ASHLAND -- Demolition of the former Hess and Clark building is expected to begin later this week, according to Mayor Matt Miller.

The Mayor said demolition would begin Friday, Jan. 15 in his comments at the most recent Ashland City Council meeting.

"Between Jan. 15 and 20 you should start to see some noticeable action there as they start dismantling that building," Miller said.

Asbestos removal at the10 East 7th Street property was supposed to begin last week. It needed to be completed before demolition could begin, the mayor explained.

In November 2020, Ashland City Council approved selling the former Hess and Clark building to Abacus Industrial Development for $100 in exchange for the removal of the decaying structure. Miller called the property a "public safety hazard."

At that time, the mayor estimated that Abacus Industrial Development would demolish the structure within nine months and later replace it with an 85,000 square-foot data center.

The city will not transfer ownership of the property to the developer until the demolition and cleanup are complete. The company is expected to leave only the concrete slab.

The Ashland County Land Bank and Mayor Miller had been eyeing the Hess and Clark factory since at least August 2018. The city took ownership of the property from an out-of-town owner in late 2019.

Local news coverage is only sustainable with local support. Here at Ashland Source, our stories will always be free to read, but they arent free to produce. Consider supporting our coverage of Ashland County by becoming a member today.

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Demolition of former Hess and Clark building to begin this week - Ashland Source

Demolition is progressing at1841and 1845 Broadway on ManhattansUpper West Side, where a 24-story mixed-use building is planned to rise.The two adjacent properties are owned byGlobal Holdings Management Group, and Ancora Engineering is listed as the applicant of record on demolition permits that were filed in 2019. The site is bound by Broadway to the east and West 60th Street to the south, and sits just north of Columbus Circle and the southwestern corner entrance to Central Park.

Recent photos show 1841 Broadway reduced to about half its former height sinceour last update in late August. Workers are now disassembling the sixth floor behind the black netting and scaffolding covering the wide southern elevation and angled eastern profile facing Broadway. Meanwhile, 1845 Broadway now appears to be fully razed. At this pace, the entire demolition should be complete by early spring, with excavation, foundations, and the start of construction possibly commencing sometime in the second half of the year.

1841 Broadway. Photo by Michael Young

1841 Broadway. Photo by Michael Young

1841 Broadway. Photo by Michael Young

The 97-year-old 1841 Broadway formerly stood 12 stories with 114,022 square feet of space, while the 111-year-old 1845 Broadway was a smaller four-story commercial building that spanned just 15,068 square feet. The two properties sit between the Time Warner Center and Trump International Hotel & Tower, directly across from the 59th Street-Columbus Circle subway station, which is serviced by A, B, C, D, and 1 trains. The new superstructure will stand roughly twice as tall as 1841 Broadways original height and provide views of Central Park, Billionaires Row, and Columbus Circle.

No renderings, construction timelines, or completion date have been revealed for the project.

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Demolition Progresses at 1841-1845 Broadway on Manhattan's Upper West Side - New York YIMBY

Dallas is losing a significant piece of its history.

The Oak Cliff Advocate reports that the city began demolishing the landmark Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe railroad trestle bridge on Jan. 4. The process is expected to take about two weeks.

Its fate has been sealed since 2018 when the U.S. Congress approved spending about $275 million for long-needed floodway improvements near the Trinity River.

The bridge, which was built on the site of several previous iterations in 1934, has been out of commission since the 1980s, but it stood as a relic of Dallas past.

I think its a big loss to Dallas history, architect Marcel Quimby told The Dallas Morning News last year. The structure is part of the collective history of the Trinity River and Dallas reclamation of the Trinity and the levees built to control flooding. And I hate to lose that. The roots of that trestle are just so much a critical part of Dallas growth.

The train trestles demise has been a long time coming, with federal government and city officials warning it could cause significant damage if it collapsed during a flood. And when the river does flood, debris including garbage, tree limbs and even construction equipment gets caught in the bridges support beams.

The railroad originally built a trestle in 1872, and a steel truss from 1903 remains standing. A remnant of the trestle that runs under the Santa Fe Trestle Trail bike bridge is being preserved for now.

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Demolition underway on a piece of Dallas history near the Trinity River levees - The Dallas Morning News

Even as our democracy reels from its departing commander in chiefs last-gasp onslaught, his labor secretary continues to do damage to the worker protection mission hes duty-bound to honor right up to his last day in office.

The catalog of Eugene ScaliaEugene ScaliaDemolition at the Labor Department, too AFL-CIO calls on Trump to resign or be removed from office 'at once' Biden taps Boston Mayor Marty Walsh for Labor secretary: report MORE and the Trump administrations U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) assaults on workers is long and wont be repeated here, except for one thats inflicted especial pain: the Scalia Labor Departments failure to combat the often lethal workplace hazards COVID-19 presents. On this account alone, history will not judge Scalia charitably.

The latest victim of Scalias wrecking ball is the now-former leader of the departments West Coast legal offices, regional solicitor Janet Herold, with whom co-author Michael Felsen worked withwhile he was the regional solicitor for New England.Among her many duties, she headed a team that litigated a hotly contested pay discrimination case against Silicon Valley heavyweight Oracle Corp. The lawsuit, filed at the end of the Obama administration, followed a massive investigation by the department that found Oracle had underpaid women, Asian and African American workers to the tune of about $400 million.

Scalia showed interest in the case as soon as he took the reins at the DOL in September 2019. In December, shortly before the scheduled trial, Heroldlearned he had communicated with a former colleague who called him at home ensuring that the communication didnt appear in government logs to discuss Oracles interest in a settlement, and that Scalia had tried to settle the case for under $40 million. As the responsible attorney litigating the case on the ground, Herold strenuously objected.

Oracle chose not to settle, and the case went to trial. Before the judge issued his decision, Herold was told Scalia was transferring her from the Solicitors Office in Los Angeles, where she lives with her family, to head up the Occupational Safety and Health Administrations (OSHA) regional office in Chicago. Such an involuntary transfer is highly irregular. And while Herold has extensive experience in litigation and substantive areas, like federal wage and hour and discrimination law, she has no background running an OSHA office. She was surely not the person indispensably needed, or most qualified, to take the Chicago job.

All of which suggested something seriously amiss. This past August Herold filed a whistleblower complaint claiming that Scalia ordered the reassignment in retaliation for her objections to his involvement in the Oracle case and for her vigilance in enforcing worker protection laws.

Shes had the support of Sen. Patty MurrayPatricia (Patty) Lynn MurrayHawley pens op-ed to defend decision to object to electoral votes amid pushback Demolition at the Labor Department, too Hawley, Cruz face rising anger, possible censure MORE (D-Wash.) and Rep. Rosa DeLauroRosa DeLauroDemolition at the Labor Department, too Lawmakers briefed on 'horrifying,' 'chilling' security threats ahead of inauguration Pelosi orders flags at half-staff for Capitol officer who died MORE (D-Conn.), who asked the Labor Departments Acting Inspector General (IG) to investigate whether Scalia politically interfered in the Oracle litigation (Oracles executives are close with the Trump White House) and whether hes unlawfully retaliating against Herold. And the agency tasked with reviewing Herolds whistleblower complaint asked twice that the reassignment be put on hold while it investigates it, signaling its found reasonable grounds to believe Scalia has committed a prohibited personnel practice.

As for the Oracle case itself, despite evidence of significant pay disparities disfavoring women and people of color, the judge ruled in the companys favor. Seasoned career lawyers in the departments national office reviewed the decision. They vigorously recommended appeal since the decision wrongly introduced a heightened standard for proving pay bias and would set a problematic precedent for future enforcement efforts. They prepared and were ready to file a 117-page appeal brief, but on Dec. 3, DOL political appointees who answered to Scalia announced their decision to abandon the appeal. In that moment, a case that is potentially worth hundreds of millions of dollars to Oracle workers who suffered pay discrimination evaporated.

Last month, Herold declined to accept the involuntary transfer. Consequently, her employment was terminated on Jan. 11. This, despite the fact that the independent agency reviewing her whistleblower complaint requested a stay of her reassignment until after Jan. 20, because their inquiry into Scalias alleged prohibited actions is ongoing. The secretary is departing in a few days. Nonetheless, he insisted that Herold lose her job before he goes.

While spokespeople for the Trump DOL protested Scalias innocence, its hard to see his zeal in removing Herold from her post as even remotely justified. She served the department with distinction since 2012. Among his earlier, now-overshadowed abuses of power, Trump pardoned criminals who undermined our security and our democracy. His labor secretary has now fired a devoted public servant for doing her job.

The whistleblower investigation will continue, and maybe the IG will investigate too. If those inquiries reveal that Scalia abused his office in connection with either Oracle, or Herold, or both, he should pay the appropriate price. Regrettably, workers in the United States have already paid too high a price for his allegiance to a president, and to causes other than theirs.

Michael Felsen was the Labor Departments New England regional solicitor from 2010-2018, and is currently a fellow at Justice at Work. Catherine Ruckelshaus is the National Employment Law Projects general counsel.

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Demolition at the Labor Department, too | TheHill - The Hill

1. North Dakota bill aims to make performing an abortion a felony

A team of ultra-conservative North Dakota lawmakers has thrown its weight behind a bill that would make getting an abortion in the state legally akin to murdering an unborn child. Anti-abortion advocates are withholding judgment on the new proposal, but Democratic lawmakers reject it, saying the state would end up spending hundreds of thousands of dollars defending an unconstitutional abortion bill.

Under House Bill 1313, someone found to have performed an abortion, unless the procedure is done to save the life of the mother, would be guilty of a Class AA felony, punishable by up to life in prison without parole.

Read more from Forum News Service's Jeremy Turley

Nearly a week after a violent attack on the U.S. Capitol, Gov. Tim Walz on Jan. 12, 2021 stands in front of the Minnesota History Center in Saint Paul, saying that Americans are witnessing history in the making. Sarah Mearhoff / Forum News Service

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and members of the Executive Council on Wednesday, Jan. 13, voted to extend the state's peacetime emergency for another 30 days, allowing the governor to continue his expanded emergency powers and the state to swiftly set in place protections against the coronavirus without legislative approval.

The five-person Executive Council on Wednesday morning agreed unanimously to allow the peacetime emergency, citing concerns about a new, more easily transmissible strain of COVID-19 in the state and noting that while vaccines are rolling out, their distribution is not yet widespread enough to allay concerns about disease spread.

Read more from Forum News Service's Dana Ferguson

Screenshot of Kirsten Baesler, North Dakota's K-12 superintendent. She testified Wednesday, Jan. 13, in Bismarck at a hearing of the House Appropriations Education and Environment Division.

In preliminary discussions, North Dakota lawmakers showed support for increasing the length of the K-12 school year due to the coronavirus pandemic hindering test performance and overall learning for many students.

State Superintendent Kirsten Baesler testified at a committee hearing of the House Appropriations Education and Environment Division on Wednesday, Jan. 13, and told legislators that K-12 student test scores have dropped in North Dakota.

About 27% to 28% of students who tested on par with their grade level in fall 2019 tested below their grade level in fall 2020 in reading, writing and math, Baesler said. She said a summer learning gap is normal and expected, but the pandemic and distance learning exacerbated the current setbacks the state is seeing.

Read more from The Forum's Michelle Griffith

Fargo Cass Public Health said Wednesday, Jan. 13, that it will soon begin vaccinating older individuals and those with underlying health conditions. Jeenah Moon/Pool via REUTERS

Fargo Cass Public Health said on Wednesday, Jan. 13, that it expects to start vaccinating older individuals and those with underlying health conditions, known as the Phase 1B priority groups, starting the week of Jan. 18.

The agency said it is nearing completion of vaccine distribution for what are known as Phase 1A priority groups, which include health care workers, first responders and long-term care residents.

Health care providers who are distributing COVID-19 vaccines will soon reach out to their patients with information about when individuals can schedule an appointment to receive the vaccine.

Read more From The Forum's Dave Olson

Property at 717 3rd Avenue North in Fargo. David Samson / The Forum

Fargo city commissioners appeared poised to allow demolition proceedings to go ahead on Monday night, Jan. 11, on a downtown historic home that was an office to one of city's early pioneer architects.

However, owner Ron Ramsay, who has been working with volunteer help from Kilbourne Group project manager Heather McCord, was given two weeks to provide more documentation to city officials on the progress they've made restoring the house, which is nestled in a residential block west of downtown's Sanctuary Events Center.

Read more from The Forum's Barry Amundson

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5 things to know today: Anti-abortion law, Expanded authority, Learning gap, Next phase, Demolition delayed - INFORUM

By Angela ShepherdGEVS

Last week, the Greenfield Exempted Village School District presented its inaugural State of the District address, which highlighted district details, ongoing programs, how data and information are shared, and projects the district will move forward on.

Superintendent Quincey Gray opened the virtual presentation, beginning with some district details: it covers 164 square miles, includes two outlying elementaries in addition to the main campus located in Greenfield, and there are currently 1,950 students enrolled in the district with 13 percent having disabilities and 59 percent considered economically disadvantaged.

Later, Gray discussed a couple projects that are planned to begin soon and a couple other projects that are on the horizon, but as yet have no set start time.

A project that was initially slated for last spring, but was held up due to the pandemic, is the locker room expansion and new gym lobby renovation. This project is now set to begin this spring.

It will consist of extending the east side of the new gym facade out into the courtyard, allowing more room on the first floor to add ticketing and a concession area, and more space on the second floor for additional locker room space in both the girls and boys areas.

The additional locker room space will provide more appropriate changing areas for not only home and visiting athletes, but also for student members of the drama department during productions. The plans also include renovation of the restrooms in the new gym lobby.

Another project that has been in the works is also set to begin this spring, and that is the development of the practice field, which is a block from McClain High School.

The plans show that the west end of the property by Eighth Street is where the new bus garage, capable of housing 20 buses and containing three maintenance bays, will be built. The building will also include storage for athletics, band, and district maintenance.

Moving east on the property there will be a full-size football field with a 70-yard football field next to it. Parking will remain along most of the McClain Street side of the property. And two new paved basketball courts will be placed on the northeast corner. There are currently two basketball courts at the southwest corner of the property that see much community use. It is important to the school district to be able to keep that aspect. Shaded elements will also be a part of the development.

There are two other projects that were discussed, but neither have a timeline as yet.

The first is the development of the schools property off of north Fifth Street to include soccer, softball, and baseball fields. The second is the renovation and remodeling of the current bus garage into an athletic facility.

Greenfield Elementary Principal Bob Schumm presented information about leadership teams across the district. Those are a District Leadership Team (DLT); a Building Leadership Team (BLT) in each of the elementaries, the middle school, and the high school; and Teacher-based teams (TBT).

The DLT is composed of administrators, teachers and certified staff who meet monthly to review data, listen to input from building leaders, and make decisions for the district. Information from the DLT goes to the BLTs where it is reviewed with building-specific needs. Then TBTs receive the information, which then goes to all teachers.

Schumm said the district has worked many years to have a clear path in idea-sharing and information from the top of the district to the individual teachers.

Next up, McClain Principal Matt Shelton gave an overview of the districts Visible Learning Plan, which was implemented this year.

The plan is multi-year, and its during this first year that the focus is on learner dispositions and clarity in teaching and learning, which are foundational blocks in building visible learners. The initiative is district-wide and across all grade levels.

Clarity is setting clearly defined steps for learning, and through the process employing the learner dispositions: taking ownership, embracing challenges, persevering, continually growing, and being engaged.

Special programs director Heather Dratwa spoke about the responsibilities of her office. Among those are assisting students with special needs to get the needed support and the resources to achieve and be successful. Additionally, the pre-school program is through this office. The National Network of Partnership School grant, which focuses on parental involvement and fostering home/school relationships, is also administered through this office.

More information on the Special Programs office can be found on the district website at http://www.greenfield.k12.oh.us. Scroll over the Our District tab, and in the drop-down menu choose Special Programs.

Transportation supervisor Bradley George provided an overview of district transportation, which on a daily basis consists of 18 buses and two vehicles covering a total of 2,152 miles and carrying 1,084 students to and from school. He commended the drivers for their excellent job, especially with this years added tasks of temperature checking all students and cleaning and sanitizing the buses after students are unloaded.

If anyone has any questions, the transportation office can be reached (937) 981-2620.

Gray provided a COVID-19 update in the presentation, which included infection rates since August 2020. Those are: 1.2-percent of students have tested positive for the virus, which is 23 students out of 1,950 total students; 8 percent of staff members have tested positive for the virus, which is 20 out of 250 total staff.

She also spoke about recent research on COVID-19 spread in schools and this leading to the state announcing that if students are masked and distanced in a traditional classroom setting or on a school bus, then the students near a student who tested positive do not have to be quarantined. These new guidelines, however, do not apply to things like lunch, recess, and extracurriculars.

As a reminder, there is a COVID-19 tracker available on the districts website. Go to http://www.greenfield.k12.oh.us, then scroll over the Our District in the banner. The tracker is in the drop-down menu.

To watch the State of the District address, find it on the districts Facebook page or on the website.

District information and updates can be found on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and on the district website. Information is also routinely communicated through the districts all-call system, Remind messaging, FinalForms, and the district newsletter, which is distributed following the conclusion of each quarter. Additionally, the superintendent offers Coffee and Crumbs sessions where the public is invited to ask questions. The next one, which will be a Facebook live session, is scheduled for Jan. 22 at noon and can be accessed on the districts Facebook page.

We strive to communicate information and to be as transparent as possible, Gray said, encouraging all those who have questions, to ask.

For district information and updates, go to the district website at greenfield.k12.oh.us, go to the districts Facebook page, or Instagram and Twitter. The individual buildings also have Facebook pages. The districts central office may be reached by calling (937) 981-2152.

I greatly appreciate the daily hard work of our staff members, and it was nice for some of our team to share about the wonderful things going on in the district, Gray said later. We look forward to holding a public event next year during which guests can attend and ask questions.

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GEVS State of the District highlights programs, projects - The Highland County Press

When searching for a home, shoppers have may have an idea of where they want to live and what type of house they want to buy. A new house is fashionably designed, fresh and pristine with all construction and mechanicals up to code. Consequently, new houses will likely have a higher price tag than older homes in the same area that might be missing some modern conveniences or in need of upgrades or even a total renovation. However, some shoppers believe that older homes are full of personality, history, charm and unique features that new houses don't have. Here are some features that can be found in older homes:

Coal chute door

During the 19th century coal was a common home heating fuel. Old houses of that era had openings built into the foundation for coal delivery where the delivery person would open the coal door and insert a chute from back of the truck that allowed the coal to roll from the truck into the basement. Jamie Wiles, writing for Urbo.com explains, "Delivery drivers brought coal to each home on the street, sort of like fossil-fuel-toting milkmen. They'd open an iron door that led to the basement and toss in the coal, which would tumble into a collection bin." The homeowner would shovel the coal into the nearby boiler. The small iron doors can still be found on some old houses although they've probably been sealed for decades.

Ice door

Another small door that might be found on the outside of an old house is the ice door. Before electric refrigerators were a common home appliance, ice was delivered to homes in a large block and then stored in an ice box in the kitchen or pantry. The ice delivery person would insert the block of ice through the ice door directly into the ice box for homeowner's use. Alexa Erickson writing for familyhandyman.com says, "Homes had an area in the pantry or kitchen dedicated to the icebox. Access was created for this door on the exterior, allowing for the delivery of fresh ice to the house without coming inside." A small sign would be set into the window if the homeowner needed ice. If the sign wasn't in the window the driver would know not to stop.

Butler's pantry

If you've toured any of the Newport Mansions or watched the PBS show or movie, "Downton Abbey" you may have noticed the butler's pantry. Jess McBride writing for Houzz.com says, "Butler's pantries were a common feature of estates during the Victorian and Edwardian ages, and housed the family's fine china and silver." However, butler's pantries can be found just off the kitchen in much smaller middle-class houses of the era as well.

While there may not be a butler employed in the house, the space can still be used for silver and dinnerware. Alternatively, the butler's pantry can be remodeled and modernized, repurposed or removed completely. Anita Costa and Alexa Erickson writing forfamilyhandyman.com say, "While many homeowners today ask their architect and remodeling contractor to remove an existing butler's pantry in favor of a larger eating area, some people have revived the pantry with new, more modern purposes." The space can be used as additional cabinet space for kitchen storage, counter space for food prep, a built-in wine cooler or other homeowner needs.

No closet space

Although there's a common story that closets were intentionally excluded in the design and building of old houses because they would be taxed as rooms, the Real Estate Buyers Agent's Council of the National Association of Realtors (REBAC) claims there is no evidence, at least during colonial times, to prove this to be true. REBAC instead suggests, "Many older homes are long on architectural details, but short on closet space. At the time historical homes were built, most individuals didn't own more than a few articles of clothing, greatly reducing the need for closet storage." An old house homeowner can create needed storage space to compensate for the lack of closets. Closets can be built into corners of rooms and armoires and shelving units can be installed along walls.

No hallways

Hallways that serve as a way to reach each individual bedroom don't exist in many old houses. Each room will instead have two or three doors to enter and exit from different adjoining rooms. Elizabeth Finkelstein writing for CountryLiving.com explains, "Historically, each room tended to have a very particular use, so it was advantageous to keep them separate. There was a practical element to this, too: The ability to close doors between rooms also helped heat and cool the homeno sense wasting energy in rooms weren't being used." Before central heating was common one room could be heated with a stove or fireplace for the entire family to share. This floorplan may be fine for the lower level of the house where the rooms are generally shared for meals and socializing. However, privacy is forfeited in the upper levels that consist of bedrooms with no private entrances.

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Features found in older homes - News from southeastern Connecticut - theday.com

Like many people, I have gone through the process of cutting the cord and going with streaming services for my television viewing. I did this last spring not necessarily because I was displeased with my cable company. In fact, I find this company to be extremely good, with excellent customer service whenever I have needed them.

Also like many people, I found myself wanting to get proactive in certain areas of my spending, and there was multiple streaming services that could at that time provide similar channel selection for a much lower price.

However, the key words in that sentence is at that time. Anyone who knows me can figure out a decent chunk of my television viewing is sports, especially local teams. So it should come as no surprise that a deal-breaker with any of my service providers would be the inclusion of channels such as ESPN and more importantly, Fox Sports North (FSN). Thats where things have gotten tricky as of late.

I had chosen YouTube TV because not only did they seem to have the most of my preferred channels, but they were also the least expensive option. Over the summer, I was quite satisfied with them. But then the Minnesota Twins season ended and shortly afterward, it was announced YouTube TV was dropping FSN due to a contract dispute with their parent company.

Initially, I figured it wasnt that big of a deal since without the Twins, Wild, or Gophers currently playing, I at least temporarily could keep with YouTube TV, saving a few bucks before switching to Hulu Live, the only other streaming service offering FSN, once the NHL announced when their season would start. That plan lasted about one month until Hulu also announced they were dropping FSN for the same reasons.

That left me with the prospect of having no choice but to bite the financial bullet and go back cable. And while, like I said, I had no issues with them, there was now also the unappealing prospect that based on how my apartments remodeling reconfigured my living rooms layout, I would have to snake a cable along the baseboard in able to hook up my TV. I would much prefer to utilize my wifi, whose router is neatly tucked away in a corner behind one of my chairs.

As I was entering the time when I would have to formally make the switch back in order to catch the Wilds season opener, I did find one last streaming option. AT&T Now has sprung up as the only streaming service that still does carry FSN. But it is more expensive to the extent it might even be more expensive than cable. So I put a call into the cable company, got their best offer, and did a little number crunching. It turns out AT&T Now is $10 less expensive, although besides FSN, they do offer considerably fewer other channels.

A quick look through their listings revealed only a couple stations missing that I really only watch when there is nothing else worth watching. And, thanks to a Christmas gift, I do now also have Disney Plus at my disposal. So Im going to stick with streaming, with the hopes YouTube TV can settle their dispute with FSN and I can smoothly switch back to my originally preferred streaming service.

But there is also the prospect AT&T will follow the same path as other streaming services and drop FSN. In that case, I will literally and figuratively be back to being hooked on cable.

BILL STICKELS III is editor of the Isanti-Chisago County Star. He can be reached at 763-689-1181 ext. 107 or editor@countystar.com.

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Worth a Thousand Words: Not-so-gently down the stream - isanti-chisagocountystar.com

The Wood County Commissioners are being asked to take the handcuffs off an $18 million jail expansion and renovation.

The project was proceeding early last year when the pandemic hit, putting a hold on most county projects.

We were very close a year ago, said Sheriff Mark Wasylyshyn in a presentation to the commissioners on Tuesday.

I get it, no one wants to spend money on jails, he said. But its very important that we have a facility that we can have a clean, safe, healthy environment.

He said there is still a need for additional female housing, more cells in general and the renovation of the booking/medical area.

If anything, the needs from the mental health standpoint have increased, Wasylyshyn said of the timetable.

He gave an example of an inmate who had been at the jail for weeks, waiting for a psychiatric bed to open. When it was available, he was transported there, Wasylyshyn said.

They called us 12 hours later and said this person is too violent for our mental hospital, come take him back to your jail, he said. Its very difficult on our staff. Were not set up to have someone with serious psychiatric issues 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The proposed renovation and expansion would provide more secure cells to hold inmates. It would also have new female housing.

The expansion would be south of the current facility, which is on East Gypsy Lane Road, toward U.S. 6.

The total population of the jail has decreased from an average of 170 to 125, mostly due to the pandemic. The jail capacity is 220, which includes 86 cells. The Wood County Jail is currently not accepting inmates from outside areas, Wasylyshyn said.

Capt. Rebecca McMonigal said dont let the population numbers reflect on the jails needs.

It may sound like were doing well, but were not, because we have more mental health inmates, she said. And we have the worst of the worst inmates, and those inmates require the most expensive real estate that we have in the jails, which is the cells.

The renovation will double the number of secure beds.

In the booking area, there are currently five holding cells. With the renovation, they will have seven-10 including separate male and female bullpens.

There will also be dedicated holding cells for inmates heading to court and four additional medical cells.

Commissioner Doris Herringshaw said that the board will most likely act soon on the sheriffs proposal.

We have been tucking away money, knowing we would have to do some renovation, Herringshaw said.

Weve been working on this since 2005, so Im really excited that were hopefully getting closer, Wasylyshyn said. If youre asking me if the need is still there today absolutely. We would not be here if this wasnt the right thing for the citizens.

He said this addition would last 20 years or more, and no additional staff would be needed to operate it.

The way this is designed, we will really be able to utilize a lot of beds better than what were utilizing them today, he said.

Wasylyshyn said that no levy or tax increase is needed.

Were very fortunate, thanks to the commissioners and being conservative, he said. I know its a lot of money, but its the right thing thats going to carry us out for many, many years to come to make it a safer and better facility.

Last year at this time, Wachtel & McAnally, Newark, had been selected to design the jail expansion. Just a few weeks later, the pandemic hit, shutting down most projects.

A cost had not been determined yet for the architect fees.

Some of the previous estimated costs were $6.7 million for renovating the existing intake area into a medical office for $957,710, remodeling existing minimum security dorms to create a female housing area for $2.9 million, and building a new mechanical room for $425,600.

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$18 million jail renovation, expansion expected to move forward - Sentinel-Tribune

Below is a list of the top and leading Handyman in Columbus. To help you find the best Handyman located near you in Columbus, we put together our own list based on this rating points list.

The top rated Handyman in Columbus are:

Ace Handyman Services Northeast Columbus offers a variety of packages all designed to help you love your home. From basic improvement to home enhancements, to those tasks in your home you simply never think about, they have you covered. At Ace Handyman Services Northeast Columbus they are dedicated to helping landowners get the most from their possessions.

They strive to be your source for finishing home advancement projects in northeast Columbus and its surrounding communities as well as Westerville, Gahanna, Sunbury, New Albany, Johnstown, Galena, and Blacklick. They put their training, skill, experience, and knowledge to work so that you may enjoy beautiful and long-lasting results.

Products/Services:

Carpentry, Doors & Windows, Furniture Assembly, Drywall Repair, Installation, Repair & Upkeep, Painting & Staining, Remodeling, Aging In Place

LOCATION:

Phone:(614) 839-8457Website: http://www.acehandymanservices.com

REVIEWS:

We were having new flooring put into our laundry room. The installers recommended ACE (Keith and Tim) to prepare for the floor installation to remove all the equipment and return it once the floor was complete. They removed the slop sink, drip pan, washer and dryer in quick order. Floor was installed and they returned a couple of days later to put it back together. They were respectful of the house, putting down coverings, wearing shoe coverings and masks the whole time they were in the house. The work was done efficiently and corrected some builder mistakes while they were at it. Also communications on estimates, arrival times was great, no guessing when they would show. I can recommend ACE Handyman for your needs or even a second opinion on what might need to be done. Steven L.

Grove City Handyman Services is skilled professionals that can manage just about regardless of size task, repair, or home improvement effectively and with fair and reasonable costs. They are reliable and trustworthy and will get the job done right for your home. As the local handyman of preference, they appreciate their local community for trusting Grove City Handyman Services as they are dedicated to providing, and are a proven timely, reliable, and skilled choice of homeowners. And yes, they are insured and bonded. They offer their handyman services to all of Grove City, Columbus, and Franklin county neighborhoods.

Products/Services:

Repairs, Maintenance, Improvements & Odd Jobs

LOCATION:

Phone:(614) 482-4070Website: http://www.grovecityhandymanservices.com

REVIEWS:

Reliable and thorough. You cant find a better handyman service than this. Matthew J.

Man of All Trades Home Improvement & Handyman Services serves all of central Ohio with quality home improvements and handyman services. Their skilled team is devoted to meeting and surpassing the maximum standards of general construction and maintenance. From a new coat of paint to rewiring your new home, they have fun making your space look great and function with complete comfort.

They are licensed and they offer senior citizen discounts. Contact them anytime for more information about their services, as they can customize them to meet your specific needs. Man of all trades is a complete service, universal contracting, and handyman service. They are aiming to develop long-term relationships with homeowners, landlords, realtors, contractors, and management companies. etc.

Products/Services:

Drywall Installation & Repair, Remodeling, Kitchens, Baths, Outdoor Living Spaces, Outdoor Kitchens-Fire Pits, Landscaping, Building & Additions, Window & Door Replacement, Finish Basements & Decks, Painting-Trim, Flooring, Building Maintenance, Handyman Services, Water Damage & Restoration, Mold Removal, Plumbing Repairs, Concrete Repair/Replacement, Decorative Pavers, Retaining Walls

LOCATION:

Phone:(614) 806-4232Website: http://www.moatrades.com

REVIEWS:

Did a very good job! Arrived on time and made sure I was satisfied. I will use them again. Tiffanie G.

Handyman Services Plus can provide you with a superb home repairs service so you can keep your house up and running. They will help you transform an outdated room into a modern comfort with their many remodeling services. With Handyman Services Plus, your universal builder will be skilled in many areas and will gladly come to your home to fix anything.

If you are in need of anything from roofing to window installation, they are the company that can help you. Their home improvements and repairs service have earned them a recognizable reputation in Columbus, turning visions into reality. With their experience and expertise, you can trust that all of your repairs and home renovations are in good hands with them.

Products/Services:

Kitchen Remodeling, Bathroom Remodeling, Basement Remodeling, Siding Contractor, Plumbing, Storm Damage, Handyman Services

LOCATION:

Phone:(614) 288-8341Website: http://www.handymanservicesplusllc.com

REVIEWS:

I would recommend Handyman Services Plus to anyone who is looking for above quality workmanship, honest estimates, and timely completion times. Working with Brian was great, I would never look any further for any project in my home, thanks to Brian and the boys. Roger S.

Punch Out Plus LLC is a home reconstruction company that began as the dream of a small boy. At age 7, the owner Don Britton began working on job sites with his father and grandfather, both expert carpenters. Over the years the three worked on a number of remodeling and home improvement projects from large to small. The Punch Out list is a list of tasks requiring a wide range of expertise in new-build homes.

Dons prestige for dependability and quality work began to spread among the new home builders and the size and type of jobs he was presented with, grew along with his reputation. Today, still a family-managed and operated business, Punch Out Plus, LLC has grown into a full-service remodeling company that can address all of your home repair and residential remodeling needs.

Products/Services:

Handyman Services, Home Repair, Carpentry Services

LOCATION:

Phone: (614) 871-5985Website: http://www.punchoutplus.com

REVIEWS:

Jeremy and team did a great job installing drywall at my business. Fast, clean, and great value. Thank you. John P.

Shera Elliott graduated from the New Mexico State University with a major in biology and a minor in Biological Basis of Behavior & Health Care Management. Shera grew up in Los Angeles, but moved to Las Cruces for college. Shera has written for several major publications including the Albuquerque Journal and NPR. Shera is a community reporter and also covers stories important important to all Americans.

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5 Best Handyman in Columbus - Kev's Best