Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

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

Read more:
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.

Read more here:
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.

Go here to see the original:
$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

A number of smaller projects, robust housing unit builds and an uptick in do-it-yourself (DIY) work helped ensure a better-than-expected year for Yankton on building permits in 2020.

Though 2020 lacked some of the major projects that have dominated the last five years, 2020 saw the city permit projects worth $32,405,693 in valuations, just above the $30 million 10-year valuation average.

Community & Economic Development Director Dave Mingo told the Press & Dakotan that this wasnt seen as a sure thing as 2020 began.

We had some worries in the beginning of the year regarding materials pricing and things like that which we thought might have a negative impact on peoples investments in property improvements, Mingo said. For the most part, that was not the case. Home improvement projects kind of carried the day a little bit.

He said to do as well as the city did was unexpected, but not unwelcome.

I had braced myself for news that wasnt near as good as it ended up being, he said. Im happy that people still had confidence to invest in their property and continue on with projects at a level above our 10-year average. To me, that was the biggest surprise of 2020. I thought we were going to end up maybe 20% down or even more.

Mingo said it wasnt just improvements to property that helped, though.

From a housing unit standpoint, we had an excellent year, he said. There were 82 housing units created and that includes all types of housing single-family all the way through apartments.

Though not technically counted as housing units, 2020 also marked the first addition of congregate living units to Yankton since 2014 thanks to the new Mount Marty University (MMU) residence hall, the Rickenbach Suites. This structure brought 96 units of congregate living to Yankton.

Thats a lot of new beds in the community and a lot of space for people to reside, Mingo said. Having those 96 units up at Mount Marty, of course, helps keep our workforce housing more available to those folks rather than where those students might have taken space.

The last few years have seen some major projects approved that helped the city set permitting records, including the expansion of the 1972 water treatment plant, the Ruth Donohoe First Fieldhouse at MMU and the initial phases of the Westbrook Estates project.

While 2020 didnt have any projects quite as large as these, some permits that helped boost valuations included the MMU dorm, new townhomes in the Fox Run neighborhood, Horizon Health clinic, a new equipment room addition at Cimpls, the Lewis & Clark Veterinary Clinic, the new Dairy Queen on Broadway Ave., remodeling at the Yankton Medical Clinic and NorthWestern Energys new facility on the north side of Yankton.

Mingo said the COVID-19 pandemic didnt really have much of a direct impact on building permits, though it may have encouraged some of the DIY projects seen throughout the city.

It seems like there were more DIY home improvement or remodel projects that we issued, he said. The contractors that do those sorts of projects were over-booked and tough to find if you were looking to get a project done.

Looking ahead to 2021, Mingo said hes thinking conservatively and that valuations will be around average, with housing sliding somewhat.

Im hoping that we can maintain somewhere near that 10-year average, he said. I dont envision a scenario where we match that same number of housing unit permit issuances, I think well be down a little bit from where we were in 2020. But I still think well be pretty close to our 10-year average on that, which is in the 50s (housing units) range for single-family housing.

However, he said some larger projects could begin to materialize soon.

There are a couple of larger commercial projects that are under review right now, so were hoping they can come to be, he said.

Follow @RobNielsenPandD on Twitter.

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Building Held Its Own | Community - Yankton Daily Press

Doug Livingston|Akron Beacon Journal

Moss grows on the shadier side of Sam Dragers roof in Copley.

Along the winding side streets that form a spiders web at the southeast corner of Copley and Jacoby roads, Dragers is the first in a row of modest ranches built 50 years ago nothing like the 4,000-square-foot custom buildsselling for $500,000 or more a few miles away off Medina Road.

Halfway up Dragers 1,320-square-foot house, originalbrick meets original aluminum siding. Gables bookend an unassuming design. Chair lift tracks linethe ceiling inside. Pieces of trims are missing in some places.

And his property value just went up 40%, which will cost him $750 more in taxes this year. Driving up his tax bill are fellow votersin the township, which passedtwo replacement levies that use the new, higher values instead of lower ones in the past.

More: What's your home worth? Complicated formula, 30-month process set new Summit County property values

I think it sucks, quite frankly. Im going to pay more money that I dont have, said Drager, who worked in sales and promotions for the Cleveland Cavaliers. He retired on disability. Acar wreck in 1968 slowly robbed him of the use of his legs. With his fingers now curled into his palm, he manages to tap a computer keyboard with his knuckles.

Dragers neighbors, some of whom are elderly or rent and have no idea whether their landlords will pass along the higher tax bills are in the same boat. At the conclusion of a long reappraisal process, the Summit County Fiscal Office increased the value of homes in this areaby 30% to 40%.

Letters mailed in December notified homeowners of the valuation changes. The new tax bills posted last week on the fiscal office website.

Drager thinks he could get $140,000 for his home. It was appraised at $114,310 in2019, which is $4,000 more than what he paid for it in 1999. The county now says it's worth$160,920.

Its either way over or way under. It never seems to be right where you think it would be, Drager said. I think its terrible, this reevaluation. Why dont they do honest appraisals on these homes?

Thousands of eyeballs are popping across Summit County as property owners get a first glimpse of their new tax bills.

In the first week since the county started taking complaints on Jan. 1, nearly 200 people requested a Zoom hearing with the board of revisions to contest their new values. The county will schedulethe hearings, which can be done by phone for those with technology issues,to take place after the complaint window closes March 31.

In the meantime, penalties could be assessed if the tax bills are unpaid by March 1, even if a hearing gets scheduled.

Numerous factors are pushingup values: strong home sales with low interest rates driven even lower in the pandemic; inflated lumber and labor costs;limited housing stock; recent home improvements (including some completed without a permit); expiring tax bill creditsfor weather damage in 2019; and homeowners who successfully negotiatedlower values with the board of revision in the pastonly to see their values bounce back, and then some.

Chief among the factors is the Ohio tax commissioner's insistence that property values submitted twice by the county were too low. Seeking required approval from the state,the Summit County Fiscal Office originally sought a 7.86% increase for residential values in Copley, for example. The state said notwicethen accepted an average increase of 13.05%, one of the largest swings from start to finish for any community within Summit County.

On average, the fiscal office sought an 8.85% average increase before the state eventually settled at 12%. Of the 41 counties with reappraisals in 2020, the state rejected their first proposals 68% of the time.

Summit Countys request for a one-year extension on adjusting home valuesduring a pandemic-crippled economy was denied.

Ohio law requires reappraisals every three years. It also preventsexisting levies from generating more revenue for local governments just because property values increase overall. Only passing new or replacing old levies can increase property tax revenue.

But because some residents will see higher-than-average percent increases, they will pay a greater share (while others pay less) of the overall property tax burden in their school districts, communitiesor across the county where propertytaxessupport the libraries, children'sservices, the Akron Zoo and more.

So, whos getting higher tax bills this year?

The Beacon Journal requested and received the old 2019 and new 2020 valuesfor all 226,000 residential properties in Summit County. An analysis by neighborhood pointed to Drager's street in Copleyand other areas, like Highland Square, Cuyahoga Falls, North Hill and other pockets, where home prices grew faster than the 12% countywide average.

A second analysis explored the redistribution of property taxes based on the price range of homes. Because property tax levies continue to collect the same amount, fluctuating home values are pushing more of the cost onto homes valued between $55,000 and $125,000 in 2019.

These 71,042homes worth $7.2billion are ideally priced for young families, aging retirees andfirst-time home buyers, real estate agents said. And they will see an average increase of 15.7% in value compared to a 6.6% increase for the 17,059 homes appraised in 2019 at $250,000 or more, which also were worth a combined $7.2 billion in 2019.

The Beacon Journal's analysis controlled for new construction in 2019. The results were the same.

When Jim Fox vice presidentfor Berkshire Hathaway Home Services, formerpresident for the Akron Cleveland Association of Realtors and 2020 chairman for the Multiple Listing Service, a home price indexheard that the values of middle-income homes were climbing 2.4 times faster than the wealthiest homes, he wasn't entirely surprised. In this general "bidding war" for homes, first-time homebuyers have donethe math. Theyseerising rents are nearly as much as a mortgage payment, so theyre go home-shopping.

The homes they're after, including many that eclipsed $150,000 in the 2020 reappraisal, are "going like hotcakes. You can't keep them on the shelf," said Fox.

While rising home prices bode well for personal investments, equity and sellers, Fox said buyers are struggling with traditional lenders thatlearned a tough lesson in the 2008 housing crisis andare "short-appraising" properties as the market heats up. Loan applicants, he said,can't get banks to appraise homes high enough to convince them to lend enough, especiallywithouta down payment in the tens of thousands of dollars.

It was as if the remodeling gods blew the old oakthrough Pam and Tom Gensel's roof.

Before the windstorm ripped through the Akron area inFebruary 2018, Tom thought about remodeling portions of their ranch on the scenic edge of Sand Run Metro Park in Northwest Akron.

"I've heard of people fantasizing about this situation," the crane operator told Tom as he lifted the tree off their home.

Adding a second floor and cathedral ceilings to the entryway and living room overlooking a ravine out back made as much financial sense as simply replacing the roof with the insurance money, Tom said. So they hired Tim Englert Construction Co.for a home makeoverworthy of a reality television show: iron stair railings, high ceilings covered in natural wood grain, glass paneled banisters and significantly more living space.

The Gensels got a temporary discount on their 2019 tax bill due to the weather damage and, because of Akron's residential taxabatement program, won't pay property taxes on the improvements for 15 years.

During construction, they rented a home across the street from where Michael Rauh had just moved in last month with his wife and daughter.

We put an offer in the day we saw it. It might have been listed only for a day, said Rauh, who learned from selling their home in Columbus over the course of a weekend to act fast.

With parents and family in their hometown of Akron, the Rauhs listed their Columbus house, got 14 offers in a day and moved home, where theyve not missed a beat with work and enrolled their daughter in Our Lady of the Elms.

I was already working remotely, because of COVID, so it became a no-brainer, said Rauh, who works in technical consulting.

Thats a pleasant surprise, Michael Polovick said when he heard how much hell be paying in property taxes this year.

Like every property owner in Summit County, Polovick got a letter following the countywide reappraisal. The value of his four-bedroom ranch, situated with five other big homes on a private road in Akrons upscale High Hampton neighborhood, went up $9,310but his annual property tax bill went down $378.20.

Polovick lives in Akron with a Cuyahoga Falls mailing address. The value of his home increased by only 3% well below the 11% average increase in Akron,13% in the Falls or 12% countywide. As a result, his property taxesto support Woodridge Schools, the Akron Zoo, the county library system, the city of Akron, Summit County Children Servicesand so onwent down 5%.

The reason is House Bill 920. Passed in 1976, this tax credit ensures that a levy will never collect a penny more than it would have when voters approved it. Instead, the only way to raise more would be to pass an additional levy or a replacement levy, which uses current property values instead of values frozen in time by HB 920.

Heres how it works.

Let's say acommunity has $1 billion in taxable property, of which$350 million (or 35% of $1 billion) isthe "assessed value" used for tax purposes.

And, for a 1-mill levy, property owners pay$1 per $1,000 of assessed value.

So, our hypothetical community generates $350,000 in property taxes on its 1-mill levy.

In realitythere are exemptions and credits, like a discount for owner-occupant householdsor anincome-eligible tax credit for seniors orthe 15-year property tax abatement in Akron on new residential construction. But for the sake of simplicity, lets assume none of these apply in our hypothetical community.

What happens 20 years later whenthe communitys property doublesin valuefrom $1 billion to $2 billion?

Instead of letting the levy collect twice as much, HB 920 chops the rate on that 20-year-old levy in half. The result is an "effective rate" of 0.5 mills, which would collect the same amount as when voters first approved the levy.

This is why new and replacement levies, not necessarily state-mandated property reappraisals, generate more revenue for government. The reappraisal simply shifts the burden of a communitys taxation.

Owners with below-average property value growthpay less. Thosewith above-average growthpay more. Butthe community on the whole pays the same as it always has until voters decide otherwise.

This is also why, speaking to neighbors in Akron and Woodridge Schoolswith stronger property value growth, Polovick says,Tell them I appreciate it.

Reach reporter Doug Livingston at dlivingston@thebeaconjournal.com or 330-996-3792.

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How higher home values drive individual property tax bills up and down in Summit County - Akron Beacon Journal

Staying home has led many homeowners to make those home improvement changes they had been putting off

by: Hanna Erdmann

WKBN

(WKBN) We were all staying home a lot more in 2020, and it looks like we will continue that trend through the beginning of 2021.

Staying home has led many homeowners to make those home improvement changes they had been putting off.

M.P. Vivo Heating and Cooling is a local company, here to fix and help maintain your heating and cooling units, so you have temperature control through all seasons.

Breathing in clean air is important, and owner Michael Vivo says the key is regularly changing your air filters.

One of the biggest problems we face on service calls is the filters. They are not being changed like the way they should be, said Vivo.

The company also offers indoor air quality services and products to keep all the harmful things in the air out of your home.

They can install a Fresh Air Ventilation System that adds humidity to the air and can ventilate inside to clear stale air and bring in fresh air.

In terms of routine maintenance, Vivo recommends getting your air conditioning unit and/or furnace checked every year, at least once, but twice is better.

They offer a maintenance package that provides easy access to service and keep your systems running longer. The maintenance contract includes system inspections and tune-ups, priority service, regularly scheduled visits and much more.

To find out more information, you can call (330) 259-0486 or visit the M.P. Vivo Heating and Air Conditioning website.

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M.P. Vivo Heating and Cooling here to make sure your units works year-round - WKBN.com

Being an HVAC Contractor, like other professions, takes a lot of work. Its not something that can be accomplished overnight. It needs effort, time, dedication, hard work, and of course, skills. Since it is one of the most difficult industrial jobs, most professionals in this field are required to give their best and thats 100% of the time.

To be a step closer to your dream, you would need to possess a wide variety of skills. These skills are going to be essential tools for you to become a great and talented HVAC Contractor!

HVAC is a common term that most people are casually tossing around, but what does it really mean? It is an abbreviation that is short for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning. It pertains to the different systems that move air between outdoor and indoor areas. It is a climate control system that is installed in houses and commercial properties.

This system can keep you cool during scourging, hot summer days and keep you cozy during cold, chilly days. It filters indoor air and maintains the levels of humidity at comfort levels. These systems are there to keep you comfortable and safe.

Are you maybe someone whos considering a profession concerning the HVAC but still quite hesitating? As Bob Wells, creator of HVAC Training 101, once said, when making decisions, everyone should have access to unbiased information. Whether it is just buying a new air conditioner or deciding to become an HVAC professional.

If you are hesitating because its not the most in-demand profession, dont be! HVAC is a complicated system that not everyone can fix once broken. In those instances, HVAC professionals are definite heroes. They are the ones to be called on.

HVAC Contractor is one of the professions to consider. They specialize in the maintenance and installation of boilers, heat pumps, air conditioners, and furnaces. They also help people with matters of cooling, heating, air flow, and air quality.

The duties of an HVAC Contractor depends on the project they have on hand. For maintenance and inspection services, they would check the tube joints and pipes for leaks, testing electrical currents, clean air ducts, testing thermostat systems, and refilling refrigerant levels. Repair services, however, involve replacing certain parts. There are also installation processes where they hook up new units to pipes, tubes, ductwork, and distribution systems.

Seeing the extensive duties of an HVAC Contractor, it is no wonder that they would require a license. Theres the HVAC license and the more specific HVAC Contractor License. Remember that every country, and in some cases, state or city, has its own requirements for the license you are aiming for. Be sure to check that out.

Now, unto to the most important part. If you want to become an HVAC Contractor, you would need skills.

There are certain skills you will learn and possess when you train to be a good HVAC Contractor!

First off, as an HVAC Contractor, you must have business-building skills. Training will teach you that there are two particular ways to this; you can either learn or hire people who already have business skills. Then, it is a matter of maintaining your business afloat, which requires the proper skill.

Troubleshooting is a type of problem-solving. It means repairing and fixing failed or broken products and processes of a system or machine. Being an HVAC Contractor, you will undoubtedly receive service calls for repairing existing systems. This will require troubleshooting skills to employ critical thinking to determine the problems immediately.

To provide the best service, it is vital to have excellent communication skills. Being able to express and string together a comprehensive thought clearly in both writing and talking would come in handy when communicating with a customer. This skill would come in handy as it will be your job to educate your customers regarding the problems, maintenance, care, and solution of the HVAC.

In this line of work, you will encounter various software programs to monitor, control systems, and retrieve job assignments. There are also multiple computer tasks such as emails, reports, specifications, instructions, and instructions. Being knowledgeable about using a computer would help you tremendously.

Technical Skills are probably the basis and foundation of a successful career in contracting. Working in the field of HVAC would require extensive technical training and knowledge. Depending on the place you live in, you might need to pass a certain technical exam or course to prove your abilities before you can be a contractor.

Training would enable you to learn and know about control systems, design review, equipment sizing and selection, distribution system of air conditioning, steam heating, hot-water heating, and water cooling. It is also necessary to know about the installation and maintenance of HVAC systems.

It is necessary to review your financial statements every month or week. It is important to keep tabs and a close eye on your accounts. There are instances where companies would close down due to running out of liquidity. Training teaches how to keep track of the service revenue, gross profit, installation sales, new service agreements, average service call ticket, and labor as a percent of service and installation.

Knowing how HVAC works would surely come in handy to a contractor. As it will be your job to install and maintain, youll need to learn the system and the equipment itself. Knowing about the components would also help.

As technology is always advancing, it will be necessary to keep your skills up-to-date. Even after training, continue your education further to compete in the industry. You can take online courses, training courses, or read books.

Competing in the HVAC industry is tough and challenging. It requires work to keep up with the competition. While it is important to continue developing and polish your technical skills, there are other skills you will need to possess to be a good HVAC Contractor.

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8 Skills You Learn When You Train To Be A Heating Ventilation And Air Conditioning Contractor - E/The Environmental Magazine