Senior apartments, police chief search updated

Apr. 18—GROVE CITY — Grove City borough council members tackled a heavy agenda on Monday night that included an update on the search for a new police chief, windstorm damage, plans for a new apartment building and more.

At the beginning of the meeting, council member Amy Gallagher gave the monthly report for the Grove City Community Library, explaining that they are trying to spread the word that they need help keeping the doors open.

"We are a vital part of this community and always have been," said Heather Baker, director of children's programming.

More than 40,000 people used the library over the past year, and they're operating with an annual budget of about $208,000, said Gallagher, who is the library's director.

Council President Mary Kay Mattocks recalled that her mother helped get the library started in 1958, and she enjoyed the children's section.

Later in the meeting, council approved a request from Kelly Dumrauf to host a craft and vendor show from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 12 at Memorial Park. Proceeds will benefit the library.

Apartments for seniorsCouncil members approved a zoning text amendment to ordinance 1490. A public hearing was held before the council meeting.

The amendment now says that structures in the residential limited commercial district can have a maximum height of 50 feet. The limit was 35 feet.

The change is in response from Evan Lowe, who is planning to build a three-story apartment building for ages 55 and up on property he owns at 514 and 522 N. Broad St. and 113 to 121 North St.

Plans call for parking underneath the apartments, up to 40 units and a 50-foot allowance for the building.

Lowe has said the old Filer Plumbing building will remain, but he will demolish a vacant house and former chiropractor's office.

George Junior art exhibitGlen Sanders, directors of fine arts at George Junior Rep7blic, is organizing an arts exhibit that will tie in with the annual Grove City Strawberry Days, which will be held June 9 to 11 at the park.

With help from a grant from Our Town, a program led by the National Endowment for the Arts, the exhibit will bring together government and art.

The theme is "Water," which Sanders chose because the borough's new water treatment plant is being built at the park.

He hopes the exhibit helps to educate residents about the project and why it's important. It will be displayed the whole month of June, and he's put out a call for artists. Awards will be announced on June 10.

The deadline to submit an application is May 1. For more information, visit gjr.org/art-exhibition

April 1 stormStrong winds brought down a lot of trees and power lines across the borough, including damage at the Old Presbyterian Cemetery off Greenwood Drive, said Vance Oakes, borough manager.

Two utility poles and wires came down, and a fallen tree damaged some headstones. The borough got a quote of nearly $7,000 to remove two downed pine trees and one oak tree as a precaution.

However, borough officials have been trying to figure out who actually owns the cemetery. It's maintained by Tower Presbyterian Church, and it sits in Pine Township, but no one has been able to uncover official property records, Oakes said.

The cemetery dates back to the 1800s, and the founders of Grove City, like the Cunningham family, are buried there, Mattocks said.

Council members tabled the issue in hopes they can track down more information about the property. They later thanked borough crews for storm cleanup.

New police chiefCouncil members agreed to hire consultant David Woglom as a part-time employee to help with the recruitment of a new chief. Dean Osborne retired in February, and Cpl. Chris Taggart is interim chief.

Oakes obtained a few proposals and recommended Woglom, who will meet with council to define the job description, requirements and salary.

He will help with advertising the job, obtaining background checks, references and resumes and coordinating interviews. A panel of three police chiefs will question candidates with council observing, Oakes said.

Council will also have to decide if any internal candidates will be required to go through the same interview process as applicants who don't already work for the borough.

After the second and final round of interviews, council members will have the final say on who they'd like to hire.

Landfill work startingOakes shared a letter than Michael Baun received regarding the Tri-County Industries Inc. landfill. Baun runs the Grove City Airport in Springfield Township, and it's owned by the borough.

The airport is just a few miles from where TCI plans to build the landfill on property it owns in Liberty and Pine townships.

The letter serves as a notice that construction will start. Ray Bogaty, solicitor for Liberty Township, said that TCI needs to obtain building permits before any work can start, Oakes said.

Hall Industries trespassersThe police department has received multiple reports of trespassers at the Hall Industries property on Lincoln Avenue, Taggart said.

There are cameras, and police have been able to make arrests after each incident. They were able to identify suspects from a low-quality photo after the Slippery Rock Police Department shared photos on social media.