ANDOVER – The Ashtabula County commissioners spoke about various projects taking place in the county during a “Coffee Talk” on Wednesday, April 29, at the Andover Public Library.
At these “Coffee Talks,” the commissioners visit area coffee shops or community spaces to share information with constituents about work underway in the county.
As in other programs like this one, each commissioner took a turn speaking about topics, with a question-and-answer period at the end.
Commissioner Casey Kozlowski spoke about the Public Safety Center project, also known as the County jail project.
He said he wasn’t going to go into too much detail on why the new jail is needed, as that has been covered in multiple meetings in the past, but instead talk about current updates.
“Currently the commissioners have engaged an architect, DLZ Architects, and they are currently in the design phase for this new facility. The facility is expected to be approximately 55,000 square feet, roughly 220 beds. And the commissioners intend to put this new facility just adjacent to the Sheriff’s Office, in the existing north employee parking,” Kozlowski said.
He said the facility is planned to take approximately two years to build.
“We have secured a construction manager. Granger is the construction manager. And it is the intent for us to actually put shovels in the ground and actually move this project forward in roughly February of next year,” Kozlowski said.
He said the commissioners have acquired some additional property.
“We needed additional property for parking,” Kozlowski said.
Already there is a parking issue at the courthouse, he said.
“Take away roughly 90 parking spots, we’re going to have an even greater parking issue,” Kozlowski said. “We actually acquired a lot behind the credit union, close to Huntington Bank and the old Title Office as well. That’s going to have roughly 90 employee parking spots. We’re also expanding the parking lot at the Public Defender’s Office, which is the former KeyBank building. And we’re also leasing space from Huntington Bank for additional parking as well.”
He said all of that parking is intended to be employee parking.
“General parking for the public will be kind of where it is now, but it’ll be expanded a little bit,” Kozlowski said.
He said the Environmental Services Office building on West Walnut is coming down, as will an old professional building just to the east.
“And then we did acquire three residential homes just west of Environmental Services. Those will all come down,” Kozlowski said. “That will enable us to expand the parking area and have sufficient parking for the general public.”
Before it becomes parking, he said the area will be used for staging for the construction project.
“We also acquired a lot from Jefferson Village on Walnut Street on the north side of the street, and that is also going to be for staging,” Kozlowski said.
Kozlowski said the facility is going to be of a modern design.
“It’s going to be much more operationally efficient. It’s going to be roughly one-and-a-half stories, mezzanine style. So we’re not going to have elevators. A key aspect of this facility is the fact that it’s going to be a style that allows for more efficient staffing,” Kozlowski said.
Kozlowski also spoke of the financing for the project.
“The commissioners worked very hard to secure funds for this project, because we recognize going to the local taxpayers is not an option for additional funds. We worked to secure a state capital grant. We actually secured a $15 million Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections grant, and we are pairing that with $15 million that we have in the bank that are primarily ARPA funds we received several years ago from the federal government. Instead of spending those funds, we felt it was important to save it up for this project, recognizing it as a capital need, long term. And we think by having those funds saved up, that made a very compelling case to the state, that we had a 100-percent match, to be able to make an ask for that $15 million state capital grant,” Kozlowski said.
He said they also secured a $250,000 state capital grant that Commissioner Kathryn Whittington worked on.
The County also has pending with the federal government, specifically Congressman Dave Joyce, a $5 million Congressionally Directed Spending application.
It passed the first phase of funding and has been sent to committee as one of 20 projects Joyce submitted to committee, Kozlowski said.
“That’s usually a good sign in terms of receiving funds,” Kozlowski said.
As for the rest of the funding, Kozlowski said the County has the ability to take on some debt service to cover that difference. A big reason the County has that ability is because, several years ago, the County was successful in receiving a state grant to pay off the Lodge and Conference Center, he said.
Whittington noted that State Sen. Sandra O’Brien helped secure that grant.
Kozlowski also talked about the Tire Amnesty Day coming up this Saturday.
The Ashtabula County Solid Waste District will host the Tire Amnesty Day on Saturday, May 9, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Ashtabula County Fairgrounds. Use the west side of North Poplar Street.
People are allowed to dispose of four tires for free, and pay $1 per tire after that for up to 10 tires. No oversized tires over a 22-inch rim size will be accepted. Rims will not be accepted.
The event is for Ashtabula County residents, and people must show proof of residency. The event is not open to businesses.
Next up, in her remarks, Whittington spoke about the Ashtabula County Manufacturing Institute’s summer STEM camps that take place over three weeks in July that focus on agriculture, chemistry and robotics.
The camps are put on by the commissioners; OhioMeansJobs Ashtabula County; A-Tech; Ashtabula County Job & Family Services; Growth Partnership for Ashtabula County; Gazette Newspapers/Great Lakes Printing; Camp Beaumont; Congressman U.S. Dave Joyce’s Office; and Country Neighbor.
This past summer, they put on five camps total – fifth- and sixth-grade camps for three weeks, a seventh-grade camp and an eighth-grade camp.
Whittington hopes that a ninth-grade camp will be added in the future.
This year, camp weeks are July 13, 20 and 27.
The first week, Mad Scientist, is tailored to girls only, Whittington said.
“The stakeholders felt it was very important to expose our young youth, girls, to this atmosphere,” Whittington said. “It has taken off, and these girls do amazing work. It also got them comfortable enough that most of our girls who attend that very first week of camp attended the co-ed now and have gone on to the seventh- and eighth-grade [camps]. We’re seeing that consistency through.”
The second week is a co-ed Robotics and Automation camp, and the third is Food and Agriculture.
The seventh- and eighth-grade camps are at A-Tech and don’t travel to the different manufacturers like the fifth and sixth graders do, she said.
In his remarks, Commissioner J.P. Ducro IV discussed potential wind and solar power projects in the county.
“The position of the commissioners has really been wanting to kind of defer to local control,” Ducro said. “We are very, very sensitive to each different community, which may feel differently about what sort of development they may want to see happen in their communities.”
He said they are aware of people being approached about land leases.
“Nothing has really even come to our desk at this point and time for us to weigh in on officially,” Ducro said.
He referenced Ohio Senate Bill 52, which gives the commissioners the authority to give a thumbs up or thumbs down on “economically significant,” large wind and solar projects.
He said they’re in the process right now of working with the Planning Department and setting up a general map of areas where these projects can or cannot be located, depending on townships’ desires.
“That process is probably going to take some time. We imagine that that’s going to probably take us through the year 2026,” Ducro said.
He said the “All In!” comprehensive plan for the county from a few years ago also will inform the making of these maps.
Ducro noted that some property owners in the southern part of the county have been approached about leasing their property.
“We would strongly encourage them to seek out legal advice from someone that’s an expert in that field to really make sure they are protected and look over any contracts that they’re being offered or being asked to sign,” Ducro said.
Should the project not become viable or damaged, those property owners should make sure they are protected, he said.
“We’re also very sensitive to local citizens’ personal property rights,” Ducro said. “We also want to be cautious of trying to not be overly controlling on what people can do with their own land and property.”
Whittington also cleared up some misconceptions.
“There are several rumors going around that in regards to wind and solar, that if something is damaged or is left behind that the commissioners would be responsible for cleanup. That is not true. We are not part of that,” Whittington said. “We are not responsible for any cleanup, repairs, anything of that nature in regards to these leases that are going around.”
She said some leases have already been signed.
“We want to make sure that people are educated and we are not only protecting you, but the County as a whole,” Whittington said.
Ducro added that just because a lease is signed, it doesn’t mean the project is moving forward.
“As part of the process they have to go through, an entity that wants to have an energy-development project such as this, before they can even present it for approval, or denial, they have to show that they’ve already secured agreements that they can complete the project as they present to us,” Ducro said.
Kozlowski noted that the commissioners have say over the 27 townships – not the cities and villages.
“The commissioners cannot weigh in on those communities. Each of those respective communities, if they so wish, can explore Senate Bill 52 and do the same with their community,” Kozlowski said. “It’s unlikely you’re going to see wind projects in any of those, you know, more open areas, but there is a strong possibility for solar.”
Ducro said the local townships also can address the projects with zoning.
He also addressed data centers, another recent hot topic in the county.
“No projects have actually been presented to us. If it’s in a municipality, we wouldn’t have any say anyways,” Ducro said.
Also at the meeting, Whittington said Ashtabula County Environmental Services Director Doug Starkey will be retiring.
“We are thankful for his many years of service, not just to Ashtabula County Environmental Services, but to the county as a whole. He has over 40 years of county public service,” Whittington said.
She said they’re proud to announce that Ray Nevison, currently the Assistant Wastewater Superintendent, will replace Starkey.
“We’re excited to see him grow and move into this new position,” Whittington said. “Doug will be working with him closely over the next month.”
