Jerome Township officials recently heard an update on the U.S. 42/Industrial Parkway intersection, though they admitted ODOT’s schedule may not be exactly what residents want to hear.
“I don’t think it makes anyone real, real satisfied but at least we know it’s moving,” Jerome Township Administrator Brandon Standley said.
Standley explained that township officials met with Ohio Department of Transportation representatives to discuss and evaluate the intersection – which ODOT controls – about three weeks ago.
An ODOT project will add turn lanes to each leg of the intersection and U.S. 42 will be widened to five lanes between Industrial Parkway and U.S. 33.
Standley said ODOT has been working on the right-of-way acquisition necessary to complete the project, which is what has extended the timeline of its completion.
“This process has taken significant time but is necessary to maintain private property access and to ensure delivery of a quality, long-term solution for this important intersection,” according to a release from ODOT.
The ODOT statement indicates that negotiating with property owners and acquiring the additional right-of-way needed to advance the project is expected to take approximately 18 months.
In the meantime, ODOT installed left turn arrows on two legs of the traffic signal at the U.S. 42/Industrial Parkway intersection.
“This interim measure is intended to help traffic traveling both southwest and northwest through the intersection to help alleviate congestion and potential backups,” according to a statement from ODOT.
Once right-of-way acquisition is completed, which ODOT officials project happening in summer 2025, utility relocation will occur.
“The roadway expansion will require various utilities like fiber and power to move into the newly acquired right-of-way,” ODOT officials explained.
Construction on the actual roadway expansion, which ODOT officials expect to take “at least 18 months,” is then slated to begin in fall 2025 or summer 2026.
Standley emphasized that township officials have been told “at least twice” by ODOT representatives that there is “no funding gap” for the project.
Pete Griggs, legal counsel for the township, said that is “good news.”
In other business:
– The trustees unanimously adopted a new employee handbook.
Standley explained that the updated handbook includes newer policies like those surrounding sick leave donation, inclement weather, employee hiring and evaluation processes and a dress code.
He said the handbook is the product of lots of research on a variety of topics.
For instance, it details a distracted driving policy that ensures township employees are following Ohio’s law.
Trustee Megan Sloat said the township has been working toward a formalized employee handbook since she has been in office, four years ago. She said Standley’s work “pushes it over the finish line.”
Trustees Barry Adler and Wezlynn Davis also thanked him for the effort put into the project.
While the handbook was adopted during the trustees meeting, Standley said he plans to share it with department heads and allow a “grace period” before it is fully introduced and enforced beginning on Jan. 1.
The board also approved an employee evaluation document, along with an employee performance improvement plan document.
Standley said regular evaluations or reviews are important because they are “the only way an employee really knows where they need to work” as well as a way to document employees who are “outstanding.”