ONTARIO — Ontario Local Schools Superintendent Keith Strickler remembers when the city built a sidewalk from Ontario High School to The Cove Coffee Shop, about a quarter-mile away.
“That was incredible,” he said. “So many kids walk there now safely instead of in the grass or on the road.”
Strickler, with mayor Kris Knapp and city council, wants to build more sidewalks around the school.
Ontario City Council members voted unanimously to approve the application for Ohio Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School funds at their meeting Wednesday night.
Mayor Kris Knapp said this application would support the development of a school travel plan with help from a professional consultant. The grant would fully fund the costs, estimated to be around $60,000.
“This grant can fully fund the study for this, and once we get the results from the study, we can apply for the actual sidewalk grant,” he said. “We would use it to improve sidewalks and mobility around the Shelby-Ontario and Park Avenue area.”
Strickler said he has wanted for years to build additional sidewalks and safety features such as crosswalks.
“I can think of lots of places where kids might face safety hazards trying to walk or bike to school,” he said. “The city’s growth since I was growing up has added a lot of heavy traffic.
“We have great neighborhoods in Ontario, but they’re not very walkable.”
Ontario’s elementary, middle and high schools are all located on Shelby-Ontario Road. To be eligible for state reimbursement, the Safe Routes to School projects must focus on areas located within two miles of schools serving K-12 students.
In Ontario, that two-mile radius includes Marshall Park, the Park Avenue West and Shelby-Ontario/ Lexington-Ontario road intersection.
“We could do some really great things if we had a bit of funding,” Strickler said. “Marshall Park and the schools are a real hub for our community. I would love to have a safe way for kids and families to travel between them besides driving a car.”
The City of Shelby received a similar grant for three of its schools this summer. The grants support building sidewalks, light poles, crosswalks and more.
According to its website, ODOT’s Safe Routes to School program has provided more than $83 million to schools, municipalities, health districts, park districts or key non-profit partners to improve safety for students since its inception in 2005.
A state committee of subject matter experts from ODOT and the Ohio Department of Health select the projects that earn funding based on ability to demonstrate improved bike or pedestrian connectivity, improved safety, number of students impacted, economic need and available funding.
Knapp also noted walkability and connectivity is one of the strategic plan initiatives for the city.
Ontario to consider establishing CIC
Also on Wednesday, Knapp also delivered an update regarding establishing a Community Improvement Corporation for the city, which was recommended in the 20-year comprehensive plan. He said he has asked the law director to draft a resolution for a reading at the next council meeting.
The City of Shelby has had a CIC since 2013, focusing on the development and implementation of downtown revitalization and economic vitality.
Mansfield City Council recently passed a memorandum of understanding to contract the Richland Community Development Group to form a CIC.
“This would help our economic development focus and it can drive a public-private partnership,” Knapp said. “We would have a point person that reports to council, myself and the service director.
“This could also help with our wayfinding signage and branding of Ontario, and specific strategic plan goals.”
Council votes to raise park pavilion, community room rental costs
Also in Wednesday’s meeting, council members voted 4-2 to increase rental costs on the Ontario community room and Marshall Park pavilion. Council members Josh Bradley and Sherry Branham-Fonner voted against the increases.
The legislation will raise Marshall Park pavilion rentals from $75 to $100 for Ontario or Springfield Township residents, and from $100 to $125 for non-residents.
Additionally, it will raise the cost of Ontario community room rentals from a $100 refundable deposit and $100 room charge to a $150 refundable deposit and $150 room charge. The community room, located at 555 Stumbo Road South, is equipped with a kitchen, tables and chairs for about 72 people.
Community room rentals are only open to Ontario or Springfield Township residents, as well as city employees. Mayor Kris Knapp said rental costs for the community room haven’t increased in more than 30 years.
“We also put in about $10,000 in renovations between new carpet and repainting for that room this year,” he said.
“Mr. (Troy) Sapp and I did our due diligence and went around to different municipalities to see what they charge for their rental agreements, and we are right in line with raising those costs.”
Ontario Also in Wednesday’s meeting:
- Council voted to adopt the comprehensive community plan presented at the last council meeting.
- Council members read an ordinance regarding municipal taxes that would bring Ontario’s ordinances in line with the state’s new municipal tax return requirements from House Bill 33, including minors under age 18 being exempt from municipal income tax and extending the municipal filing due date from October to Nov. 15.
- Service-Safety Director Adam Gongwer said he plans to discuss a traffic study with the City of Mansfield regarding a potential 4-way stop at the Walker Lake and Home roads intersection, per a recommendation from the Ohio Department of Transportation.
- Council members discussed the rules required to decrease the speed limit on a portion of Mabee Road and whether it required a formal engineer’s study, or just a committee recommendation supported by speed clock data from the police department.
- Council discussed the request to rezone 3052 Mabee Road from residential to business. Arbor Creek Gardens & Floral, located at the former Shafer Landscaping, operates on the grounds.
- Council read a draft of the temporary budget appropriations for 2025. The finance committee met Friday morning to review the legislation, which is slated for a third reading and passage on Dec. 18.
- The personnel committee met in executive session to discuss the compensation of public employees, and council met in executive session to discuss confidential information regarding marketing plans and economic development strategies.
- Gongwer said Spring Village Lane and Victoria Court residents should expect some work crews helping with a sewer line replacement and rehabilitation, respectively, this month and into spring 2025. Spring Village Lane construction for sewer line replacements has already started and work crews will notify residents one to two days in advance of work so residents can move their cars from their driveways while line work is being performed, likely ending in January or February before final paving. The sewer rehabilitation in the Victoria Court area will start later this month or early January and run through late March.
- Council discussed a proposed zoning amendment to add a link for conditional uses allowed in zoned business districts in the city. Gongwer said the online city design standards currently have a broken link to zoning codes that haven’t been updated.