Forest council encouraged to do more to promote the village

FOREST — Forest council was encouraged Thursday evening to do more to promote the village.
Resident Jeff Elwood noted the new U.S. 30 is located a mile from the village, but motorists driving through the area only see a small sign showing Forest can be reached from the Ohio 37 exit.
The village is trying to bring developers to its industrial park, said Elwood. A billboard located in a field near the exit would spread the word the land is available. A billboard with a list of businesses located in Forest could also bring visitors to the town.
“We need to promote the village,” he told council.
Elwood also said he has noticed other communities have welcome flags flying from lamp posts, but there are no such greetings in Forest.
“There is nothing to show the town is affiliated with Riverdale,” he said. “It looks like we have no pride. Banners would brighten up the downtown.”
The flags are being considered by the town’s newly-formed planning commission, Elwood was told.
Elwood, who is a member of the town’s recreational board, also told council the board wants to build a skate park on half of the tennis court at Gormley Park, but funding is an issue with the plan.
He said the board had been given estimates of as much as $100,000 for skate park equipment, but a local worker said he could construct four pieces for the park at a cost of $5,500.
When the equipment is not in use, said Elwood, it would be removed and placed in storage over the winter. The equipment would give the young people who enjoy skating a safe place to gather without damaging property, he continued.
“We have soccer fields and ball fields for the kids who like that, some kids just like skateboarding and this would give them a place at the park,” said Mayor Tom Seem.
“There is a pretty good sized group of kids here who skateboard,” said Police Chief Shawn Taylor.
The liability insurance for the skateboard park would cost the village about $500 per year, reported Clerk Kathy Cain.
Elwood said the park board will seek grants for the project and will seek donations to raise the $5,500 for the park.
In other business, council:
– Learned the Verizon tower to be installed near the village could take as long as a year to construct.
– Encouraged Taylor to consider beginning the nuisance process against an abandoned trailer factory in the village.
– Appointed former mayor David Hankins to the zoning board of appeals.
– Heard a suggestion the zoning commission consider regulations for locations of driveways.
– Discussed programs to address the problems of vacated homes in the town.
– Learned training of employees on the town’s new website will be later this month.
– Learned the disbanded Community Improvement Committee was donating a portion of its funds to air conditioning the all-weather pavilion at Gormley Park.
– Was told delinquent taxpayers will be encouraged to conform with the local ordinances.
– Named Community First as the deposit bank for the village.
– Learned 15 of the town’s 152 stop signs have been replaced this year.
– Announced the farmers market in Forest will begin Saturday at the library parking lot. Hours are 9 a.m. to noon with the Saturday’s market promoting Mother’s Day.
– Learned Hempy Water Conditioning will be celebrating its 60th anniversary with an open house on Aug. 12.

By DAN ROBINSON
Times staff writer

Share This Post

Tweet

Posted by Kenton Times on May 11, 2012. Filed under Local News,Recent Headlines. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry