Council hears downtown development strategies
SIDNEY Downtown development strategies were discussed during the Sidney City Council’s Monday evening hybrid-style teleconference meeting.
Amy Breinich, Sidney Alive executive director, Jim Hill, executive director of the Sidney-Shelby Economic Partnership (SSEP), along with Barry Alberts, of CityVisions Associates, provided a presentation on downtown development strategies. Alberts has been working with SSEP and Sidney Alive to help strategize the vision for downtown. CityVisions, of Louisville, Kentucky, is a downtown developer/consultant that has previous worked on the riverfront development strategy in Piqua, Dayton and Springfield.
Hill and Breinich gave an quick review for council members of goals and previous steps. Alberts then shared information on phase I plans for the downtown Sidney development strategic actions community partners are working on.
Pandemic hits Sidney’s bicentennial celebration
Courtesy photo
The size of the Sidney Bicentennial Beer Subcommittee more than tripled in size for the first tasting of Sidney 1820 Export on Feb. 12. Joining Sidney Bicentennial Beer Subcommittee Chair Tony Bornhorst (second from right) were Bicentennial Committee Co-Chair Mike Barhorst (standing), Sidney Parks and Recreation Director Duane Gaier, Moeller Brew Barn Brewmaster Nick Moeller, Fort Loamie Mayor Randy Ahlers, Shelby County Land Bank Director Doug Ahlers, Clinton Township Trustee Jim Gaier, retired Fort Loramie Councilmember Tim Boerger, Chris Boerger, Jolene Ahlers, Nancy Steinke, Shelby County Commissioner Julie Ehemann, Kurt Ehemann, Bicentennial Co-Chair and Shelby County Commissioner Bob Guillozet, Bonita Guillozet, and Sidney City Clerk Kari Egbert. The beer, a pilsner, was created especially for Sidney’s Bicentennial.
Council considers rezoning request
By Sheryl Roadcap - sroadcap@sidneydailynews.com
SIDNEY Several ordinances were considered and a public hearing was held on a rezoning request at the Monday evening Sidney City Council teleconference meeting.
An ordinance amending a section of the codified ordinances pertaining to the city investment and deposit policy was first heard and adopted Monday. This investment and deposit policy outlines city objectives and what and who the city of Sidney may invest in and purchase investments from. Renee DuLaney, assistant finance officer, explained the policy is periodically reviewed and amended over the years to reflect current Ohio Revised Code requirements or Government Finance Officer Association recommendations.
City OKs first step in sidewalk program
By Sheryl Roadcap - sroadcap@sidneydailynews.com
SIDNEY The first step in proceeding with the city of Sidney’s 2021 sidewalk program was approved by the Sidney City Council during its Monday night teleconference meeting.
City Council adopted a resolution to declare the necessity of the construction and repair of certain sidewalks in Sidney and requiring for abutting property owners to repair the same.
Randy Magoto, engineering manager, told council members a “resolution of necessity” is the first step in the program requiring property owners to make the repairs. He said courtesy letters have been sent to each of these property owners of the properties in need of repair to alert them of the pending sidewalk repairs.
Getting ready for Arbor Day 2021
By Mike Barhorst - Contributing columnist
Although the first day of spring will not be here until March 20, it’s not too early to begin planning for Arbor Day! Arbor Day has its origins in Nebraska. Newspaper editor J. Sterling Morton was an enthusiastic supporter of planting trees. He advocated for individuals and civic groups to plant them. Once he became secretary of the Nebraska Territory, his expanded platform provided him the opportunity to further spread his message of the value of trees.
On Jan. 4, 1872, Morton first proposed a tree planting holiday to be called “Arbor Day” at a meeting of the Kansas Board of Agriculture. The celebration was set for April 10, 1872. Prizes were offered to counties and individuals that planted the highest number of properly planted trees on that day. It has been estimated that more than 1 million trees were planted in Nebraska on the first Arbor Day.