Chamber calendar

Monday, March 3: Chamber on the Sounding Board, 1490 AM WBEX.

Wednesday, March 12: Leadership Chillicothe Ross, Jobs One-Step, 150 E. Second St., 7:45 a.m.

Thursday, March 13: Ross County Safety Council; 11:30 a.m., Chillicothe Country Club; Safety registration

Thursday, March 13: March Madness by the Chillicothe YPN, Back Stage, 5 p.m.

Wednesday, March 19: Business After Business at Pump House Center for the Arts, co-sponsored by Price Real Estate an dAuction Service, Price Insurance and Transitions Unlimited!; 5-7 p.m.; BAB registration

Thursday, March 20: Executive Committee, 8:30 a.m., chamber.

Chamber-related links

Economic Development
www.edaso.org

Downtown Chillicothe
www.downtownchillicothe.com

Chillicothe YPN
www.chillicotheypn.com

Visitors Bureau
www.visitchillicotheohio.com

Chamber event photos
www.chillicothe-chamber.smugmug.com

Click above to go to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce site for small business

For previous newsletter editions, click here

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Copyright 2008

Chillicothe Ross Chamber of Commerce
45 E. Main St.
Chillicothe, OH 45601
740-702-2722

City’s planning efforts

suffer another setback

By Marvin Jones

President and CEO

An effort to update Chillicothe’s zoning code for the first time in more than 30 years was squelched this week. City Council’s Development Committee decided the issue “was not a high priority” and that money was not available.

A modernization of the city’s zoning code has been urged by the chamber’s Community Development and Advocacy Committee for more than a year now. The chamber’s group held several meetings with local planners and officials before coming up with the recommendation. A presentation was made to the city’s Planning Commission which formally requested council pursue the matter.

At Wednesday’s meeting of the council Development Committee, Chair Nancy Ames agreed such a study was needed, but that it was not a high priority and that she had been told the city didn’t have the $25,000-$35,000 to pay for it. She is requesting the matter be taken off her committee’s assignments, essentially killing any more discussion by council.

The movement to modernize the city’s zoning code picked up steam during the debate over the proposed Walgreen’s development on Western Avenue. That issue led to council’s approval of the plans, but a citizens’ referendum overturned the decision.

Spring’s around the corner and so is construction

With snow still swirling and freezing temperatures lingering, signs are still pointing to some major construction projects in Ross County this year.

• Menards paid its fees for a building permit for its store going on North Bridge Street just north of Kmart, but its plans have yet to be submitted. In a story in the Columbus Dispatch, a Menards spokesman said other stores will be built in Massillon, Sandusky and Toledo in addition to the Columbus area.
• Surveying to place utility lines took place on Western Avenue at Plyley’s Lane to prepare for the new Walgreen’s store. The Skate-A-Way and Shell station will come down before construction begins.
• Groundbreaking for the $45.5 million expansion of Adena Regional Medical Center is set for Thursday, March 27 at 11 a.m. When it opens in the fall of 2010, the center will have two inpatient nursing units of 20 beds each, a new maternity unit featuring private rooms, a new nursery, pediatrics unit and inpatient women’s surgical unit.

City law appears headed out of business

Local laws which regulated retail businesses shutting their doors appears to be going off the books. The Out-of-Business section of the code is more than 40 years old and antiquated, Mayor Joe Sulzer told council this week. He said the law was meant to curb abuses by retailers, but that state and federal laws now provide protection to consumers. Council is scheduled to read it two more times before voting on it.

Chamber’s health insurance program even more attractive

Chamber members, even those with up to 500 employees, can now enjoy a savings of up to 4 percent on premiums when taking advantage of our Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield partnership. A recent change in state law expanded the pool for chamber members and deepened the discount. Members can choose from a wide range of health insurance plans offered by Anthem. To learn more, call your local chamber member insurance agent affiliated with the program or go to www.chambersaver.com/cocc and you can request a free quote online.

YPN takes a look into the future at luncheon

At the first YPN Networking Luncheon, Phil Satterfield, superintendent of the Ross Pike Educational Service District and self-proclaimed futurist, presented information that inspired meaningful and worthwhile conversation from attendees. During table-top discussion and information sharing, attendees agreed embracing change and constantly educating ourselves was imperative to success in business. YPN March Madness will be held Thursday, March 13 at the Backstage featuring team challenges, brackets for the upcoming NCAA Tournament and more. YPN Social @ Schlegel's will be Thursday, March 27 and all members of our local government have been invited to attend. Visit www.chillicotheypn.com for a complete list of upcoming events and how to get involved in YPN.

Building permits issues by the Ross County Building Department:

• Robert Chemas, 44 E. Water St., signs, no value given.
• Jerald Byers, 49 E. Water St., signs, no value given.
• 60 Consumer Center Drive, signs, $1,181.
• Nourse Toyota, 423 N. Bridge St., signs, $1,880.
• Eagles Club, 378 Douglas Ave., canopy, $5,500.
• Georgia Fields, 990 Western Ave., demolition, $5,000.
• Cellar Lumber, 490 S. Paint St., demolition, $3,000.
• First Freewill Baptist Church, 651 Ervin Ave., alterations, $20,000.
• Walnut Street United Methodist Church, sidewalk and curb, $550.
• Robert Chemas, 44 E. Water St., signs, $500.
• John and Sue Harper, 982 N. Bridge St., lifts, $5,000.
• Kenworth Truck Company, 65 Kenworth Drive, install paint line fire protection and sprinkler for mezzanine and bathroom remodeling, $160,000.
• Verizon Wireless, 6042 Watson Road, install antennas, $45,000.

Vendors licenses issued recently by the Ross County Auditor’s office:

• SE Supply Shop, 5080 U.S. 50 West, by Regina Jenkins.
• Panda Pantry Chinese Restaurant, 607 Central Center, by Sheng Zoo.
• J. Brown Enterprises, 90 Logan St., by Jacquelyn Brown.