We survived a roller coaster month of March weather-wise, and officially ‘spring has sprung’.
This “Commissioner Update” is dated April 1st and it is not an ‘April Fool’. However, I would suggest you be on your guard today!
Re-Elect Tim Bubb Commissioner Campaign Note…
On Thursday, April 26th a group of local public officials are hosting a kick-off reception for my 2012 Campaign seeking Re-Election as your County Commissioner.
The location will be The Grill Works on South Second Street in downtown Newark from 4:30 to 6:30pm.
You are cordially invited to this ‘after work’ fundraiser and campaign event. The cost is $20 per person and $30 per couple. There will be hors d’oeuvres and beverages.
Regarding the Primary Election in March…
On behalf the Licking Park District Board thanks for your support of their Levy for Parks, Paths and Trails. This five-year levy will allow the Park 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
Also, our community benefits from your continued support of the levy for the Licking County Board of Developmental Disabilities. The levy renewal means continuation of the current funding for the Board of DD, which serves more than 1,400 Licking County residents and their families annually.
Economic Development…
* The new Grow Licking County Community Improvement Corporation ‘CIC’ has hired its new Economic Development Director. Beginning April 9th Dan Evers will begin his new duties and will be housed at the County Chamber of Commerce Office. Evers is a Certified Economic Development Professional with considerable experience at the township and county level.
* Positive economic news as Johnstown’s Tech International continues to expand and add jobs. This long time Johnstown area business has in the past year been expanding into an existing building in the Village Industrial Park, and recently announced some 29-jobs will be created. Also known as Johnstown Technical Rubber, the expansion will mean an additional $900-thousand in yearly payroll. The company is a world leader in tire repair and wheel services. This positive growth was spurred by local support and a 35-percent State Job Creation Tax Credit.
Other Items in the News…
* A deluge of rain, over 4-inches in a short period of time, caused flash flooding in the Village of Hebron two weeks ago. Clean-up and repairs are continuing and disaster assistance fund has been set-up at the Park National Bank in Hebron for anyone who would like to help. The good news was there were no injuries.
Assistance came to the Village from many directions and I would just like to recognize the County Government assistance. Homeland Security and Emergency Management, the CERT Volunteers, County Sheriff and Engineers Offices, Health Department and County Transit were among the many who responded to the scene. Also, County Planning and Building Code will be assisting by waiving inspection fees to assist residents and businesses in their continued recovery efforts.
* At the annual Licking County Red Cross Heroes’ Breakfast in celebration of their tenth anniversary of the event, they honored ten individuals who have had a positive major impact on the community over the past ten years. I was honored to be recognized as one of those ten individuals at the event held in mid March.
Also honored by the Red Cross were Eschol Curl, Dan Delawder, Cheri Hottinger, Paddy Kutz, Dr. Lew Mollica, Rob Montagnese, Kay Murphy, Dr. Pat Scarpitti and Sarah Wallace.
* At the Annual Farmer’s Share Breakfast three members of the local Ag Community were honored…
Inducted into the Licking County Agricultural Hall of Fame were William Gilmore and Jim Heimerl.
Gilmore was honored posthumously for his contributions to and innovations in farming in the late 19th and 20th centuries. He was remembered as the national champion corn grower in 1922, and a champion breeder of draft horses that were sold worldwide.
Heimerl was recognized for his more recent innovations in farming. He and his family raise over 300-thousand hogs annually on their 26-hundred acre farm. Jim has been recognized as a state and national winner of the Pork Environmental Stewardship Award.
In addition, Jim Kiracofe, the County Soil and Water Conservation District program administrator, was recognized for recently receiving the 2012 Ohio Conservation District Professional Award.
Orange Barrel Update…
* State Route 16 – the Newark Expressway…Upgrades to lanes and ramp restrictions. Congestion continues with one lane open to traffic both eastbound and westbound between Hudson and O’Bannon Avenues. The entrance and exit ramps at Cedar Street are restricted to one lane, and there will be a 10-day closure at the interchange in June (final date not determined).
* Work continues on the State Route 79 Hebron Road area of Heath. The project will lead to a center divider, a wider road and relocated utility lines. Next week expect on-going overnight lane closures. There will be congestion as traffic is reduced to one-lane and the overnight water line work will be underway.
* On U.S. 62 outside the Village of Johnstown a guardrail upgrade is underway. The project resumes this Monday from 7:00am till 5:00pm on Route 62 between the Franklin/Licking and Licking /Knox County lines. Traffic will be maintained.
* On Interstate 70 near Buckeye Lake Village expect congestion as the pavements are improved. Starting this Monday pavement work will close lanes and ramps for limited periods of time. Motorists should expect delays in the work zone areas.
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
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Friday, March 2, 2012
MARCH 2012 COMMISSIONER TIM BUBB UPDATE
This mild winter of 2011-12 is just about behind us and spring just officially just 20-days away.
Spring is a time of renewal with the landscape ready to explode with color in the days ahead, and the arrival of spring training and March Madness means that longer days and better weather are just ahead!
As your County Commissioner I can report that our Board continues to perform at a high level of achievement. We will begin March with a balanced budget for the year featuring reduced spending in many areas, and a continued emphasis on consolidation and coordination of government.
ELECTION DAY IS NEXT WEEK
Early voting is just about complete and the ‘Super Tuesday Primary Election Day’ is next Tuesday’s March 6th Ohio Primary.
For voting information call the Board of Elections Office at 740-670-5080 or visit the Licking County website lcounty.com and click on Board of Elections under the Administration tab.
Regarding The Election I Would Offer These Suggestions…
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.
Business Development Trip to Washington D. C. Successful - Continuing to Build Port Authority and Community Support
This past Wednesday, February 29th Commissioner Tim Bubb joined a delegation of business leaders and public officials in a ‘business development’ trip to the nation’s capital on behalf of the Newark-Heath-Licking County Port Authority. This purpose of the trip was to continue to build and rally the Ohio Legislative Delegation on behalf of retaining and recruiting new jobs, especially aerospace opportunities, for the former Air Force Base site in Heath.
Targeted visits included both of Ohio’s Senators Sherrod Brown and Rob Portman, and their staffs. Also, Congressmen Bob Gibbs, Pat Tiberi and Steve Stivers, and the Chief of Staff, Mick Kreiger, for House Speaker John Boehner.
In addition, Commissioner Bubb and County Engineer Bill Lozier were joined by Heath Mayor Mark Johns in visits with Director Grande Lum at the Small Business Administration’s HUBZone Program, and at the White House with Director David Agnew who coordinates with the nation’s cities and counties for the Administration. Both sessions were productive in looking at ways to qualify the Port Authority as a HUBZone site and bring this additional economic development to Licking County. Commissioner Bubb, Engineer Lozier and Mayor Johns also discussed several other development issues critical to Licking County and Central Ohio with the Federal Administration.
This 2012 Port Authority Delegation included... Heath Mayor Mark Johns, Mike Cadenhead of Bionetics, Al Bonacci of Goodrich, Joy Padgett Central Ohio Technical College, Bill Wright of the Port Authority, Bart Weiler of the Port Authority Board, Bill Lozier
Licking County Engineer, Rick Platt Port Authority Director, Tim Bubb Licking County Commissioner, Charles Dutch of The Boeing Company.
“Striking The Right Balance” – An Informative Update from Director John Fisher on his Agency – the Licking County Department of Job and Family Services
It has been said that the secret to success is finding balance in life. That mantra has always held true at Licking County Job & Family Services—and especially in fiscal year 2011.
During this past year, the Agency has worked diligently to strike a balance between effectively serving community members in need, and being as efficient as possible with the hard-earned dollars of the taxpayers who support our organization.
One way we have achieved this balance is by actively embracing innovation and technology. Advances such as upgrading our phone systems and adopting online Public Assistance applications have made it easier for residents in need to access our services. In fact, since implementing the phone upgrades, we have decreased callers’ wait time by almost half and reduced the number of abandoned calls by more than half. At the same time, we have made it more cost effective for the Agency to provide struggling families and individuals with food assistance, access to medical care, transportation, and other types of help when they need it most.
In making these changes, the Agency has been conscious of the balance between technology and a personal touch. Our mission is first and foremost to provide a helping hand to meet basic needs during tough times while assuring the safety and welfare of some of our most vulnerable citizens, including children, the elderly, and the disabled. While taking advantage of the efficiencies of technology, we make every effort to continue to be a source of compassion, caring, and hope for a better tomorrow.
To that end, we placed a strong emphasis on helping individuals obtain and maintain employment during FY2011. The majority of the people we serve do work; however, many of them are underemployed. To support their families, these workers may need more hours, a better salary, or benefits. Licking County JFS provides the resources to help them reach these goals and achieve a greater sense of balance in their own lives.
As always, in everything we do, the Agency is committed to meeting or surpassing federal and state performance goals. We have always been a top-performing county, and we are proud to report that we consistently exceed overall state averages in performance in nearly every area.
As we look forward, Licking County JFS will continue to seek innovative ways to improve services to community members, stretch taxpayers’ dollars further, and remain a source of compassionate care for friends and neighbors in need. Ultimately, we will strive to find the balance that works best for every Licking Countian.
Orange Barrel Update…
Preliminary work has begun on the Hopewell Drive bridge, located between State Route 79 and State Route 13, in the City of Heath, Licking County.
Complete General Construction Co. is the contractor for this $977,000.00 bridge rehabilitation project. This preliminary work will not impact traffic, as two lanes of traffic will be maintained during this six week period.
The bridge is expected to close beginning June 11 through this October 15, weather permitting. The posted detour will be via State Route 13, Irving Wick Drive, and State Route 79, adding approximately five miles to a motorist’s commute.
* Factoid – According to the County Engineer the certified length of County owned and maintained roads is 421.582 miles!
County Green Energy Phase I over halfway done and Energy II About to Begin
Last fall the County, in cooperation with the Ohio Air Quality Development Authority (OAQDA) began a major upgrade of a dozen County owned facilities targeting HVAC Systems and a variety of other upgrades to save energy, bring the building’s systems up to date, and save money. In fact the energy savings, and deferred capital costs and maintenance will pay for most of $4.7-million in improvements over the next decade.
The program is going so well, beginning on March 8th, the County will issue an RFP for County Energy Phase II with the intent of upgrading and making more efficient the County’s remaining 14 buildings with work to be accomplished in 2012 and 2013, again in cooperation with OAQDA.
In addition to benefiting the County’s inventory of buildings (large and small), these projects also benefit our local economy. Most of the workers and subcontractors are from Licking County, and many of the materials are manufactured locally. Below is a photo of boxes of insulated pipe wrap being staged for use in the upgrades of the downtown County Administration Building – made locally at the Owens Corning Fiberglas Plant in Newark.
Licking and Muskingum Counties Join Hands To Bring Water to the Small Village of Gratiot...
This past week a contract was signed between Licking and Muskingum Counties to jointly solve the issue of bringing clean/safe drinking water to the small Village of Gratiot. The Village sits on the line between the two counties. The agreement will allow Muskingum County to bring nearby water service into Licking County to serve the Village’s residents and businesses. This cooperative agreement will solve the long standing problem of not having a quality water utility service for the community, and is considered a Win – Win. Licking County Water Wastewater Direct or Kevin Eby was instrumental in helping make this happen.
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
Spring is a time of renewal with the landscape ready to explode with color in the days ahead, and the arrival of spring training and March Madness means that longer days and better weather are just ahead!
As your County Commissioner I can report that our Board continues to perform at a high level of achievement. We will begin March with a balanced budget for the year featuring reduced spending in many areas, and a continued emphasis on consolidation and coordination of government.
ELECTION DAY IS NEXT WEEK
Early voting is just about complete and the ‘Super Tuesday Primary Election Day’ is next Tuesday’s March 6th Ohio Primary.
For voting information call the Board of Elections Office at 740-670-5080 or visit the Licking County website lcounty.com and click on Board of Elections under the Administration tab.
Regarding The Election I Would Offer These Suggestions…
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.
Business Development Trip to Washington D. C. Successful - Continuing to Build Port Authority and Community Support
This past Wednesday, February 29th Commissioner Tim Bubb joined a delegation of business leaders and public officials in a ‘business development’ trip to the nation’s capital on behalf of the Newark-Heath-Licking County Port Authority. This purpose of the trip was to continue to build and rally the Ohio Legislative Delegation on behalf of retaining and recruiting new jobs, especially aerospace opportunities, for the former Air Force Base site in Heath.
Targeted visits included both of Ohio’s Senators Sherrod Brown and Rob Portman, and their staffs. Also, Congressmen Bob Gibbs, Pat Tiberi and Steve Stivers, and the Chief of Staff, Mick Kreiger, for House Speaker John Boehner.
In addition, Commissioner Bubb and County Engineer Bill Lozier were joined by Heath Mayor Mark Johns in visits with Director Grande Lum at the Small Business Administration’s HUBZone Program, and at the White House with Director David Agnew who coordinates with the nation’s cities and counties for the Administration. Both sessions were productive in looking at ways to qualify the Port Authority as a HUBZone site and bring this additional economic development to Licking County. Commissioner Bubb, Engineer Lozier and Mayor Johns also discussed several other development issues critical to Licking County and Central Ohio with the Federal Administration.
This 2012 Port Authority Delegation included... Heath Mayor Mark Johns, Mike Cadenhead of Bionetics, Al Bonacci of Goodrich, Joy Padgett Central Ohio Technical College, Bill Wright of the Port Authority, Bart Weiler of the Port Authority Board, Bill Lozier
Licking County Engineer, Rick Platt Port Authority Director, Tim Bubb Licking County Commissioner, Charles Dutch of The Boeing Company.
“Striking The Right Balance” – An Informative Update from Director John Fisher on his Agency – the Licking County Department of Job and Family Services
It has been said that the secret to success is finding balance in life. That mantra has always held true at Licking County Job & Family Services—and especially in fiscal year 2011.
During this past year, the Agency has worked diligently to strike a balance between effectively serving community members in need, and being as efficient as possible with the hard-earned dollars of the taxpayers who support our organization.
One way we have achieved this balance is by actively embracing innovation and technology. Advances such as upgrading our phone systems and adopting online Public Assistance applications have made it easier for residents in need to access our services. In fact, since implementing the phone upgrades, we have decreased callers’ wait time by almost half and reduced the number of abandoned calls by more than half. At the same time, we have made it more cost effective for the Agency to provide struggling families and individuals with food assistance, access to medical care, transportation, and other types of help when they need it most.
In making these changes, the Agency has been conscious of the balance between technology and a personal touch. Our mission is first and foremost to provide a helping hand to meet basic needs during tough times while assuring the safety and welfare of some of our most vulnerable citizens, including children, the elderly, and the disabled. While taking advantage of the efficiencies of technology, we make every effort to continue to be a source of compassion, caring, and hope for a better tomorrow.
To that end, we placed a strong emphasis on helping individuals obtain and maintain employment during FY2011. The majority of the people we serve do work; however, many of them are underemployed. To support their families, these workers may need more hours, a better salary, or benefits. Licking County JFS provides the resources to help them reach these goals and achieve a greater sense of balance in their own lives.
As always, in everything we do, the Agency is committed to meeting or surpassing federal and state performance goals. We have always been a top-performing county, and we are proud to report that we consistently exceed overall state averages in performance in nearly every area.
As we look forward, Licking County JFS will continue to seek innovative ways to improve services to community members, stretch taxpayers’ dollars further, and remain a source of compassionate care for friends and neighbors in need. Ultimately, we will strive to find the balance that works best for every Licking Countian.
Orange Barrel Update…
Preliminary work has begun on the Hopewell Drive bridge, located between State Route 79 and State Route 13, in the City of Heath, Licking County.
Complete General Construction Co. is the contractor for this $977,000.00 bridge rehabilitation project. This preliminary work will not impact traffic, as two lanes of traffic will be maintained during this six week period.
The bridge is expected to close beginning June 11 through this October 15, weather permitting. The posted detour will be via State Route 13, Irving Wick Drive, and State Route 79, adding approximately five miles to a motorist’s commute.
* Factoid – According to the County Engineer the certified length of County owned and maintained roads is 421.582 miles!
County Green Energy Phase I over halfway done and Energy II About to Begin
Last fall the County, in cooperation with the Ohio Air Quality Development Authority (OAQDA) began a major upgrade of a dozen County owned facilities targeting HVAC Systems and a variety of other upgrades to save energy, bring the building’s systems up to date, and save money. In fact the energy savings, and deferred capital costs and maintenance will pay for most of $4.7-million in improvements over the next decade.
The program is going so well, beginning on March 8th, the County will issue an RFP for County Energy Phase II with the intent of upgrading and making more efficient the County’s remaining 14 buildings with work to be accomplished in 2012 and 2013, again in cooperation with OAQDA.
In addition to benefiting the County’s inventory of buildings (large and small), these projects also benefit our local economy. Most of the workers and subcontractors are from Licking County, and many of the materials are manufactured locally. Below is a photo of boxes of insulated pipe wrap being staged for use in the upgrades of the downtown County Administration Building – made locally at the Owens Corning Fiberglas Plant in Newark.
Licking and Muskingum Counties Join Hands To Bring Water to the Small Village of Gratiot...
This past week a contract was signed between Licking and Muskingum Counties to jointly solve the issue of bringing clean/safe drinking water to the small Village of Gratiot. The Village sits on the line between the two counties. The agreement will allow Muskingum County to bring nearby water service into Licking County to serve the Village’s residents and businesses. This cooperative agreement will solve the long standing problem of not having a quality water utility service for the community, and is considered a Win – Win. Licking County Water Wastewater Direct or Kevin Eby was instrumental in helping make this happen.
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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