Ashland County to establish Transportation Improvement District

ASHLAND – At the request of Ashland Area Economic Development, Ashland County is taking steps to set up a Transportation Improvement District.

“What it is, it’s another opportunity for grant funds to be received from the state for road improvements,” economic development director Kathy Goon told the Ashland County Commissioners Thursday. “It’s throughout the whole county. It’s not just for the city of Ashland or minus the city of Ashland, it’s for the entire county.”

In some cases, Goon said, TID projects need to be located near industry and connected to jobs and commerce. 

Goon said her office has a couple potential economic development projects in the county that are hinging on the completion of road improvement projects. 

The commissioners voted to authorize the creation the TID and will appoint a five-member board to oversee the special purpose district. 

Goon said Jeff Loehrke of the Ohio Department of Transportation will work with the county to register the TID and work with city engineers to review projects that could be eligible to receive state funding.

“At least one project that we have right now scores very high for ODOT because they’ve been wanting to do something in Ashland County,” Goon said. 

Commissioner Denny Bittle described the TID as “another tool in the toolbox” for economic development. 

Goon said while she would prefer not to set up more government entities, she believes having such a district will be beneficial for the county. 

“I know we don’t like setting up all these different things, but you have to play the game, and the game is if you don’t buy a ticket, you don’t get in. So this is buying our ticket,” she said. 

Bittle said the commissioners intend to vote next week to establish a land bank in the county. 

The land bank’s board will be comprised of two county commissioners, the county treasurer, a city representative and three at-large appointees. 

“I hate setting all these other entities up and all this stuff, but if you want to compete, you have to do it,” Bittle said. 

Also at Thursday’s meeting, commissioners approved $50,000 in additional appropriations for capital case expenditures for the common pleas court.

Bittle said the money is to cover expenses associated with the Shawn Grate trial, which is scheduled to begin April 9. He added that more appropriations will likely be needed to cover costs in that case.