Union County received record investment income in 2023, earning more than twice what it earned in the same timeframe the year prior. For the first investment advisory committee update for 2024 Wednesday, Treasurer Andrew Smarra told the commissioners that the county earned $4.5 million in total interest last year. He said regardless of what is going on in the rest of the country, Union County and central Ohio are in a good place. “For the year (2023), we generated a little more than $4.5 million in total interest income,” he said. “$4.5 million is more than this county has ever…
Author: Michael Williamson
Samsung officials submitted the Richwood solar application in January, beginning the official process for the project to be reviewed by the Ohio Power Siting Board. The company is looking to put a 250-megawatt site like the one pictured above across nearly 1,600 acres in Leesburg, Claibourne and Taylor townships. Officials said the application will likely take at least 60 days from Jan. 23 to get a response. (Photo submitted) — The Samsung Richwood Solar project application has been officially submitted to the state, paving the way for the first hearing later this year. Samsung submitted the application to the…
The fate of the Richwood Opera House remains undecided but some residents said a future without the 133-year-old building seems more and more likely. While no actions were taken following a town hall meeting to discuss the building last week, the sentiment in the air seemed to favor clearing the property to make room for something else. About a dozen or more community members, including Opera House Revitalization Committee members, residents and some members of council, gathered at the village offices to share thoughts. Those who spoke expressed mixed feelings about the possibility of demolishing the structure but nearly every…
The Union County Commissioners approved an agreement with the sheriff’s office for the purchase of 10 Flock cameras like the one shown above. Billed as license plate readers, the cameras will be installed at various points around the county and allow the sheriff’s office join a camera network that includes the City of Marysville. (Photo submitted) — The Union County Sheriff’s Office is joining other law enforcement agencies around Ohio, including the City of Marysville, in purchasing a new camera system. County commissioners recently approved an agreement between the sheriff’s office and the Flock Group, Inc., which will eventually see…
The Mitchell-Dewitt roundabout project finally has a contractor. After a few setbacks, including an unsuccessful first bid last year, the Union County Commissioners awarded a bidder for the project Wednesday morning. The intersection, at Mitchell-Dewitt Road and Industrial Parkway in Jerome Township, has been the topic of discussion for area officials and residents for several years. The award went to Trucco Construction, out of Delaware, for a bid amount of $3.7 million, an amount slightly higher than county officials were hoping for. The bid was one of two that came into the county on Dec. 20 but recommendations for the…
Richwood officials approved a contract for the new water treatment plant, an important first step in bringing the project forward. At the regular village council meeting Monday evening, council voted to approve the tentative bid award contingent upon a successful approval of Ohio EPA loan financing. The bid award went to Shinn Brothers Inc., a contractor out of Celina, for $4.6 million. Craig Knapke, the project manager with Access Engineering, told council that the bid was the only one that came in and actually came in higher than the estimate. “The bid was $4,670,000. It was over the estimate of…
The two rest areas on U.S. 33 in Union County are now closed in both directions and will be getting completely replaced this year. Earlier this month, the Ohio Department of Transportation closed both stops along U.S. 33, southeast of Marysville, as part of work ODOT is doing on rest areas around the state. Hannah Salem, the public information officer for ODOT District 6, said the project will involve a demolition and complete replacement of the facilities. “Crews are going to demolish those existing buildings and update them with new ones, making it a much more modern experience,” she said.…
Residents along Mill Creek still have concerns over proposed temporary and permanent easements associated with the logjam removal project. Union County officials said there is no need for concern, but there will be more opportunities for discussion at the next hearing tentatively slated for February. (Journal-Tribune photo by Kevin Behrens) — Questions still linger regarding easements related to the Mill Creek logjam project but the Union County Commissioners said residents shouldn’t worry. At the regular meeting of the board earlier this week, Paris Township Trustee Steve Westlake spoke on behalf of landowners, sharing concerns about the permanent or temporary easements…
Lt. Rich Crabtree and school resource officer Dep. Shawn Dyer of the Union County Sheriff’s Office demonstrate the Hidden in Plain Sight program to North Union teachers and staff last week. The program educates teachers on ways to spot drug-related items and other dangerous materials easily overlooked in the schools. (Photo submitted) — North Union officials are continuing their work with local law enforcement on how to handle vaping and other drug related issues in the schools. At the first board of education meeting for 2024 Saturday morning, Superintendent Justin Ufferman discussed the recent Hidden in Plain Sight program, presented…
Construction of the Acciona solar project is nearing completion and officials said it should be finished by spring. Union County Administrator Bill Narducci updated the commissioners Wednesday on the company’s Union Solar project, which began construction more than a year ago. Narducci said he recently met with Brian Dunnebeck, development manager with Acciona, who said the project is over 90% complete as of the start of the year. “The update that he provided shows they’re, overall, about 92% complete with construction of the project and the majority of that, 80%, is testing and commissioning,” he said. “According to him, modules…
I keep seeing news stories about the three university presidents and the fallout from their testimony on antisemitism last month. The continuous arguing in the news from each side of the political aisle only adds to the unhelpful and increasingly deafening cultural noise. In early December, the presidents of Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) testified before the House Education and Workforce Committee regarding the handling of antisemitism on each of the institutions’ campuses. Rep. Elise Stefanik, of New York, grilled the panel of presidents, calling on them to publicly condemn acts of…
Myron Mast, a trustee in Darby Township in Madison County, told the Jonathan Alder school board Monday that he has concerns over the speed and scope of development in his township. Much of his concern centers on land east of Plain City, along Route 161, shown here crossing all four colored sections. Mast said the colored areas represent areas of interest for developers, noting a possible interest in a 500-unit apartment complex in the yellow area between Iams Road on the left and the Franklin County border on the right. No actual plans or decisions have been made. (Graphic submitted)…
Village solicitor, Julie Spain, shown at right, swears in Richwood Village Council members at the first meeting of 2024, Monday. All three members were voted back in during the November election. Members are, from left: Reddy Brown, council member; Don Ridgeway, member and Scott Jerew, mayor. (Journal-Tribune photo by Michael Williamson) — The Richwood Police Department is bumping its pay to stay competitive with neighboring agencies. At the Monday regular meeting, council voted to approve pay increases for the police department across the board. Council met in executive session early in the meeting to discuss compensation before returning to regular…
Fairbanks is returning to the ballot this year, a second attempt to pass its proposed tax levy. In December, the board of education voted to put the combination property and income tax levy back on the ballot this spring after the measure failed in November. Following Election Day, board members stressed the importance of the levy’s passage at the regular board meeting. “I personally think it’s important we put this back on,” President Derek Nicol said in November. “I just know we need these facilities as our student roster continues to grow.” Superintendent Adham Schirg said going back on the…
After an unsuccessful first bid opening, Union County has now received some numbers for a roundabout project in Jerome Township. County commissioners heard bids at the board’s regular meeting last week for the project that would install a roundabout at the intersection of Mitchell-Dewitt Road and Industrial Parkway. The intersection has been identified as a problem intersection having been the site of a number of injury crashes and fatalities and has been at the top of the county’s priority list for a while. Officials put the project to bid earlier this year and were surprised to receive no response from…