AUGUST 2011 LICKING COUNTY COMMISSIONER UPDATE FROM TIM BUBB

Information on positive things happening in Licking County…


As we enter the ‘dog days of summer’ just a quick reminder that the ‘showcase’ for Licking County – the 153rd Hartford Independent Fair – is next week. Opening Day is this Sunday August 7th and the annual expo in Croton continues through Saturday, August 13th.

Your County Commissioners look forward to greeting you at the Fairgrounds and taking part in a number of events.

While you are at the Fair plan to stop under the grandstand to visit with local government officials. Displays and booths will include…Homeland Security, Veterans, County Health Department, Department of Developmental Disabilities, Child Support Enforcement Agency, County Commissioners, City of Newark, County Auditor, County Treasurer, County Records and Archives, Convention and Visitors Bureau, County Transit, County Coroner, and the County Engineer.

The County Sheriff and many of his deputies will be on the Fairgrounds on patrol each day. Also, be sure to visit the Natural Resources Park at the Fairgrounds, and stop by the Soil and Water Conservation District and County Litter and Recycling booths.



Reminders…

* The annual Pataskala Street Fair runs from Wednesday, August 17th thru Saturday, August 20th. I look forward to seeing you in Pataskala on Main Street those four days, and in the Saturday Rotary Parade.

* On Friday and Saturday, August 12th & 13th the 2nd annual Newark Music and Wings Festival will be held on the Square.

* On Saturday, August 13th the Maennerchor in south Newark will host their annual German-American Ox Roast – always a great time!

*On Thursday, August 18th (4pm-8pm) the Licking County Aging Program will host their annual Ice Cream Social on the lawn at the former Children’s Home in east Newark.


Four Development Notes – Bringing Jobs to Licking County…

* The long awaited western Licking County Job Ready Site road project will be completed this month. Crews with the Savko Company recently completed pavement on the ‘development road’ that connects Broad Street (S R 16) in Pataskala to the National Road (US 40) in Etna Township. The 300-plus acre Job Ready Site will be one of the best potential manufacturing sites in the Midwest, with several hundred acres in the corridor also now primed for growth and job creation. Efforts are underway with the Governor’s Office to coordinate a grand opening event in September.

* The State of Ohio will contribute $1.5-million to a $2.3-million upgrade of the east Newark ‘Ohio Central Railroad’s Yards’. Representative Jay Hottinger says, “This is a logistics and distribution stimulus loan to the Columbus and Ohio River Railroad Company, which is part of the Ohio Central System”. The Railroad Company will add $650-thousand and the Ohio Rail Development Commission will add a $150-thousand grant to the project. The project will add tracks and switching capability to the busy rail yard, and create some 25-full time jobs locally. Some 84 area businesses are served by this short line rail company.


* Local Boeing Manager Charles Dutch has been selected to sit on the Board of Columbus 2020. This critical regional development group will be work closely with the State to promote development.


* The Newark-Heath-Licking County Port Authority last month celebrated the opening of The Horton Building. This new ‘state of the art’ 45-thousand square foot ‘class A office space and clean room facility’ was built on the campus of the former Newark Air Force Base. It is providing new modern quarters for Goodrich Aerospace, one of the major tenants at the Port Authority site.

The facility also offers additional office space and modern clean room options for other aerospace and engineering related tenants. The $5.7-million Horton building, named after the father of the base Wally Horton (who was on hand for the dedication), represents the first of what could be several new high tech buildings on the Port Authority site in Heath.


One Great County Demonstration Garden…


Congratulations to the Licking County Master Gardeners and the OSU Cooperative Extension Service for another GREAT year tending the County Demonstration Garden, which is adjacent to the County Ag Building.

The annual Garden Open House, a couple of weeks ago, drew a large Saturday morning crowd to see the young people learning from the Master Gardeners and sampling the fresh salsas, from the garden, made by the young people. The Open House feature live entertainment, education opportunities, and food and drink.

The Licking County Soil and Water Conservation District was also on hand with their mobile trailer and staff, offering great environmental tips as well.

The group’s mission statement is – Ohio Master Gardener Volunteers are Ohio State University trained volunteers empowered to educate others with timely research based gardening information. * I would urge anyone with a ‘green thumb’ or the desire to learn about gardening to consider the Master Gardener Program.


County Government Note…


Last week longtime Licking County Engineer Tim Lollo announced he is departing the office for retirement on September 30th. Lollo will be concluding a distinguished 31-year career with the County Engineer’s Office.

Lollo recommended and last week the County Commissioners appointed Deputy County Engineer Bill Lozier as Interim County Engineer beginning October 1st.

It will be up to the Republican Central Committee to meet in October and appoint an engineer to complete Lollo’s unexpired term. I join my fellow County Commissioner’s in urging the Central Committee to select Lozier to fill the unexpired term, and we will be supporting him as he seeks election to the County Engineer position in 2012!


Environmental Note…

The emphasis is now on more healthful eating habits and the “Locally Grown Locally Consumed” movement is gaining steam. Each week local growers are selling their produce to hundreds of area residents. Here is a listing of many of those markets…

Granville (740-323-6208) Saturday mornings 8:30 to Noon downtown on North Main Street between Broadway and College Street.

Also in Granville, Tuesday afternoons and early evenings from 3:30 till 6:30 off South Main between Ross’ IGA and Abe’s Body Shop.

Johnstown (740-817-1278) Saturday mornings from 9:00 to Noon on the downtown Johnstown Square.

Newark (740-345-9757) – Friday afternoons from 3:00 to 6:00 off South Third Street downtown and beside McDonalds.

Pataskala (740-964-6100) – Friday afternoons and early evenings from 4:00 till 7:00 downtown on the Veterans Green off State Route 310.

Utica (740-892-3921 ext. 223) – Wednesday afternoons from 2:00 till 5:00 at Ye Olde Mill off State Route 13.

Licking County Health Department (740-349-6535) – Thursday afternoons and early evenings from 3:30 till 6:30 at the County Price Road Annex at 675 Price Road in north Newark.


Orange Barrel Reminder – When traveling check first at the Buckeye Traffic website …www.buckeyetraffic.org - which provides up-to-date information on road conditions, traffic construction and other activity affecting roadways.


Note - a couple of upcoming golf events sponsored by fellow Licking County officials.

This Saturday morning, August 6th Recorder Bryan Long will host his 6th annual Golf Outing at St. Albans Golf Course. The cost is $60 per golfer or $50 to sponsor a hole. Call Greg Crist (740) 258-3055 or Bryan Long (740) 323-6914 for details or to reserve a team.

On Sunday morning, August 21st Commissioner Brad Feightner will host his 5th annual golf outing at Raccoon International Golf Course. The cost is $60 per golfer or $75 to sponsor a hole. E-mail Brad at bfeightner@hotmail.com or call him 740-334-7462 for details or to reserve a team.


Plug for a Special Event by Newark Parks & Recreation…

The Licking County Parking Garage (upper level) will be the location for the “Party on the Roof” the evening of Friday, August 19th from 6:00 till 11:00pm. Benefitting the Downtown Newark Association and the Newark Parks and Recreation Department, the evening will have a football tailgate theme. Vendors will be selling food, soft drinks and adult beverages. Tickets are $10 per person and can be obtained by calling Chuck Jackson at 740-670-7782 or e-mailing him at cjackson@newarkohio.net


Thanks for taking time to read this August 2011 Commissioner Update.

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