Council Highlights 1-11-2010

COLUMBUS CITY COUNCIL MEETING HIGHLIGHTS   For Immediate Release: January 11, 2010   For More Information: John Ivanic, (614) 645-6798 Web – Facebook – Twitter

 

IMPROVING WATER QUALITY IN THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:  The Ohio Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF), part of the federal stimulus bill, provides funding for pollution mitigation projects.  Utilities Committee Chair Eileen Y. Paley is introducing ordinance 1722-2009 to appropriate $85,339.66 from the WPCLF for the modification of a construction contract for the Reservoir Pollution Reduction Project.  The modification is necessary to receive additional stimulus funding.  The project will provide water quality enhancement of storm water before it enters the drinking water supply at the Griggs, Hoover and the O’Shaughnessy Reservoirs.

RECOGNIZING A COMMUNITY LEADER:  City Councilmembers Charleta B. Tavares and Priscilla R. Tyson are co-sponsoring resolution 0003x-2010, recognizing Michelle M. Mills for receiving the 2010 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Award from the Columbus Education Association.  Ms. Mills will be presented the award during the 31st Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Awards Dinner on January 14^th at the Hyatt Regency.   Ms. Mills is President and CEO of the St. Stephen’s Community House and co-chair of the Linden Area Education Design Team.  In 2007 she received the Empowered Woman Award from the Columbus Post and was recognized by Business First as one of Columbus’ “40 Under 40” emerging leaders.

MAINTAINING CITY STREETS AND ROADWAYS:  As the new year begins, city staff members are preparing for dozens of projects that will help build and maintain our streets and roadways.  Public Service and Transportation Committee Chair Hearcel F. Craig is sponsoring ordinance 0013-2010 to appropriate $3,298,750 from the Municipal Motor Vehicle License Tax Fund for road construction projects, salt purchases, improvements to traffic signs and signals, as well as other priorities.  Per state law, Columbus residents pay into the fund when they register a motor vehicle.

ENCOURAGING BROWNFIELD REDEVELOPMENT IN COLUMBUS:  Brownfield revitalization, which transforms vacant and abandoned properties into job-creating projects, continues to be a top priority for City Council’s economic development strategy.  Finance and Economic Development Committee Chair Andrew J. Ginther is sponsoring ordinance 0031-2010 to authorize an application for a Clean Ohio Revitalization Fund grant of up to $3 million through the Ohio Department of Development.  The legislation also authorizes the city to receive and administer the grant in order to clean and redevelop the former Kimball Midwest site at 580-582 West Goodale Blvd.  Wagenbrenner Development Company is scheduled to invest $9 million to redevelop the site.

REDUCING CITY COMMUNICATION COSTS:  In an effort to save taxpayer dollars, the city of Columbus continues a large scale overhaul of its communications system.  Councilmember A. Troy Miller, chair of the Administration Committee, is sponsoring ordinance 1535-2010 to establish purchase orders for equipment and professional services associated with Metronet's telephone services voice over internet protocol (VOIP) project.  The equipment will be used at various city facilities around Columbus and will allow for the replacement and conversion of approximately 489 Centrex phones with VOIP phones.  This conversion is expected to significantly reduce monthly phone costs for the city.

 

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