Thanks for taking time to read this Commissioner Update – I have several positive stories to relate and I appreciate you taking time to stay abreast of what is happening in Licking County.
* Just a quick business note – tomorrow is the Federal and State observance of Columbus Day. While there will be no mail delivery and many government offices are closed – please note that Licking County Government will be open for business on Monday, October 10th. It is a tradition that County employees opted to take the day after Thanksgiving as a holiday, and work on Columbus Day!
Development Notes – Bringing Jobs to Licking County…
* The long awaited three mile western Licking County Job Ready Site road project was officially dedicated on September 16t. It is both open and now ready to serve new businesses.
At the dedication ceremony I was honored to join JobsOhio President Mark Kvamme (representing Governor Kasich), Congressman Pat Tiberi, and a host of state and local development and government officials. This new development road connects Broad Street in Pataskala to the National Road (US 40) in Etna Township at a cost of just over $6-million. The 300-plus acre Job Ready Site is one of the best potential mega-manufacturing sites in the Midwest, with several hundred acres in the corridor also, now primed for growth and job creation!
Commissioners Mastermind Upgrades in Systems for a Dozen County Buildings Featuring Green Energy Conservation Improvements that Pay for Themselves!
In cooperation with the Ohio Air Quality Development Authority your County Commissioners will retrofit twelve County Buildings with various energy efficiency and conservation systems following authorization of $4.7-million in special financing. The work will be divided into two projects, to be completed by Johnson Controls and Energy Systems Group, respectively. The work begins this month and will take about a year to complete.
Johnson Controls was awarded $3.4-million to retrofit seven Licking County government facilities and a waste water treatment plant, including the Administration Building, Agriculture Building, Animal Shelter, Courthouse, Domestic Courts Building, Highway Department/County Engineer Building and Transit Building, along with the Buckeye Lake Waste Water Treatment Plant.
The various energy conservation measures at the facilities include lighting retrofits and occupancy sensor installation; water conservation; building envelope and insulation improvements; piping insulation; roof and window replacements; heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) renovations and building controls systems upgrades.
Energy Services Group was awarded just over $1.3-million to retrofit four Licking County government facilities, including the Justice Center, Child Support Enforcement Agency, Price Road Annex and the Job & Family Services Building. The various energy conservation measures at the facilities include lighting upgrades, direct digital control HVAC systems, hot water boilers, occupancy sensors, vending machine controls and furnace tune-ups.
“Licking County is among the very first counties in Ohio to take advantage of OAQDA financing for air quality improvement and energy conservation projects for county government facilities. This is a great ‘win-win’ for everyone involved, especially the taxpayers, who will realize well over $300,000 in combined annual savings from these two projects,” said Todd Nein, OAQDA interim executive director.
Notes from the Ag Community…
* Early voting is underway and I would urge you to support the Licking Soil & Water Conservation District’s one-tenth mill levy in this General Election. Licking SWCD is asking for this small levy to make up for state and local budget cuts. Your Commissioners support this local excellent SWCD Program and this levy, in the interest of protecting our local environment and preserving our natural heritage for decades to come. For details visit the Licking SWCD web site at … www.SWCDFriends.org .
* Congratulations to Howard Siegrist on his retirement as Extension Educator and Agriculture & Natural Resources and County Director for OSU Extension. Howard served 25-years with Extension and 42-years in public service.
An event paying tribute to Howard was held for Friday, September 23rd at Wilson’s Garden Center east of Newark. Some 200 family and friends were in attendance. On behalf of Licking County and the Board of Commissioners I presented Howard with a Proclamation and a replica of the official County Bell, that was cast for the 2003 State Bicentennial.
Concluding With Some Headlines…
*The County Planning Commission and County Commissioners combined in the hiring, a week ago, of Jerry Newton to become our new Planning Director. Newton is relocating here from North Carolina and will begin October 27th.
* This past Saturday I was honored to join U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown and several community leaders in commemorating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Newark Air Force Base in Heath, and the 15th anniversary of the privatization in place of this aerospace industrial site. It is now known as the Central Ohio Aerospace & Technology Center and is run by the Licking County, Newark, and Heath Port Authority.
* A week ago the Licking County Building Code Department held its 2nd Annual Meeting at the Davis Shai House in Heath. Representatives of the builder community, townships, villages, and zoning officials were on hand to hear Jack Pryor and Troy Warnock, of the Department relate their continued successes.
* Now underway is a bridge replacement on and a repaving of Brownsville Road in eastern Licking County. Coordinated by County Engineer Bill Lozier, total funding for the project is $728-thousand, with $573-thousand of that in State Public Works funding and a local share of $155-thousand.
* Can you believe it – only 11-weeks until Christmas!!! For the 63rd consecutive year the Licking County Courthouse Lighting Committee is conducting a community wide fundraising effort to make certain the local landmark and Courthouse Square are decorated for the holiday season. Your support is needed to raise some $19-thousand for the project. Tax-deductible contributions may be sent to … The Courthouse Lighting Committee, P O Box 292, Newark, Ohio 43055. If successful the effort will result in the holiday lighting ceremony on Friday, November 25th.
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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