First up:
Voters in Norwich Township and Hilliard approved a 4.9-mill fire levy at the polls March 19.
Appearing as Issue 15 on the ballot, the new permanent fire levy will increase the property tax by $172 annually per $100,000 property evaluation, according to the Franklin County Auditor’s Office.
According to final unofficial results from the Franklin County Board of Elections, voters approved the fire levy with 4,412 votes (61%) in favor of the ballot issue while 2,804 votes (39%) were cast against it.
The new permanent levy will generate $9.2 million annually.
The additional revenue is to be used to add up to 24 additional firefighters and to construct and equip Station 84, a new station to be constructed on the east side of Alton Darby Road, south of Davis Road, Norwich Fire Chief David Baird previously said.
It is to be built on 3.5 acres purchased from the City of Hilliard for $1 and within the city’s 125-acre campus for athletic fields and a 105,000-square foot, $106.3 million Recreation and Wellness Campus set to open in mid-2025.
At about 1,650 square feet, it will be comparable in size with the township’s other stations, Baird said.
Norwich Township staffs and equips three stations- Station 81 at 5181 Northwest Parkway, adjacent to the Franklin County Fairgrounds; Station 82, at 2491 Walker Road, in Brown Township; and Station 83 at 4283 Davidson Road.
Leadership Change
The Hilliard Area Chamber of Commerce will welcome a new president and CEO April 15th when Courtney Smyser succeeds Libby Gierach, who has served in the role since 2000 and has worked at the chamber since 1990.
Smyser is a 2001 graduate of Hilliard Davidson High School has a bachelor’s degree in recreation management from Ohio University, and is the daughter of Gierach.
After working in Arizona and in Cleveland, Ohio, Smyser returned to Hilliard in January 2023 when her husband, Rob, took a job as general manager of Heritage Golf Club.
Smyser was event coordinator for the Hilliard Area Chamber of Commerce and interviewed in December, with candidates outside the Chamber, with its board of directors when Gierach announced her intent to retire.
Gierach said she is proud of the Chamber’s accomplishments during the past 20 years.
“Being a part of the growth of the business community with the Chamber is a source of immense pride. Many programs were developed over the years such as Leadership Hilliard and the Taste of Hilliard,” which is to be rebranded as Taste of the Town, Gierach said.
“The Chamber will be in capable hands as Corky takes over leadership. It was a coincidence that she and her family were moving to Hilliard and there was an (initial) position open at the Chamber,” allowing her to gain key knowledge and experience, Gierach said.
While Hilliard has grown during her absence, Smyser said she is looking forward to continuing the mission of the Chamber.
“I loved growing up in Hilliard and am excited to be back and have the opportunity to raise my own children here,” Smyser said.
Smyser, 40, and her husband, Rob, have a 12-year-old daughter, Eliza, and a 7-year-old son, Cooper.
Prior to coming back to Hilliard, Smyser was events manager for Construction Employers Association, in Brooklyn Heights, scheduling professional-development classes, safety training, social activities and other events for union construction companies in northeastern Ohio.
From 2007-2017, Smyser was tournament coordinator for the Arizona Golf Association, coordinating volunteers, managing in-state tournaments, and member benefits for the more than 20,000 members of the United States Golf Association (USGA).
After taking a job last year at the Hilliard Area Chamber of Commerce, Smyser said she enjoyed working alongside her mother, and especially the opportunity to return to Hilliard.
“I have learned from her and it is good to know she is only a phone call away, too,” said Smyser, who looks forward to building on the foundation her mother built as president and CEO for more than two decades.
“The opportunity to serve as President and CEO presents a unique chance to enhance the development of our local business community. I look forward to working closely with our members, fostering connections, forging partnerships, and advocating for policies that promote a positive business climate,” Smyser said.
Jill Gerschutz, chair of the Hilliard Area Chamber Commerce, said the chamber made the decision to hire Smyser “after careful consideration.”
“(Smyser) brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise (to the role of president and CEO) from her 20-plus years of member-based management experience. We look forward to watching the Chamber progress with new and innovative opportunities for our membership,” Gerschutz said.