US 33 & roundabouts will dominate summer road construction. Wolfe votes "no" on annexation resolutions. And 2 MHS students recovering from crash.
Give us a few moments and we'll serve up what matters in Marysville on Friday, February 28, 2025
In this edition, sponsored by Winans Coffee and Chocolate:
Updates on transportation improvements in the area
Alcohol suspected in an accident that injured two MHS students
Marysville Councilman votes no on pending annexation
And a local Board of Education member testifies at the Ohio State House
US 33 construction will be with us through 2028
Residents can expect more construction on US 33 for the next few years. That was the major update provided to participants at a Union County Chamber of Commerce Transportation update on Thursday morning.
Marysville City Services Director Jeremy Hoyt shared the state's orange barrel strategy for the US 33 corridor for 2025-2028.
Hoyt shared that this summer's work will be all about preparing for the replacement of the Raymond and Waldo road overpasses in 2026 and 2027.
In 2025, ODOT crews will be building up the shoulders of the highway to make way for crossover traffic during the upcoming construction. Limited impact to traffic is anticipated for the work this year.
Regarding the bridge replacements, eastbound lanes will be impacted in 2026, and westbound lanes will be impacted in 2027.
And then in 2028, ODOT will repave everything on US 33 around Marysville.
“So hopefully 33 won’t have to be touched for many years,” Hoyt said.
The $20.9 million project is all funded by the state.
Roundabout updates
Above: A sketch of the Coleman’s Crossing/Industrial parkway roundabout approaching from the south
City Engineer Kyle Hoyng outlined future improvements to the Coleman's Crossing Corridor.
First up is the roundabout that will be built this summer at Coleman’s and Industrial Parkway.
Many residents have been puzzled about this project since traffic signals were recently installed at that intersection. Hoyng shared that the signals were a temporary fix after a truck hit the VFW hall to avoid a collision with a car in the intersection.
Hoyng told the packed room that the contractor believes the roundabout construction this summer can be completed more quickly than previously expected.
“They think they can knock it out in two months,” he said, acknowledging the project will create a temporary inconvenience for motorists.
Access to the VFW will be maintained, but the rest of the intersection will be closed for construction. The project is slated to begin after school is out for the summer.
Hoyng also shared that additional roundabouts are being considered along the Coleman's Crossing Corridor to improve safety and flow of traffic.
“As we grow and traffic increases, some improvements are going to be needed along Coleman’s Crossing,” Hoyng said. “Speeds aren’t an issue right now. It’s the left turns out of the commercial lots that are the safety issue.”
Other roundabouts could be in the pipeline
His office is also studying the potential for roundabouts or traffic signal/widening on Coleman’s Crossing at:
Delaware Avenue
East 5th/Charles Lane (access to the YMCA)
West entrance to Walmart (at Panda Express)
East entrance to Walmart (at Honda Marysville)
Entrance to Home Depot (at the new Union Station apartments)
He said the City staff will be working with City Council in the future on how to proceed.
Alcohol suspected in crash that injured two MHS students
Alcohol is believed to be a factor in a crash that injured two Marysville High School students.
It happened around 12:50 a.m. Thursday morning at St Rt 37 and Rt 4.
According to the Marysville Post of the State Highway Patrol, 17-year-old Olivia Windle of Marysville was driving a 2001 Ford Expedition. She failed to stop at the intersection striking a tree and ejecting Windle from the vehicle. Windle was not wearing a seatbelt. She was transported to Memorial Health and is in critical condition at Grant Medical Center where she was transferred.
A passenger, 15-year-old Aubree Bundy of Marysville was treated and released for minor injuries from Memorial Health.
A dog in the vehicle also sustained injuries and later had to be put down at MedVet.
The State Patrol says alcohol is suspected in the crash due to evidence found in the vehicle.
Delaware EMS and Union County Sheriff's Office deputies assisted at the scene.
Marysville school superintendent Diane Allen sent a note out on Thursday to parents.
“The news is difficult for our students, staff and families,” she wrote.
She said school counselors and staff are available to help students cope.
“The superpower of this community is the supportive network we cast for one another,” she said. “As we come together as a community, I ask that you keep these students, their families and our larger school community in your prayers.”
The State Patrol says the accident remains under investigation.
No serious damage after fire scare at Franke’s on Collins Ave.
Marysville Fire Division crews responded to a call around 12:45 p.m. on Thursday regarding a potential Fire at the Franke's Unlimited facility on Collins Avenue.
Crews closed off Collins and deployed the aerial ladder over the roof of the facility. Fans were used to ventilate smoke from the building.
Chief Nathan Burns told us smoke in the building was caused by an electrical issue in the facilities mechanical room.
There was no serious property damage or injuries.
A quick word from our sponsor
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Mill Valley Council Member opposes proposed annexations
On Monday night, Marysville City Council adopted resolutions that commit the City to offer services for more than 500 acres of property to be annexed in from Paris and Dover Townships.
One Council member isn't aligned with the strategy.
Steven Wolfe, who represents Mill Valley residents, voted against adoption of the resolutions on principle.
“My no vote on the two resolutions stems from my larger philosophy regarding annexations as a whole at the moment,” he told us.
He said he was elected by Ward 1 residents to push for responsible growth and to address the challenges the community is experiencing with existing growth.
“The new annexation being brought on the east side is a part of a development project I have already voted against,” he said. “As for the annexation on the north side, many of the residents I have spoken with in my ward and that I met while campaigning are not in favor of further growth in this area.”
He said Mill Valley constituents are worried about increases in population and traffic.
“I think growth and annexations such as these have a time to be brought up, and I do not believe that now is that time,” Wolfe said.
The annexation issue will be back before Council in the spring. The issue is now in the hands of the County Commissioners who are reviewing the request.
Marysville school board member asks state lawmakers to do their part
Marysville Board of Education member Jermaine Ferguson was at the State House in Columbus to testify on the proposed state budget and the negative impact it would have on local districts like Marysville.
The governor’s proposed budget, if enacted as is, would have nearly a half million-dollar impact on MEVSD.
Ferguson testified before the Ohio House Finance Committee as the Marysville board legislative liaison, asking lawmakers to address the increasing costs it takes to educate students.
The current budget proposal fails to do that and results in a massive reduction for public education across the state.
Ferguson told the committee that under the proposed budget, the estimated state share will decrease from 38.3% to 30.5%
During questioning by the committee members, Ferguson shared how staffing cuts are impacting retention of quality staff and teachers.
“Unfortunately, we do lose a lot of our talent to surrounding districts,” he said. “That's a cost that can't be reflected in dollars and cents. It’s lost in the classroom.”
He told the committee that failing to fund the Fair Funding Formula actually puts pressure back on local taxpayers, who are also constituents of lawmakers.
“We need to have the state help partner with us and update the cost inputs to put more fuel in our tank and not more head winds,” he stated.
Ferguson told the committee that if the state reduces funding as proposed it could equate to an additional millage at the local level in the near future.
“With the reductions, and not getting cost inputs updated, we're looking at least an additional mill on top of the 5.5 mills,” Ferguson said of the upcoming levy in May. “We’re hoping we can get the 5.5 passed, but we were anticipating at least stagnant [growth], not reductions [from the state].”
Separately, Ferguson told us it’s going to be an uphill battle, but he's committed to advocating for the state to meet its commitment to fund public education.
At the same time he recognizes the value and the desire for school choice.
“There is a path for the Ohio General Assembly to meet the Constitutional requirement of fully funding public schools and supporting Choice,” he told us Thursday.
Thank you for reading Marysville Matters!
I’m always astounded regarding how many newsworthy items pop up in our community every day.
But it shouldn’t surprise any of us. According to a statistic shared at the Union County Chamber of Commerce Transportation update on Thursday, we’re the fastest growing county in the state over the past five years.
Now more than ever, access to timely, fact-based news and information is needed so that we can all make positive contributions and develop context about what's happening around us.
That’s the purpose of this newsletter. We are all in this together.
My goal is to present the facts and present information without bias. If I have an opinion to share, I'll let you know up front.
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-Joe C.
Perhaps schoolboard member Ferguson has a different version of it, but when I look at the Ohio Constitution (It's online, folks, at https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-constitution so take a look for yourselves) there is absolutely NO mention of school choice. Thus, the state has no foundational obligation to anything other than public education.