Ashland County commissioners authorize funds for land purchase at airport

On Tuesday, the Ashland County Board of Commissioners authorized the signing and submission of a 5% matching grant from the Ohio Department of Transportation toward the purchase of approximately 1.116 acres of land for the Ashland County Airport.

“This is for land acquisition,” said Commissioner Mike Welch. “90% will be paid by the FAA and then there is a local match also that will be paid by the local airport authority. There was property there where the new terminal will sit on.”

Just last week U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D) announced 96 investments for airport improvements across the state totaling $49,429,435. Ashland County will receive $144,000.

Those awards were made available by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that became law in 2021 after being signed by President Joe Biden.

Other actions

• Approved and entered into a 1-year contract with Nancy Earick for Solid Waste Education Services at a rate of $18.21 per hour effective Jan, 1, 2024.

• Concurred with the appointment of Kimberly Oberholtzer as a Social Service Worker 2 with J&FS beginning Dec. 18, with a starting pay of $22.97 per hour.

• Approved and entered into a contract with the Ashland Council on Aging for the administration of the Healthy Aging Grant Program.

• Authorized Clerk Nikki Hiller to file a grant application with the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation for a $40,000 Safety Intervention Grant.

• Accepted the retirement resignation from Paul Fulk, Maintenance, effective Dec. 31, 2023.

• Authorized Change Order #1 with BCU Electric for the Jail Fire Alarm Replacement Project to allow for an extension of the project completion date to Jan, 19, 2024.

• Approved COBRA insurance rates effective Jan. 1, 2024.

• Approved and entered into a 1-year lease agreement with J&FS for building and parking facilities at 15 W. 4^th St. at a rate of $3,520.46 per month.

• Accepted an estimate for $3,095 from Edwards Roofing and Sheet Metal Co. for gutter screens at the dog shelter.

• Concurred with travel for Solid Waste District Coordinator Jim Skora and Hiller for travel requests.

• Authorized County Engineer Ed Meixner to employ labor and proceed in the maintenance, repair and construction of roads, bridges and culverts in the county in 2024.

• Approved advertising notice for the Boards’ 2024 meeting schedule for each Thursday and the 2^nd and 4^th Tuesdays beginning at 9 a.m.

• Made appropriations to Payroll Deduction, Mobile Home Tax, Senior Citizen Services, Public Infrastructure, Juvenile Court, Soil and Waste and Sheriff Rotary.

• Made transfers to Commissioners, Buildings & Grounds, Children Services, Prosecutor, Probate Court, Juvenile Felony Custody, Mental Health, Dog & Kennel, Sheriff and Interest Transfers totaling $331,724.55 to 8 departments.

Commissioners will meet 9 a.m. Thursday in the Commissioner’s Conference Room on the second floor of the County Office Building. The meetings are open to the public, but also live-streamed on the Ashland County Government Facebook page.

This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Ashland County commissioners authorize funds for airport land purchase