At the June 7, 2017 meeting of the Clark County Commissioners, the commissioners unanimously approved a resolution in support of the Modified 9a plan to clean up the Tremont City Barrel Fill.

The proposed plan is 37 years in coming. Originally the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed Alternation 4a, which the county, city and township governments deemed unfeasible and unlikely to protect the drinking water of the 85,000 Clark County residents who use the aquifer daily.

The Modified 9a plan includes the permanent removal of approximately 997 barrels, which contain the most toxic chemicals. In addition, the plan includes encasing the remaining chemicals in a double lining which will prevent any additional leakage into the aquifer.

The commissioners agreed to move forward with the plan with the stipulation the site be added to the National Priorities List or Region 5 of the OH EPA negotiate a “consent decree” with the responsible corporations that will implement Modified 9a.

Per Ohio Representative Kyle Koehler, who represents Springfield and Clark County, “This is a good decision, we need to move forward on this. It is time for the community to get behind this. If we don’t the OH EPA can declare it null and void and nothing gets done.” He added, “There was never a proposal to remove everything.”

Commissioner Melanie Flax-Wilt added, “We have had 37 years to discuss and dissect the problem. It will never be utopia. It is time to fine a reasonable solution.”

In other business, the commissioners have been asked to support three entities to build and create medical marijuana grow facilities in the county. Commissioner Richard Lohnes pointed out, “To build such a facility takes a lot of money and rule abiding. As a commission, we cannot create a moratorium on a grow facility. If the business in compliance with the zoning, we cannot take a stand.”

The process will begin when someone brings a form from Ohio for such a facility. The deadline is June 30, 2017.

For the Juvenile Court Judge, the commissioners approved a grant agreement with the State of Ohio Department of Youth Services for $1,100,342 of which $126,285 is a carryover from the previous agreement for operating expenses including probation, residential treatment, sex offender, substance abuse, mental health, diversion, electronic monitoring, life skills, work detail, family preservation, recreation, law enforcement, clinical assessment and parental support. The grant is effective July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018.

For the County Engineer, the commissioners authorized a license agreement with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for the use of Robert Eastman Road at Croft Road on Buck Creek State Park at the rate of $1.00.

In addition, they award a contracted to A& B Corporation for the 2017 Roadway Resurfacing Project for $1,599,791,68 with Alternate No. 1 at a rate of $30,464.

They also awarded a contract to Aero-Mark Inc for the 2017 Pavement Marking Project at the rate of $209,209.

Furthermore, they authorized the purchase of two 2017 GMC 2500 pickup trucks from Bob Ross Auto Group for $63,203 for the Engineering Department to need current use needs.

In regular business, the commissioners acknowledged receipt of requests for proposals (RFP) from US Bank, Value Payment System, Ncourt, Point & Pay, Lexis Nexis, Municipal Services Bureau, and Security National Bank. The RFPs were referred to staff for further evaluation.

They also authorized the employment of Isaac Wiles Burkholder & Teetor, LLC to provide outside legal counsel for human resources and various departments on a case by case basis. The hourly rate for partners shall be $180 and for associates $160. The total compensation cannot exceed the total compensation of the county prosecutor in any year.

In preparation of the 2018 Clark County Bicentennial, the commissioners appointed John Detrick, Betty Grimes, Bill Berry, Mike Hobner, and Megan Lokai to the Clark County Bicentennial Committee Board of Managers. They also appropriated a sum not to exceed $20,000 to cover bicentennial celebration expenses.

In addition, they changed the date of the Investment Advisory Committee Meeting to 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 27, 2017.

To cover building maintenance expense, they authorized a payment of $40,480 to Enterprise Roofing for roof improvements to the A.B. Graham and the Courthouse and a payment of $319,014.40 to Quality Masonry Co., Inc for masonry restoration on the same facilities.

They also authorized two contracts the Building and Grounds Department with Brian Bros. Painting and Restoration, LLC. The first one is for $117,665 for exterior concrete repairs to the DJFS Building effective June 7, 2017. The second is for $65,500 for exterior painting of the same facility.

Furthermore, they approved a payment to Clark County Veterans Council of $2,500 to encourage economic development through the 2017 Memorial Day Parade.

For the Department of Job and Family Services (DJFS), they approved the director of DJFS to authorize contracts for child placement, adoption and workforce development as needed.

The next meeting of the Clark County Commissioners is scheduled for June 14, 2017 at 8:30 a.m. in the commissioners’ conference room at 50 E Columbia Street.

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