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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2019
harrisonnewsherald.com
Tappan area broadband goes live, seeks to expand coverage By JD LONG
jim@harrisonnewsherald.com
CADIZ – Director of the Puskarich Libraries Sandy Thompson appeared before the Harrison County Commissioners at their Wednesday meeting, along with Information Technology Manager Anthony Johnson to update the commissioners on what is happening with the broadband project in the Tappan area and where they are headed. Thompson said they have been working on finishing up the broadband TIGER grant (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) with help from the commissioners, sheriff’s office and engineer’s office, which helped to expand broadband around the Tappan area.
We had a minimum of 10 mbps per second per household [which] was our minimum and we’ve far exceeded that at most locations. Puskarich Library Director, Sandy Thompson Thompson called it a very “underserved area.” “This is a coordinated effort between federal, state, local governments and it has been a success. Nobody can do it alone [and] this project is a prime example of this. Harrison County used multiple agencies working together to make broadband a reality in this underserved area with the assistance of this vital Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery, or TIGER Grant.”
Thompson said 30 installations, which include two wi-fi public access locations that cover around 20 miles in radius are up and running. She said they were also looking to aid in Rural Transit for better broadband internet. Thompson read a few testimonials from some happy people that are now able to successfully use the internet for homework, business or just pleasure. “We had a minimum of 10 mbps per second per household [which] was our minimum and we’ve far exceeded that
at most locations,” Thompson told the board. When Commissioner Don Bethel asked when people might start seeing a bill for their Internet access, Thompson stated that they want all the kinks worked out before actual billing begins. “Currently, we’re pretty much to that point but I would say there’s a couple little things we’re still working on and we are also looking at a grant to optimize the broadband expansion project that we’ve done so far. There is still some funding left in this TIGER Grant monies and we would like to see if we could expand it past our current service area that we have,” Thompson explained. She added that they were a bit limited in their original goal but now would like to reach out to other underserved areas for Broadband. Bethel added that
there is one constant that has maintained itself through the frustration and hard work over the years and that was Thompson herself. “And really the county owes you a debt of gratitude…” Bethel said in commending Thompson for all her work and perseverance in this endeavor. “So, I just wanted to… publicly say that we really appreciate on behalf of Harrison County, thank you very much because this doesn’t happen without your involvement.” Thompson said it was a true team effort with many working together to finally make it happen. “It really was truly, a team effort,” Thompson said. Opening the meeting was Water Board Clerk Brandi Simmons who
See BROADBAND PG. 2
Cadiz schedules collection line upgrades for fall; warns of traffic, service interruptions By JD LONG
jim@harrisonnewsherald.com
entrance at Ohio 9 and Liggett Lane. “So, in essence what they’re asking us to do with this, they want to create a turning lane and a school zone,” Mastros told council. The question he said was who would be maintaining the turning lane and where the school needs the village’s approval for the lane and creating a school zone there. He said the agreement is basically between the school district and the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT). “The village doesn’t have any skin in the sense of maintenance, monies, anything like that,” Mastros explained. He continued by stating that the school zone would consist of 300 feet of property in both directions (north and south). The speed zone would be reduced to 20 mph (during regular school hours) just as it is in the current zone along E. Market Street. Mastros said the school is receiving grant money he estimated in the amount of $240,000.
CADIZ – With a total cost of $8,750,000 the south and center collection lines are scheduled to finally begin sometime in October or November of this year, according to Bob Allen of E.L. Robinson who gave the village of Cadiz an update on schedules at last Thursday’s meeting. He told council that bids will start anywhere from August to September with the project expected to last at least one year or, till the end of 2020 to the first month of 2021. What has been completed so far are the north, south and center trunk lines and the high priority north collection lines. What is left after the south and center collection lines are the upper north collection lines and the wastewater treatment plant, which he lists as an $11 million project. “The size of the wastewater treatment plant will not be known until all line work is complete,” Allen wrote in his update. In regards to the south and center collection line project, all that was left was for the release of the funds they have lined up, which are: U.S. Army Corps of Engineer (USACE) grant, USDA loan and grant and an Ohio EPA low interest loan. “It’s a matter of going through the process now and getting release of funds [and] that takes amount of time,” Allen explained. Allen also warned of traffic disruptions as the south and center collection system work will take place mainly in uptown Cadiz. “It’s going to impact your downtown area,” he told council. “There’s no way around that…there will be temporary service interruptions, there will be temporary traffic interruptions, they’ll be dust and mud in the village.” He said there would be proper flagging and early notification and appropriate signs placed. “We’re going to require the contractor to communicate with the village, with us, so everybody is on the same page and hopefully minimize those impacts. But I will tell you, having said that, there’s still going to be impacts when you’re in the right-ofway and you’re tearing streets up there are going to be those impacts, it’s just a reality of replacing infrastructure,” Allen explained. Allen said flow monitoring should start at any time on the upper north collection lines with more flow monitoring on the total system, which would give the engineers an idea of the size for the new wastewater treatment plant, he said. He added that the plant
See PARK PG. 3
See UPGRADES PG. 2
No injuries, minimal damage reported in late night house fire Numerous fire and rescue personnel were summoned at around 11 p.m. Wednesday night for a structure fire that occurred in the Oak Park area of Cadiz. Fire Chief Leonard Merryman said the fire began in the basement and possibly inside the chimney where it made its way downward and probably ignited something leaning against the opening of the fireplace. Thankfully the couple was awake watching television upstairs and after seeing smoke ran outside and called 911. “If they’re asleep it’s a total loss,” one firefighter said. There were no injuries and the fire took about 10 minutes to be extinguished. But the fire did begin to make its way up the walls leaving some damage in the upstairs area. Crews from Cadiz, Hopedale and Jewett were called to the scene.
Gable Foundation buy dilapidated structure for area park By JD LONG
jim@harrisonnewsherald.com
CADIZ – Newly appointed village administrator, Ted Andrzedrewski addressed the ongoing issue of a dilapidated house near the Clark Gable Museum at last Thursday’s council meeting. He reminded them that the Clark Gable Foundation is in the process of buying the house via a sheriff’s sale with the remaining mortgage on the house being forgiven. “And the city along with the CIC (Community Improvement Corporation of Cadiz) would each donate half up to about $10,000, for a total of $20,000 to get the building demolished,” Andrzedrewski told council. He said the Clark Gable Foundation would then make that area a park benefitting the area, as well as the Foundation for its efforts and results. Also, he said an additional $2,000 would be needed for asbestos removal. He added that he
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would like a document drawn up for “salvage rights” where the public could buy whatever is in the house, whether it be something useable like bricks or anything else of use. “The first $3,000 would go to the Foundation to pay for the asbestos removal…anything above $3,000 would come to the village to help offset our demolition costs,” Andrzedrewski explained. To recap the issue, he needed council’s approval of $10,000 for the village’s share in the demolition of the house and have Village Solicitor Costa D. Mastros create a document regarding the salvage rights. Council and Mastros agreed to wait before making a motion for those approvals until they receive a quote on the demolition of the house. In other items, Mastros informed council before the reading of Ordinance 2019-05, an emergency reading, which dealt with authorizing the mayor of Cadiz to execute an agreement for “school signs with beacon and creating a turning lane” for the new school’s
Index Area: . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pg. 2 Public Record . . . . . .Pg. 5 Sports: . . . . . . . . . . . .Pg 6 Crossword . . . . . . . . .Pg. 8 Classified . . . . . . . . . .Pg. 9 Legals . . . . . . . . . . . .Pg. 9
harrisonnewsherald.com
Obituaries, Pg. 5 Carolyn Yablonski Bobot Adena, Ohio Lynn Harry Arnold Uhrichsville, Ohio
Question of the week
Last week’s question
Next week’s question
Do you think we’ll see an early spring?
Do you expect a tax refund this year?
YES 37% (9 VOTES) NO 63% (15 VOTES)
YES • NO
Claire Patricia (Constantini)Snyder Sandusky, Ohio Shane Dakota Jackson Phoenix, Arizona
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