Chamber calendar

Tuesday, May 13: Membership & Events Committee, 11:30 a.m., chamber.

Wednesday, May 14: Chillicothe Ross Leadership final session of the class, 7:45 a.m., Ross County Service Center.

Thursday, May 15: Chillicothe Ross Leadership class graduation dinner and ceremony, 6 p.m., Ross County Historical Society.

Monday, May 19: Downtown Chillicothe Partnership, 8 a.m., chamber.

Wednesday, May 21: Board of Directors, noon, Ross County Service Center.

Wednesday, May 21: Business After Business, Nourse Family of Dealerships, North Bridge Street, 5-7 p.m., BAB registration

Monday, May 26: Office closed for Memorial Day.

Friday, June 6: Annual Golf Outing, Jaycee Golf Course; 9 a.m., Registration

Thursday, June 12: Ross County Safety Council, Chillicothe Country Club, 11:30 a.m. Luncheon Registration

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 Council asked to study

HyettPalma plan suggestions

By Marvin Jones

President and CEO

Create a government center, improve traffic flow, make more changes concerning parking and implement a professional signage system were some of the recommendations from the HyettPalma Downtown Chillicothe Economic Enhancement Strategic Plan presented to the community 11 months ago. This week, City Council was asked to begin studying those recommendations.

At Monday’s review session, members of the Downtown Chillicothe Partnership briefed council members on the progress that has been made implementing recommendations from the HyettPalma plan, which was funded with $30,000 in taxpayer funds and $25,000 from private donations. Council then was asked to study other recommendations that only it and the administration can enact. The following is what council specifically is being asked to study:

Creation of a government center

The HyettPalma plan notes that the Carlisle Building might be an excellent choice for the city’s administrative offices. Going even further, the vision of a government center on the corner opposite the Ross County Court House could become reality given the right circumstances.

Since the judges of Municipal Court have made known their desires to find larger and more modern quarters, the city conceivably could join into a partnership involving private enterprise in which the city’s offices, courtrooms, council chambers and other potential government clients could combine into a total restoration and renovation of the Carlisle and Howson Buildings. The new owners of the Carlisle have signaled their desire to consider a joint venture.

City Council can join with the administration to study the potential and possibilities that would serve to secure the best possible location for city government for generations to come as well as help preserve maybe the second most significant landmark in the city.

Code enforcement

More than five years after the devastating fire, a chain link fence still blocks part of Paint and Main streets at the crossroads of our community. For more than three years, a plastic garbage chute was allowed to hang from a window.  Are the city’s laws concerning nuisances, building and fire codes and other such situations strong enough to prevent a recurrence? Council and the administration might want to add more teeth in its ordinances.

Traffic

The HyettPalma plan made some recommendations. The partnership requests City Council consider these specific changes:

• Eliminate the traffic signals and replace them with stop signs at the following intersections, at the very least on a six-month trial basis, to determine if traffic flows better:

• Second and Mulberry streets
• Second and Paint streets
• Second and Walnut streets
• Fourth and Paint streets
• Fourth and Walnut streets
• Fifth and Paint streets
• Fifth and Walnut streets

• Replace the stop signs with a signal at Water and Mulberry streets, one of the busiest intersections downtown.
• Return Second, Fourth and Fifth streets to two-way traffic to allow better and quicker navigation around downtown.
• Improve the flow on Main Street by making it four-lane all the way from High to Walnut streets by eliminating parking on the south side. Parking could be allowed only on Sundays and for funerals in front of the church at Walnut Street. This also would eliminate the left-turn only westbound lane at Walnut.

Parking

Some changes are in the works, but more needs to be considered:

• Institute an escalating fine system for parking violators – i.e., $10 first offense, $50 second, $100 the third – to deter the repeat offenders and encourage employees to park in parking lots or free spaces.
• Increase the time limit to three hours.
• Remove the boundary lines for parallel parking spaces
• Investigate potential new streets for angle parking, such as the north side of Water Street where it could be designated as a free zone.

Signage

There are no signs directing traffic to the public parking lots downtown. We encourage a council committee to review Page 50 of the HyettPalma plan for all of the recommendations, especially the one calling for a “creative wayfinding sign system professionally designed for Downtown.”

Progress being made

The partnership, the successor to the Process Committee that gathered information for the plan, meets monthly to review what’s being done by the other organizations involved and how to move other recommendations forward. Here is some of what’s been accomplished the past 11 months:

• Change in ownership of the Carlisle Building: Columbus-based developers acquired the structure and are making plans for its eventual renovation and re-use. Involved in this project are Chillicotheans Franklin Conaway and Dard Hunter.
• Website created: The downtown has its own website – www.downtownchillicothe.com -- and information is added constantly. This includes available properties for sale or rent; regulations, downloadable application and members of the Design Review Board; and parking and shopping information.
• The Design Review Board has new standards in place for commercial signs, including the use of modern materials and adoption of a professional color scheme. It has a few new members and is considering retaining a professional to review architectural changes requested by property owners.
• Downtown Associates re-groups: The merchants’ group meets monthly to discuss joint retail ventures, such as the Gallery Strolls and sidewalk sales as well as work with the city administration on other issues.
• Property owners: This informal group has met twice to discuss the HyettPalma plan, learn about plans for the Carlisle and stay informed on the efforts to acquire a grant that would help pay for future renovations.
• Go-to-shop: The chamber serves as the place where prospective and established owners and businesses can turn to get information and help with any issues related to regulations. The website is maintained by the chamber.
• Art district: The Chillicothe Art League is working on plans for decorated benches and other projects involving the arts with a particular emphasis on the Second Street area near the Majestic Theatre, as noted in the HyettPalma plan.
• Streetscape: A sub-group of the partnership is working with the administration on a four-year program to present to City Council that would recommend changes and improvements in the original streetscape program. This includes adding angle parking on Paint Street, in stages, from Second to Fourth streets; hanging flower baskets on lamp posts, starting with Main Street; renovation of the parking lot at Fourth and Paint, including a low-level brick wall and access only on the Fourth Street side.
• Pursuit of state and federal grants: Council and the administration are working toward application of a $400,000 grant that would provide matching funds to property owners for physical improvements and money for infrastructure work, such as the parking lot.

Slots still available for chamber golf outing

Only four weeks remain until the chamber’s Annual Golf Outing, set for June 6, a Friday this year, at the Jaycees Public Golf Course off Pleasant Valley Road. Individuals and teams can register online here: Golf Outing. If you can’t make the outing, but would like to promote your company, give us a call or drop us a note about items you might have for door prizes or to hand out to all golfers.

Nourse prepares for May 21 BAB

The Nourse Family of Dealership is hosting the May 21 Business After Business at its place on North Bridge Street, offering the usual fare of appetizers and refreshments. Photos from the April BAB hosted by the Chillicothe Paints and co-sponsored by Classic Brands are now available at the chamber’s site for event photos: www.chillicothe-chamber.smugmug.com.

Exhibition game proceeds to benefit center

The $5 admission to Friday’s exhibition game between the Paints and the Florence Freedom is being donated to the Paccar Medical Education Center of the Adena Health System. The first pitch is at 7:05 p.m. and tickets are available at the gate and at the ticket office at Second and Paint streets downtown.

HR chapter running a special for new members
The Society of Human Resource Management’s South Central Ohio Human Resource Council is offering $15 off the regular dues and a SHRM tote bag. The local chapter meets monthly and holds seminars and other educational opportunities for area human resource managers. When using the online application, make sure to enter the chapter number of 675 to receive the affiliation credit.

YPN plans wine tasting with Pickaway group

 The Young Professionals Network travels north for an evening of networking with the Circleville area young professionals on Thursday, June 12. Participants will leave at 6 p.m. from the chamber parking lot and be bused to the downtown Circleville restaurant Tuscan Table. There they will sample selected wines and accompanying entrées while meeting some regional YPs. There is a $30 charge per person which covers transportation, wine and food for the evening and this great opportunity for both communities to connect! Space is limited! Deadline to register is June 9^th by email to:  csteinbrook@chillicotheohio.com or visit www.chillicotheypn.com for complete event details.

Cyclists coming this weekend and more in June

Bicyclists in the annual Tour of the Scioto River Valley (TOSRV) will be making their way through Ross County and Chillicothe Saturday and Sunday as part of their round-trip journey from Columbus to Portsmouth. Then, in June, Chillicothe will be part of the route for the Race Across America that features cyclists from all over the world. It starts this year in Oceanside in California and winds up in Annapolis in Maryland. For more information: www.raceacrossamerica.org

Award-winning prints go to national level

Kevin and Amy Mears of Mears Photography took home several awards recently at the Mid-East States Regional Convention in Dayton. Kevin earned three Blue Ribbon Merits and two Courts of Honor while Amy was one of only 10 in the region to have all four entries earn Blue Ribbon Merit status. The prints now go to Atlanta for judging by the Professional Photographers of America organization.

Petland plans to grow Adopt-A-Pet program

Since it started about 10 years ago, more than 270,000 homeless pets have been placed through Petland’s Adopt-A-Pet program. That includes almost 60,000 puppies and dogs and 212,000 kittens and cats. Petland President Frank Difatta said, “We want our Adopt-A-Pet program to grow even stronger in 2008 so we are inviting more pet care organizations and more individuals to take advantage of the program locally.”

Welcome to the newest members of the chamber:

• Serendipity of Chillicothe, 135 E. Main St., by Brenda Moore, featuring florals, antiques, home décor and gifts, 775-3031
• Lloyd’s Sweet Shoppe, 22 W. Water St., by Beth Todaro, confectionary and gift shop, 773-7100.
• CommunityLink, 14 Overlook Drive, by Heidi Robson, publishing, 703-7746.
• Graphics Plus, 712 Overlook Heights Lane, by Marsha Landrum, screen printing and sporting goods, 701-1860.

Commercial building permits issued recently by the Ross County Building Department:

• Alcoa, 1089 Eastern Ave., new sprinkler system, value $25,000.
• Susan Natoli State Farm Insurance, 133 Star Drive, new building, $96,000.
• Farmer’s Market, 19321 U.S. 50, new building for flower sales, $15,000.
• Jane’s Save-A-Lot, 1700 Western Ave., alterations to electric and refrigeration, $85,000.
• Beulah Chapel Church, 585 Chester Hill Road, foyer addition, $40,000.

Vendor licenses issued by the Ross County Auditor:

• Falls Plumbing, 5119 Rapid Forge Road, by Buckeye Falls Enterprises.
• Dream Maker Bath and Kitchen Remodeling, 217 Steiner Road, by Floyd Builders, Design and Consulting.
• FedEx Ground and FedEx Home Delivery, 1415 Industrial Drive, by FedEx Ground Package System.
• For the Health of It, 36 W. Water St.

Seminars, workshops, etc.:

• Thursday, May 15: Seminar for minority and female business entrepreneurs, 8-4, Verne Riffe Center for the Arts in Portsmouth; for information: karthur@shawnee.edu.