New tornado siren system being installed. Yet another vehicle fire. And, a new study shows how local property taxes stack up statewide and nationally.
Give us a few moments and we'll serve up what's happening in Marysville on Wednesday, March 5, 2025
In this edition:
Just in time for severe weather, Union County’s tornado siren system is getting an upgrade
A new, national study reveals where Union County property taxes stack up
Fire claims a truck in Paris Township.
Biowaste zoning back in front of Planning Commission
A locally based biowaste business is taking another shot at a zoning request after City Council rejected it’s first attempt last fall.
Sterile Waste Solutions is seeking a more specific amendment to the City Zoning Code to allow it to move its full operation to Marysville from Westerville. City Council said no thanks due to past public opposition to a biowaste incinerator many years ago.
Now, owner Carlton Dean is asking for a much more streamlined update, allowing for his company to use a very safe process called autoclaving. This process uses high pressure steam to sterilize and decontaminate objects and equipment. The Ohio EPA regulates autoclaving.
It does not include pathogen-based or hazardous waste materials, which are handled by other means, Dean shared with the Commission on Tuesday night.
The Commission approved the amendment to the Manufacturing/Innovation District Conditional uses to specifically allow an autoclaving facility.
The proposed change could go before City Council for a first reading as early as next week.
Marysville North Planned Unit Development back up for review
Tuesday night, the Marysville Planning Commission reviewed additional input from City staff on the proposed Marysville North development by Rockford Development. And they provided additional input of their own before unanimously approving it.
Rockford is requesting the approval of its zoning requirements for a 240+ acre development north of Cooks Point, between SR 31 and SR 4.
City staff wanted more detail on open spaces and trail from Rockford. They are asking for Rockford to incorporate on-street parking into the plan. And the city is asking for charging stations for any parking area near a multi-purpose trail along SR 31.
The City also wants Rockford to clarify that it will participate in the City’s tree replacement program.
The proposed PUD will move on to City Council for final approval.
Planning Commission Chair puts out call to support small business
Marysville Planning Commission Chairman Mike Nickoson made an ask of residents on Tuesday night. In essence, put your money where your mouth is.
He made note of the recent closure of an uptown establishment. He said that he had communicated to the owner that he had read many disappointed comments on social media about the announcement.
The business shut down for lack of patronage by local residents.
Nickoson encouraged residents to support small business throughout the community with both words of support and patronage.
Fire entirely gutted a 1/2-ton pick-up truck on Monday morning
Above: MFD crews extinguish vehicle fire on Monday at a Barker Road residence
Marysville Fire Division responded to a call of a vehicle fire at 20430 Barker Road in Paris Township just before 9 a.m. on Monday morning.
When crews arrived, they found a 1/2 ton pick-up truck fully engulfed in flames in a driveway on the property.
Crews extinguished the fire with both water and chemical extinguishers over the next 45 minutes.
The owner reported that the vehicle had a mechanical issue and smoke under the hood earlier in the morning, so he took a different vehicle to work. The flames re-ignited, completely gutting the truck.
Investigators determined the cause was a mechanical failure in the vehicle.
Allen Township provided mutual aid.
City puts out call for local artwork
The City is putting out a call for local artists to help decorate traffic signal cabinets across the community this summer.
The theme is a hat tip to Marysville’s historic roots: “If the Past was Present.”
The program is encouraging local artists to take inspiration from the community’s rich history, especially historic buildings and reimagine them. Historic photographs are available for download to provide inspiration.
Selected applicants will be awarded $500 per traffic box design.
Winning designs will be utilized on a vinyl wrap on uptown traffic control boxes.
More details can be found at this link.
New tornado siren system being installed
A year after an EF 2 tornado damaged properties across the northern part of Union County, more tornado sirens are being deployed.
Brad Gilbert, with the Union County Emergency Management Agency told us that a new tornado siren system for the county is being installed starting this week.
The updated system will enable the local dispatchers to activate sirens only for areas of the county in a tornado-warned area. In the past, dispatchers could only activate sirens county-wide regardless of the warned area. That will change with this year’s updates.
Also, Gilbert tells us that crews are installing several new sirens across the county.
“As a result of the busy 2024 with so many tornadoes several townships decided to purchase additional outdoor warning sirens,” Gilbert said. “They will be installed over the course of this year.”
EMA is overseeing installation of new sirens at locations including:
Darby Township at Fairbanks High School
Millcreek Township Building on Watkins Road
Corner of Watkins and Jerome Road
Jerome Township’s Fire Station 211 on Ewing Road
Jerome Road Cemetery
Broadway ball fields in Taylor Township
Leesburg Township Firehouse
Unionville Center will be replacing its siren after receiving a grant for the village.
One year later, Union Co. has recovered from EF 2 Tornado
One year ago in March a major tornado ripped through Logan County and made its way across Union County.
While recovery is slow coming in parts of Logan County around Indian Lake, here in Union County recovery seems more complete.
“We have not heard of any long-term issues from anyone from the Union County tornado,” said Brad Gilbert.
On that day, an EF 3 tornado produced significant property damage in the Indian Lake area. The storm re-emerged as an EF 2 tornado as it cut across the northern part of Union County. Local winds were confirmed at 125 mph, according to the National Weather Service.
Here’s the summary report from the NWS on the storm:
“The survey concluded that a tornado developed in far western
Union County near Newton Perkins Road, strengthening as it moved
east across Lunda Road and Morse Road. Here, the tornado damaged
some homes causing some roof damage. The tornado quickly
strengthened further and affected a number of homes along Evans
Road as it crossed Highway 739, and then continued southeast to
areas just north of Broadway. Across portions of that corridor,
damage consistent with wind speeds from 115-125 mph were noted.
One modular home was completely destroyed with contents thrown
downstream nearly a half mile, and another home lost a majority of
its roof with exterior wall collapse.
“Significant tree damage was observed near Broadway, including in
a cemetery just to the east of Broadway. As the tornado passed
Broadway and continued southeast across Highway 31 and State Route
4, a number of additional homes and barns were impacted, with
roof damage being common.”
You can nerd out on the storm report by clicking here.
State emergency management officials will conduct a statewide tornado drill later this month.
Richardson property tax reform bill gets first hearing at State House
State Representative Tracy Richardson (R-Marysville) recently provided sponsor testimony on House Bill 40, legislation to provide tax relief to certain Ohio veterans who are significantly disabled and endure health challenges as a result of their service.
“While we cannot undo the pain, struggles and reduced quality of life of the disabled veteran and their family, we can ensure they receive adequate help for their sacrifices,” said Richardson.
House Bill 40 awaits further consideration from the House Ways and Means Committee.
Key provisions of the bill are as follows:
Increases the current value of the Ohio property tax homestead exemption for 100% disabled veterans by $50,000.
Specifies that a joint income qualification of $125,000 or less annually is required to qualify; and
Provides for surviving spouses of those qualified as long as the income qualification continues to be met.
Richardson was a member of a Joint Committee that reviewed Ohio’s property tax laws last year.
What a new national report says about Union County property tax rates?
A new report from The Tax Foundation, which bills itself as the world’s leading nonpartisan tax policy nonprofit organization, shows that Union County ranks pretty high when it comes to property taxes. The Foundation based its most recent findings on 2023 data.
Union County ranked just within the top 250 counties in the United States in terms of taxes paid at a median tax bill of $3,847 per year over 5 years. The highest on the list was a tie among several counties from the east and west coasts where property owners paid a median $10,001 per year over 5 years.
The data reflects the entire county, not just Marysville.
Union County ranked #6 in Ohio out of all 88 counties in the study.
Franklin County ranked #3 at $4,110.
Delaware County had the highest level of median property taxes paid in Ohio at $6,896 dollars.
According to a November report released by The Tax Foundation:
“Legitimate discontent over high property taxes is fueling a movement to significantly curtail or even eliminate the property tax, but many of the policy solutions offered, like assessment limits and tax swaps, create more problems than they solve, distorting property markets and undermining long-term housing affordability.”
State lawmakers are considering a number of potential minor modifications as part of the state budget process.
And property valuations are being updated this year to determine new tax rates moving forward.
Accident at SR 347 and SR 4
For the second time in a week, first responders provided support for an auto accident along SR 347.
Crews responded to the crash that happened Monday afternoon around 2 p.m. at the intersection of SR 4. A 2018 Audi struck a 2017 Ford Fiesta. Joanna Mae Wittkopf of Powell was cited for failing to yield at a stop sign by Union County Sheriff's deputies.
Units from the Northwestern Joint Fire District and the Northern Union County Joint Fire and EMS District, responded to the scene.
Last week, the county logged its first fatal accident at SR 347 and Lunda Road.
The State Patrol has logged 134 accidents along SR 347since 2020.
19 of those accidents were related to circumstances in which a driver failed to yield.
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Have a great Wednesday!
-Joe C.
Which uptown business were they talking about lack of patronage? We’ve had several close recently.