ASHLAND — Infrastructure is not glamorous, but it is necessary.
The lone sentence spoken by Ashland City Council president Steve Workman rang true throughout Wednesday’s council meeting.
His sentiment further gained ground when Rep. Melanie Miller of Ashland announced the city would receive $175,000 from the state budget toward the construction of a sidewalk on U.S. Route 250.
This is the first step toward a sidewalk on the heavily-trafficked U.S. route. The road leads to several businesses and restaurants.
The sidewalk is expected to connect from Walmart Supercenter to Bob Evans, Mayor Matt Miller said.
“Right now there’s a lot of people that’ll walk back and forth, but they walk on the street on the median and that’s very dangerous,” Mayor Miller said. “We’ve wanted to put sidewalks out there for some time.”
This wasn’t the only money the state sent to the 67th district, Rep. Miller said.
Rep. Miller said The Ashland will receive $25,000 toward the purchase of hearing system equipment for those with hearing impairments.
Ashland University will also receive $1.7 million for three different projects; $500,000 will go toward the university’s military veteran center, $500,000 toward its center for addictions and $700,000 toward its correctional education expansion program.
“Ashland University continues to be one of our most important educational, cultural and economic partners in our great city,” Mayor Miller said after the meeting. “And this financial support will benefit not just the students and faculty at the institution, but all us here in the City of Ashland.”
