The Scoop...June 3, 2013
President Jim Osmon called the meeting to order at 12:08pm. Rita Brown presented the invocation and Pledge of Allegiance and welcomed Otto Bollenbacher, who has been absent for some weeks. Dave Runk blew it on the 4 Way Test. You should have practiced more, Dave! 5 guests were welcomed by Dan Best who gave the Sgt. At Arms report. Micki encouraged people to sign up for or donated to the Rex Perry Memorial Golf Outing. Anne Decker welcomed the three new members of the board of the Lima Rotary Foundation: Tony DePalma, Jay Wenger and Scott Shafer. Dick Schroeder asked that we all support the annual fund. We’re currently $6,000 below goal for the year.
Judge Warren presented an update on his plans for a drum corps that would give youth something fun and constructive to do. Bradfield Center already has a drum corps established for 5th graders called High Octane and Judge Warren and his committee are planning to support and expand it. They need $6,000 to purchase, drums, equipment and T-shirts. Most Rotarians expressed support for this plan.
Lima’s finances are solid, according to Mayor David Berger, who presented his State of the City speech to the Rotary Club. After several lean years when the city had to restructure, prioritize needs and “do without,” Berger says the city’s finances are stronger and he projects a $9 million carry-over, which is “exceptional and above average.” The city is finally going to spend some money on much-needed capital improvements, including the installation of a back-up computer network in the former jail.
The city is also battling unfunded EPA mandates, such as the new Total Maximum Daily Load, which regulates the amount of discharge into the Ottawa River. Coming into compliance with the proposed regulations would cost the city $58 million. Berger doesn’t think it will make much difference to the quality of the water in the river, and it will challenge the operations of the industries that discharge into the river, which will also face a high cost of compliance.
On a more positive note, the city is moving ahead with plans to solve the train problem on Bellefontaine Avenue. Berger has proposed an underpass on Elm Street near Lincoln Park that would include lots of green space and a roundabout to move traffic around the trains. Defending the attractive design of the project, Berger says he wants to put the city’s best foot forward when it comes to a city entryway. “It’s not a concrete canyon,” like the underpass on North Street. “In fact, it’s beautiful.”
Mayor Berger answered a few questions, and President Osmon adjourned the meeting at 1:00.