Greetings! It is turning out to be one of the mildest Ohio winters in many years – so enjoy! At the County the money we save not plowing and salting, will be available for paving and bridge repair this summer. So let’s keep it going.
February is the winter transition month as we start to see the days get longer, and this week we celebration Groundhog Day.
Groundhog Day is a holiday celebrated on February 2nd. According to folklore, if it is cloudy when a groundhog emerges from its burrow on this day, it will leave the burrow, signifying that winter-like weather will soon end. If it is sunny, the groundhog will supposedly see its shadow and retreat back into its burrow, and the winter weather will continue for six more weeks.
The Greater Licking County Chamber of Commerce has traditionally hosted a major local meeting on or around Groundhog Day, in the hope the groundhog will not only predict an early spring, but also positive economic news for the year.
I am hoping for both, and will see many of you this Friday morning
(February 3rd) at the Groundhog Breakfast at the Newark Campus!
Election Season Has Arrived …
Believe it or not it is time to begin early in-person voting for the 2012 ‘Super Tuesday’, March 6th Ohio Primary.
Early voting in-person at the County Board of Elections (BOE) began January 31st and continues until Friday, March 2nd at 6:00pm. * The Board of Elections is not conducting early voting either at night or on weekends. You can vote in-person at the BOE Office, in the County Administration Building at 20 South Second Street in Newark, weekdays between 8:00am and 4:30pm.
For further voting information call the BOE Office at 740-670-5080 or visit the Licking County website lcounty.com and click on Board of Elections under the Administration tab.
Regarding Super Tuesday …
Recommend voting for the re-election of County Commissioner Brad Feightner. Commissioner Feightner, now completing his first term, is a thoughtful and responsive Commissioner who always puts ‘People before Politics’. Feightner brings new ideas and fair consideration to the issues the Commissioners face each day and he has earned your support and vote for a second term.
Recommend voting YES for the Licking Park District’s 0.25-mill Levy for Parks, Paths and Trails. This five-year levy will allow the Parks District to manage and maintain 24-miles of community bike paths, over 1,600 acres of parks and nature reserves, and 25-miles of recreation trails. This is a quality of life issue that affects all residents of the County. In addition these parks, paths and trails contribute to our community’s economic growth by increasing appeal for business development and tourism, as well as enhancing property values.
Recommend voting YES for the renewal of the five‐year, 1‐mill levy for the Licking County Board of Developmental Disabilities. This levy will renew the current funding for the Board of DD, which serves more than 1,400 Licking County residents and their families annually. A renewal of the March 2012 levy means property owners in Licking County will not see an increase in property taxes to support the County Board of DD. Substantial cuts in state and federal funds since 2002 have made local levy dollars crucial to the Licking County Board of Developmental Disabilities’ ability to serve the needs of county residents and their families.
Combined County/Railroad Effort Eliminates Marne Flood Threat
A neighborhood flash flood threat was eliminated this past fall in Marne, in eastern Licking County, between Newark and Hanover. The County Commissioners, County Engineer, and the Columbus & Ohio River Rail Road Company, combined in a two-phase engineering and construction solution. The work was done in a cost effective fashion, and without an assessment of the residents of the watershed in this Licking Valley region.
Floods in 1990 and again in 1995 were severe enough to receive Presidential Emergency Declarations and led to lawsuits against the Ohio Central railroad, which then leased the line from the State. It was assumed two old undersized railroad culverts were overwhelmed by the volume of water causing the severe neighborhood flooding.
In 1998 a judge ordered the railroad to better maintain the old culverts until they could accomplish a permanent solution to the problem. And an expensive plan was created. However the flood prevention project was not addressed for a number of years for mostly financial reasons. At that time, the railroad company was reluctant to pay its share, as were many of the residents of the watershed who didn’t see the Marne flooding situation as their problem.
However, in 2009 the Ohio Central was purchased by Genesee & Wyoming, a major player in the short line rail business. And Bill Lozier arrived as Deputy County Engineer, with a background in solving drainage problems. Lozier recalculated the dynamics of this flood problem, and proposed a two phase solution with much larger box culverts under the railroad and to the south under Marne Road.
Railroad officials verified the quality of the solution and agreed to pay for their part of the work. This past October Licking County crews replaced the old culverts under Marne Road with a larger prefab box culvert. In December the railroad held up its end of the bargain and replaced their old undersized culverts, along with clearing parts of the stream bank.
On behalf of Commissioners Brad Feightner and Doug Smith, allow me to offer special thank you to the County Engineer's office and the railroad for their cooperation. With a combination of road and bridge funds and railroad company participation, the County was left with minimal expense to complete what was once considered an extraordinarily costly project.
The Marne Ditch flooding solution is now in place, and the need to assess residents for the flood prevention project was avoided. We were pleased to help bring about a reasonable and effective solution to what was a continuing flood threat in the Marne community.
Concluding with Licking County January News Briefs …
The new Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) for Economic Development will hold its organizational meeting Wednesday, February 6th. The Licking County Government, County Chamber of Commerce and Port Authority are the organizers, with a number of others offering financial support.
Last month the Commissioners concluded the purchase of a building at 675 West Church Street in Newark, formerly owned by the local Board of Developmental Disabilities. Over the next two years it will be transitioned into the permanent location for the County’s Records and Archives Department.
The County’s innovative Energy Conservation Plan is well underway with a dozen major public buildings seeing improvements. The $4.7-million in work is essentially paid for with Stimulus dollars, AEP Rebates, and the anticipated twenty percent guaranteed in energy savings. A Phase II Energy Conservation Program to finish retrofitting the County’s buildings is under consideration.
A 1 ½-mile stretch of Woodhaven Road in Monroe Township, between Croton Road and Clover Valley Road, will be improved with Issue I grant money. The widening project is expected to cost $328,000, with the grant covering $237,000. Monroe Township will kick in $25,000 as in kind services and add $65,000 in matching funds. Most of the construction is expected to take place this summer.
Congratulations to Michael Shank and his Shank Racing Team based in the Etna Corporate Park in western Licking County. Cars built by Shank Racing finished first and third in the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona Race on Sunday. This is a great example of a growing local business making a national name for themselves.
Best Wishes to another growing local business ArmorSource after a difficult month of January. The staff mourned the death of co-owner and CEO Larry Dickson, who died January 15th. Later in the month the firm learned it won the right to manufacturer 11-thousand ballistic helmets for the Italian Army and some 260-thousand for the U.S. Government.
Missouri based Air Evac Lifeteam announced its arrival in Licking County with a locally based medical helicopter. Its base will be in Newton Township at the fire station in Saint Louisville. This is economic development with 18-jobs created, and the potential to save lives in the months and years ahead.
Licking County Government suffered the loss of a highway worker in early January. Troy Murphy lost his life in a tree cutting accident in Granville Township, on a project to make a county road safer. Sympathy continues to go to the family and the men Troy worked with, as they work to get past this unforeseen tragedy.
Also, in January Licking County lost two great friends. Former Pataskala Bruce Baird and longtime owner of the WCLT Radio stations Bob Pricer both passed away. Our condolences continue to go out to their families and many friends. Both are greatly missed.
Feel free to forward this e-mail in any direction you would like, and let me know the e-mail address of anyone who would like to be included on my Update Newsletter list.
Also, visit my website … TimBubb.com, where I post updates on my personal blog.
I can also be e-mailed at tbubb@lcounty.com, and my desk phone number at the Commissioner’s Office is 740-670-5118.
Best Regards! …
Commissioner Tim Bubb
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