Minutes
Focus Group
May 18, 1999
PRESENT: Mayor Maxine Gilman; Council Members Linda Lotspaih, Jeff Sanner, Bill Gordon,
Don Mounce, and Jack Jensen; City Manager, G. Tracy Williams. Council Member not present,
excused: Bill Ennis.
Citizens who attended included: Wade Brewer, 912 Primrose Drive, J. Ray Horn, 917
Primrose Drive, Mollie & Jim Worden, 946 Primrose Drive, Phil Palcic, 125 Savoy
Avenue, Susan Lutz, 508 Indian Trail, Tom Fogt, 510 Shade Drive, Quillard & Phyllis
Abney, 327 East Main Street, Margaret Mowery, 230 Stadium Avenue, Jane Anslinger, 210
Stadium Avenue, Sam Horner, 220 Stadium Avenue, Harold Skelding, 517 Savoy Avenue, Raymond
Hall, 503 Savoy Avenue, Tom Cook, 220 Trumpet Drive, Mike Hammond, 520 West Main Street,
Jeanne Crater, 208 West Circle Drive.
The Mayor called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Community Meeting Room. She
welcomed the citizens and thanked them for attending this Citizens Focus Group meeting to
hear their concerns and suggestions for improving the City, and receiving feedback
regarding the community.
The following is a list of concerns expressed by citizens present at this meeting:
Concern was expressed about bushes growing over sidewalks in certain areas, most notably
along King Richard Parkway and Alex Road.
It was requested that Primrose Drive be swept.
It was noted that cars are parked on both sides of Rose Lane, just off Alex Road, causing
a potentially dangerous situation, and that this could be corrected by moving the cars
back away from Alex Road, or eliminating parking on one side of the street.
Concern was expressed about the short left turn lanes for Royal Ridge Drive and Indian
Trail off Alex Road. The question was raised whether one of these left turns could be
eliminated allowing the other one to be longer.
Concern that there is both a 208 West Circle Drive, and a 208 East Circle
Drive. This situation causes mail to often be delivered to the wrong residence.
Concern was expressed regarding tires and junk vehicles. The property in question is
Pack's Auto Sales on West Central Avenue.
Concern was expressed about speeding in the alleyway between Pease Avenue and Main Street.
Concern was expressed about garbage cans without lids in the alley in the 300 block of
East Pease Avenue.
Concern was expressed that proper trash containers are not used, causing litter problems
in the alleys and other areas of the city. Stricter enforcement of the city's requirements
for proper trash containers was suggested.
Concern was expressed about speeding on North Alex Road.
Concern about odors that occur from time to time in the city.
Concern was expressed about particles that come from Appleton Papers that cause people's
cars to be dirty within a day or two after the vehicles have been washed. It was noted
that the Ohio EPA has been contacted in the past and has been attempting to require
Appleton Papers to correct this situation.
Concern was expressed about trains making too much noise as they pass through the city,
especially sounding their whistles extensively.
A request was made that the 500 block of Savoy Avenue needs to be swept, and also
cracksealed.
Mr. John Worden, who lives at 946 Primrose Drive, inquired about receiving additional
information on flood insurance rates.
Concern was expressed about speeding on Pease Avenue, and an inquiry was made about
posting more speed limit signs and installing a "Curve Ahead" sign prior to
Stadium Avenue.
A discussion was held regarding the possibility of installing speed bumps on city streets
or in the city alleys. The Mayor noted that legal counsel, as well as the traffic engineer
for the city, have expressed concern in the past about liability from installing speed
bumps in the public right-of-ways. It was noted that speed bumps may actually cause more
problems.
Concern was expressed about animals in the 200 block of Stadium Avenue, and it was noted
that the Humane Officer would contact the residents at 220 Stadium Avenue to provide them
with wild animal traps.
Concern was expressed about the conditions at the DMHA housing complex on Indian Trail.
Susan Lutz noted that children are going into drainage pipes; that additional police
patrol is needed; and that the property needs additional maintenance. She also expressed
concern about the parental care of the children in that complex.
Concern was expressed about loud airplanes flying over the city.
Concern was expressed about cars parking on the street on Trumpet Drive, and an inquiry
was made as to whether or not the city could pass an ordinance requiring people to park in
their driveways instead of on the streets. Also, it was noted that a van is parking near
an intersection and blocking the view.
A resident complimented the appearance of the Elm Street business area, and appreciated
the cleanliness of the area, and inquired about what efforts are being made to attract
more businesses to the old downtown business area. The Mayor commented on the recently
established Olde Downtown Business Associates organization and their efforts to improve
the Elm Street area.
Concern was expressed about road repairs, with particular concern expressed about the
roughness of the repair made on Elm Street near the railroad tracks after the water main
break.
Also, it was noted that there is an area on West Central Avenue in the vicinity of Weir
Street where the roadway is settling. It was noted that West Central will be repaved this
summer.
Concern was expressed about maintaining the boulevard strip of grass and trees in the
vicinity of Savoy and Landview Avenues. It was noted that this may be the city's
responsibility, and the property owner who has been taking care of this property indicated
that he is no longer able to do so. Also, concern was expressed about cars cutting through
this area, and that possibly better traffic control was needed.
Toward the end of the meeting a few of the citizens indicated that they were well pleased
with city services, and enjoyed living in West Carrollton.
Mayor Gilman indicated that the city would pursue the concerns which were raised at the
meeting tonight, and would do what they could to resolve those situations that have been
brought to our attention. Mayor Gilman thanked the residents for attending.
A motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Councilmember Sanner, and seconded by
Councilmember Gordon. All voted in favor. The meeting was adjourned.
____________________________ ___________________________
MAYOR CLERK OF COUNCIL