First off I want to apologize for not getting something written up sooner on this. I fully intended to do that yesterday but was under the weather and spent the better part of the day napping with my book. It was an interesting meeting with lots of information passed along.
The luncheon was once again at Tonda's Place. Chamber President Randy Allmon opened the meeting. He announced that the Chamber is in the process of getting a promotional brouchure put together. It's a multi-fold out thing sort of similar to a road map. An outfit from New Cumberland called DigiColor is putting it together. Allmon said the response to buy ads has absolutely taken off already exceeding their expectations. According to the handout it is intended to be an informative tool promoting the ville as a great place to do business and to live. For the life of me I can't figure out why they don't engage Wellsville talent for such things instead of going other places. Last year they went out of town to get their web site set up.
Allmon also announced that the Chamber Board of Directors voted to put an ad in the Business Review. That's a business journal that is put out up Youngstown way. The brochure & ad are both geared to attract new business that will be coming when Baard gets started.
The Board also voted to donate $200 to the WVFD to help defray the cost of their fire works display being planned for this years Homecoming coming later this spring.
New members welcomed this month was Janet Dunlap from Howard Hanna Realtors, Dr. Jeff Nolte from KSU-EL and Connie Carmichael from the ville's Alley Cat Aid Brigade. The business of the month was Air Waves. That's the Alltel & Dish Network agent located in half of the old Perpetual Bank building on Main Street.
Connie Carmichael of the ACAB announced that the "angels" are campaigning for an ordinance to ban the chaining up of dogs in the village. It's really deplorable how some dogs are treated being chained up outside in all kinds of weather often times without food or water. Once the novelty wears off of having a pet addition to a family some dogs end up chained up outside being neglected. It doesn't have to be that way. There are alternatives with the various rescue outfits. Being a living being dogs need exercise, nourishment and most all some loving attention. If you would like any additional information on this you can contact any member of the ACAB, our Animal Control officer or the folks with St. Francis Animal Shelter.
Connie also touched on their Trap-Neuter-Release program for wild cats. They are planning on doing another round up later next month. Did you know that in a six to eight year span one pair of cats can produce 420,000 kittens? As unbelievable as that sounds that's a fact.
Mayor Joe Surace introduced Leslie Dean to the members. She is the ACO for the ville. Ms. Dean has over 10 years experience from volunteering time with the CC Dog Pound and other groups that advocate ethical treatment of stray animals. Leslie said she too is planning to put a brochure together that explains what laws she has to work with & the limitations she has to deal with. The brochure will be a free handout available in local businesses.
Member Candy Bangor who is the President of the Revitalization Committee brought up the possibility of converting the old fire station next door to the library into a tourist center. She has visions of fixing the place up with office space for the Chamber and having a meeting room area available to various groups. That building is presently occupied by the Friends of the Old Fire Station. The mayor suggested they get together with them to see what they can work out.
The guest speaker was CC Sheriff Ray Stone pictured above. He recapped some statistics of the Sheriffs Dept. from last year. The Sheriffs Dept. is the police for all areas in the county that do not have their own police department. Locally in this area of the county that would include both Yellow Creek & Madison Townships. There are many other areas that they cover in the 532 square miles that make up Columbiana County. Stone related that it can take 35/40 minutes travel time for a deputy to get from one end of the county to another and that's with red lights and sirens. The biggest problem facing the Sheriff's office is the lack of funds to allow the addition of more deputies. He actually apologized for the short coverage in the county and vouched to "fight tooth & nail" to convince the commissioners to come up with more funding. Right now there are only 21 officers and that includes the sheriff and the Chief Administrator Deputy. Last year they went into the red with their budget and it is not expected to improve this year since they were given the same budget to work with this year.
Asked for his thoughts on the issue of additional disclosure he summarized it as being cost prohibitive with the current level of manpower. Quite simply they don't have enough people to do what is being asked for without blowing the budget out of the water paying overtime to get the job done. From what I'm reading in the papers on this issue that seems to be the common theme of all law enforcement agencies in the county.
Ray Stone has 25 years of law enforcement experience. He was appointed to the office following the resignation of Dave Smith last fall and then was elected to his own term in last November's general election. Paul Blevins said he is the first sheriff in CC that was not previously a sheriff's deputy. He has an uphill battle with funding. I wish him luck. I'm one of those that feels he should have more deputies.
ole nib
25 comments:
I agree with you Nib regarding the businesses not utilizing in town people for things like pamphlets and the like. I know Susie Haugh does some graphic design, I do graphic design but it is very hard to get our name out there when you are starting up.
The Chamber did try two other sources within the Chamber and nothing was accomplished. Therefore hiring an outside firm with experience and a proven track record with the other local Chambers brochures seemed to be a logical choice.
As far as the website the Chamber had until October 2007 to get a website off the ground. Folks who could have created such a website never came forward to the Chamber. Who keeps it updated?
Realistically, tourism funding is from a lodging tax. Who would fund tourism since Wellsville does not have a hotel or motel facility? We already have an Alumni building to utilize for groups of 200 or less. The chamber already has office space in the Village building why would they move? for what purpose? The tourism director would be paid from where?
Am I missing something?
Looks & sounds like you have a good, squared-away very professional sheriff!
Seems like Wellsville is becoming a nice place to live. You don't seem to have the crime and lowlifes that East Liverpool has.
I'm so happy to hear that ACAB is trying to do something about chained dogs. It's not just a case of someone getting a dog and then having the novelty wear off, but many hunters I know deliberately buy hunting dogs for no other purpose than to help track animals during hunting season. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with having a hunting dog -- some breeds of dog are meant to be trackers and love the chase! However, many of these dogs are neglected year-round, only to be paid attention to during hunting season. The rest of the year they stay chained up or penned up, many times in rain and snow and freezing temperatures, and their daily interaction with their owners consists only of being fed and watered. There's no playtime, no loving, nothing. I'm not saying all hunters treat their dogs like this, so please, hunters, don't get in an uproar. I am only commenting on some of the hunters I know and what I've seen with my own eyes. It is truly very sad and my heart breaks for these dogs.
That being said, I have to wonder what the consequences will be for a dog owner who is no longer permitted to keep his dog chained outside? What will become of these dogs? Will the owners be fined? Will the dogs be taken away? I worry that before a dog owner will risk being sited or fined, they'll dump the dog, shoot it, etc.
I applaud the ACAB for caring so much and working so hard to correct the plight of the animals in the 'Ville, but I truly am interested in the rest of the story. I'm no longer a resident of the 'Ville, but follow the goings-on as often as I can, and have always thought ACAB is a wonderful, much needed organization! I see that they have a web site -- maybe I'll write to them directly. This is an issue that is near and dear to my heart.
For those businesses starting up Chamber is a very inexpensive way to network and promote their business. The Chamber membership fees are reasonable compared to other Chambers in the area. Why do the folks always come out and say they could have done this and that after the project is almost completed? The community has an active Chamber and they will continue to move forward. So to those of you who have something to offer to the Chamber, let them know.
Yes,
You are missing the big picture.
Taking a building in town and not letting it fall into a heap, like many others have for starters. Utilizing the fire station would be an asset to the Village. It is one step in cleaning up town. Making the firestation the hub of where the organizations that are popping up to improve the village can meet and another attraction for the village. There is a small museum in there and an old firetruck. People who come to see the floodwall could then come further into town and visit the firestation and the museum. It is a long range plan. It would be funded by donations just like the floode wall. It can be done. Lots of things can be done, you just have to have the will and vision and get out there and do it, and not pay attention to the nay sayers.
One of the reasons I started attending the Chamber luncheons is the fact that I have a lot of respect for their progressive thinking in promoting Wellsville business & their willingness to do everything possible to accommodate folks that are interested in doing business with the ville. I thank them for having me. To move forward, to grow, it is absolutely essential to have a solid business community in any village or town. As an example locally just look at what was done in Midland after Crucible decided to shut their doors. They moved forward to make the best of a bad situation and today Midland is still a vibrant community. Some just plain give up and play the "woe is me" card. It is easy to do. Then there are some that say lets pick of the pieces and make the best of a bad situation. That's what happened in Midland and I believe that is what members of the ville's Chamber are working on. I applaud them for all they are doing. Sure there are some personal differences. You'll have that in any organization. Mature people make the best of it and move on. Wellsville was once a thriving city with a solid commercial community. Let's hope history repeats itself as the saying goes.
The former fire station is a wonderful old building. It was built by the Catholics way back when and was given to the city when they moved to 11th Street. That's when it became a fire station. It was way before my time when it was a church but I well remember it as a fire station. It was a very active spot in town.
The building has a historical significance to the village and the chance of breathing new life into its' usage & upkeep is an exciting prospect. I sincerely hope the members of The Friends of the Old Fire Station & the Revitalization Committee can work something out. It would be unique to have a museum & Chamber office co-existing there.
nib
What about that beautiful motel on Clark Ave.?
The flood wall was successful because Jim Saracco sold them. The businesses or individuals supported the project with their pocketbooks. This was the Mayor's vision and this same committee omitted him from having his picture on the committee's mural. This is the same group that wants to create a hub for organizations at what costs? Who pays? Who becomes the co-ordinator? Who decides? What board will this individual report to?
Well, if it was the mayor's vision then why didn't the mayor sell the murals? The mayor isn't a member of the Revitalization Committee? I think it's all hogwash. I recall John Gates being the one who pushed for that project, not the mayor. Same old, same old. Mayor always trying to take credit for someone else s' ideas and projects.
Jimmy Saracco didn't sell shit. The Committee sold the murals to the people. What a crock of shit, just like it was the Mayor's vision, he does not even know what a vision is.
The flood wall has been very much a group effort. We have raised plenty of money, thousands, on our own. Who do you think buys the paint, sealant, gravel, railroad ties, has the trees cleared and many other things. We don't have fund raisers so we can go on vacations. All members and the Mayor have worked together to make it what it is. Also, many members have sold murals, not just Jimmy.
You should know what you are talking about when you speak. We all agreed on this project, no one had to push for it. And we have all worked hand in hand since. If we had your attitude, there would be no flood wall project. We get along and get it done, why don't you try it.
Digicolor out of New Cumberland does a great job. They do the visitor guides for Salem and East Liverpool among others. Very professional. As for the Sheriffs Dept. in this economy it is getting harder for towns to support their own departments. In a lot of areas, the Sheriffs Dept. contracts with the towns, townships etc. to provide law enforcement, thus adding to their own department. They still take the traffic cases to municipal courts in the jursidictions the cases are made. It seems if the Sheriffs Dept. wants to grow, this may be a way to do it.
If you get along, why did the Mayor yell at you people for not putting him in the painting of the group. He is mad as hell, and told you people about, of course I don't blame you, people would have painted over it.
Jimmy Saracco sold the murals and the Review did a story on him for it. The newspaper featured Jimmy. He has helped the Churches to get a space. Jim approached businesses, individuals, and organizations and explained the project. There is a group, however Jim was the salesperson of the group! That's all folks!
It would be nice if the morons who are obviously not on the committee knew what they were talking about, but I guess thats how it always is..the ones who don't know anything always have the most to say. Why do you care what that committee does or who sold what? It sounds like you would be better served using your time trying to figure out why you are so mean and bitter.
anybody that had any brains would know where the vision came from it was not from gates it was from the mayor ask anyone on the revitalization committee so before you run your mouths and still being bitter after all these months(get over it) check out the facts first......
If memory serves me correctly when the idea first came up with the flood wall murals Joe Surace was quoted in the papers as saying he got the idea after seeing something similar while vacationing in New Orleans. It's in the back of my mind that he said something to the effect that would be a great project for the ville. I could be wrong but I don't think I am. You got to give credit to where credit is due. Unless I'm wrong the mayor brought that idea home with him from that vacation and that got the start of the Revitalization Committee.
nib
u r right nib i did hear that the mayor got the idea when he was somewhere even the revitalization committee knows
Who cares at this point WHOSE idea it was? It was a great one. Wellsville has something that no other community in the world has: floodwall murals. isn't that enough to make everyone proud of the town? Why does everything have to be a contest over who did what?
to tired of the crap it is about time the MAYOR gets credit for some of the good he does instead of the bullshit. Joe Surace is a good man he doesnt lie about his residence he does say he lives in town instead saying he lives out of town like some people just for taxes. He knows there are alot of good people here in Wellsville and for those people he wants to make this town a great place to live. If he gets mad at people and yells at them maybe there was a good reason. I have known Joe for many years and if he is mad there is a reason, he just doesn't fly off the handle for anything maybe he is tired of all the people are putting him down....
The floodwall project was the idea of Connie C. She brought it back to the village with her. The mayor claimed it with a colorful story. Jimmy sold a lot of panels. Nuff Said
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