State Rep. Kyle Koehler discusses Local Government Funding with Bethel Twp Trustee Nancy Brown. ANDY GRIMM | PHOTO

Members of the Tecumseh School Board, Bethel Township Trustees, and County Commissioners, as well as State Representative Kyle Koehler met for a joint township meeting on Monday evening.

Bethel Township began the meeting with a few words from Trustee Nancy Brown, who told those listening that the project that is to take place on State Route 235 is “set to begin in the Spring”. Around the month of April, those travelling on St. Rt. 235 should begin to see some work being done mostly on utility lines. There are no road closures to be expected in this one season job.

The result of this project will be in the form of new street lights on the roadside, as well as a sidewalk on the west side of St. Rt. 235 and a lighted recreational path on the east side. There is to be no widening of the road.

The City Council of New Carlisle took the floor next and spoke briefly about a Speedway store no longer being used as a convenience store. As to the use of this store, the Council did not know.

Following the Council, the Tecumseh School Board spoke of the Winter Choir Concert and the support of the community. Superintendent Norm Glissman spoke of the upcoming testing window for the students. Local Township resident Ed Dunn told a story of when he was a young boy in school and the kinds of tests that he took when he was in high school.

Also in attendance at the joint meeting were Juniors and Seniors from Tecumseh High School. They were in attendance to gain political service hours as part of their Government classes to pass the class.

Next to bring new information to the assembly were the County Commissioners, all of whom live within the boundaries of Clark County, not in the city of Springfield. Two new Commissioners were named, Lowell McGlothin and Melanie Flax-Wilt. They brought to the table news of budget cuts up to approximately 3.1 million dollars. The Commissioners announced their ongoing plan to urbanize the area around the new Kroger’s that is being built on Rt 72 south of Springfield.

The company that the County Commissioners engaged, which was not named, is looking for real estate options within a 20-minute drive of Kroger’s. County Commissioners also stated that they had taken out a loan for the old Macy’s store next to the mall. This area connects as far as State Route 41 and Upper Valley Pike.

All records of this dealing are available to the public.

On another note, the County Commissioners told of the Grand Opening of the new Love’s travel center that was recently built near the Fairgrounds. The opening date is to be at 9 a.m. on Tuesday February 7.

The County Commissioners also said that they have a purchase agreement for the Armory near the Fairgrounds. Plans for possession and total demolition are to take place within the next 90 days.

What is to be done afterward is currently under discussion with Dean Blair for Hotel or Motel arrangements as well as the possibility of restaurants. Tom Hale, the Community Development manager is working closely with Mr. Blair to decide the eventual outcome.

State Representative Kyle Koehler talked about upcoming changes in the State House and Senate. He brought to light the outcome of a new Law in Ohio titled the Arson Law. It states that a person or persons who commit arson on an abandon building, unless they can claim it as their own property, will pay the total damages to the structure.

Representative Koehler also told of a Law called the Bicycle Law. In it he stated that there was a clause that was misinterpreted. With the advent of newer bicycles being lightweight, sometimes, the sensors in the road will not trigger the stoplight.

The law states that if you come to a stoplight and the light is not triggered within a reasonable amount of time, you have the right within your judgment to go thought the red light. This is not specific to bicycles.

The law will be changed within the next few weeks to be revised to apply to bicycles only.


The SR 235 project is scheduled to start in the Spring, pending utility relocations, approximately mid-March. The Construction cost is: $ 2.4 million awarded to Barrett Paving Materials, Inc.

Project Description:

Access management, lighting and pedestrian improvements between Gerlaugh and Dillie roads. Extension of 8" water main along Dalton Drive across State Route 235 to connect to an existing 12" water main.
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