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Commissioner’s Corner
The grant
process, April showers and more
If April showers bring May flowers as the saying goes, then we should
have flowers everywhere! April is the traditional month that starts
spring, and spring showers help farmers to get ready for planting. The
moisture in the ground now should really get things started this year,
as long as the fields get dry enough. Let’s just hope that all this
rain now does not mean a drought later this year.
April started out rather slow for the Commissioners, then really picked
up the last part of the month. This is usually the way government
works; We hurry up to get things into the right departments (Grants,
proclamations, invitations, etc.), then we wait for the response.
Usually the response comes right before the application is due, then we
have to scramble to get them done! So far, because we have good people
and we know things are coming, we have been able to get it all done.
Dealing with federal agencies, and State agencies can be hectic, but it
has to be done.
The F.A.A. grants are being worked on, and will be in on time to help
us with crack filling at the airport. This is a must to make sure the
runway and taxiway stay in good shape. We have other things working
with the F.A.A., and we hope we can receive the go ahead for some other
projects. Some exiting things are happening at the airport, and we will
share them when they become official. Thanks to Jeff Marshall and Susan
Laux for their efforts in working with them.
The Solid Waste Dept., run by Krista Fourman and her Assistant
Administrator Melissa Werling, have received three grants this month.
One of the grants was in conjunction with Whirlpool for 8 cardboard
balers and was for over $44,000. The others were for a Beautiful Ohio
grant for $3500, and the other was for $25,000 for Tire day. Trash Bash
was huge success again with over 1100 volunteers picking up 13,360
pounds of trash. Our Electronics Recycling day sign up ends May 13th
and the event is May 26th at the Darke County Fairgrounds. Our Solid
Waste Dept. is one of the best in the State, so thanks go to Krista and
Melissa for all they do.
The Economic Development Dept. had their first “20 under 20” dinner
held at St. Henry in conjunction with the Auglaize Mercer Business
Education Alliance. The dinner honored 12 students from Darke County
who have shown exemplary work ethic, and initiative to solve problems
at school and at work. Congratulations to our fine students! You can
read more on the Darke County Economic Development facebook page.
We have been asked about the state of the Courthouse Steps. The steps,
as anyone can see, are in need of repair. We have contracted with
Garmin-Miller from Minster to give us some ideas and cost estimates on
the project. The steps we have now are not period correct for our
Courthouse, so we are looking at keeping it as original as possible for
the time period. Our Courthouse, the 3rd one in Darke County history,
was finished in 1874, and other Courthouses constructed at that time
all have several styles of steps. We will choose what looks best, and
fits the downtown area. We should know more next month.
The O.D.O.T. project has started at St. Rte. 49 and 127, and early in
May, there will be a groundbreaking for the Erwin Brothers Trucking
project, also at the South Industrial Park. These two projects are the
start of what we hope will turn into a few more, as several people have
looked to do some other things. This Industrial Park just gives our
E.D. office, and the City of Greenville, more options when companies
are looking to come here. This collaboration with the City is just one
more example of how much can be accomplished when all factions work
together. We look forward to many more years of this collaboration.
May is starting on a busy note, and a lot of good things are happening
in our county. Won’t you join us for a public session? We meet every
Monday and Wednesday, 1:30 p.m. at the Administration building, just
south of the Courthouse in Greenville. Hope to see you there!
The Darke County Commissioners
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