Grand Lake.
ST. HENRY - The main street in the village will be paved next year with little if any cost to the town.
St. Henry Village Administrator Don Hess to
Deb Sneddon tapped for post; pay will be $31,000
CELINA - The salary for newly-appointed Mercer County Board of Elections Director Deb Sneddon was set at $31,000 on Tuesday morning.
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Only a few nursing homes in the Grand Lake area were below the statewide average for care in the most recent inspection reports filed by the Ohio Department of Health.
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Gary R. Rasberry
The Grand Lake area was well-represented as the All-Ohio baseball and softball teams were announced for the 2010 season.
ST. HENRY - After struggling offensively the last couple of games, St. Henry turned the tables on Tuesday night.
Jay Kleinhenz took a no-hitter int