ASHLAND — If it seems like a large chunk of the Ashland County Board of Commissioners’ time is devoted to ongoing construction projects, that perception would fit.
The last new structure the county commissioners built was the sheriff’s office, which officially opened Feb. 24, 2001.
Now, commissioners are overseeing the construction of one new building and major renovations of two others — and other projects loom.
“It’s Monday through Friday — I’m wrapped up in projects,” said Denny Bittle, one of three commissioners who’s taken the lead on the projects as a de-facto liaison between construction superintendents and the county.
Much of the reason for the recent boom in new construction funded by county taxpayer dollars is because of a windfall of federal money that hit coffers in 2021 and 2022, Bittle said.
In both years, Ashland County received $5.1 million from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), a federal stimulus package meant to soften the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
“ARPA allowed us to go forward with these projects,” Bittle said. “Without that money we wouldn’t be able to go forward with them all at the same time.”
The county has also seen more sales tax revenue recently. In 2012, the county saw $5.2 million in sales tax revenue. A decade later, that line item grew to $8.8 million, a 68.6-percent increase, according to state tax records.
The county’s sales tax revenue has grown each year by an average of 5.4 percent. But the greatest leap happened in 2021, when revenue increased by nearly 15 percent. And so far this year, the county has received 10.8 percent more than January 2022 figures.
In many ways, the stimulus money and sales tax dollars were catalysts for projects that have been in the works for years, Bittle said.
“The dog shelter was initiated three or four years ago,” he said. “We’re always planning for the future, it just so happens that these are all coming to fruition all at one time.”
Philanthropy also plays a part, said Jim Cutright, director of the Ashland County Community Foundation.
“It seems there’s not a project that someone can dream that doesn’t materialize because people step up in a charitable way,” Cutright said, adding that local philanthropy led to the county’s construction of a new dog shelter.
The foundation awarded $300,000 in grants to community organizations in 2022, the most it’s ever been able to give, according to ACCF. That pool of money comes from 48 donors who set up a fund specifically designated for “community grants.”
The foundation’s “donor-advised fund” — a fund that allows a donor to dole out grants to causes or projects of their choosing — continues to grow, too, with more than $1 million passing through to the community over the last decade, Cutright said.
“It’s phenomenal when you think about it,” he said, adding that projects such as the dog shelter, the addition to the YMCA and Schine Theatre have happened because of donations that got the ball rolling.
Progress update
Three major projects that began in 2021 will wrap up sometime this year. Recently, Bittle took Ashland Source on a tour of each construction site.
The county is involved in three projects — a new dog shelter, a new health department and the renovation of offices at the Department of Job and Family Services — totaling $5.7 million, according to county documents that provide estimates for each.
Commissioners are using a mixture of ARPA, capital funds and donations for the projects.
So far, the county has spent $1.4 million on the dog shelter, which officials have said could cost up to $3 million. The facility on Baney Road will feature 69 kennels with heated floors, three offices, a reception and waiting area and a room designated for training new dog owners on how to properly care for new pets.
The front of the building could be the home of a retail space, Bittle said. The commissioner is working with organizations that have expressed interest in renting it. He hopes the potential income would cover costs associated with running the dog shelter.
The project has seen only one change order. Commissioners approved of the change order in July for “Preconstruction Stage Design-Services Fees.” The commissioners are set to vote on two additional change orders for the dog shelter this week.
A little more than a mile down the road, on Claremont Avenue, another Simonson crew works on renovating the 11,000 square-foot building that used to house a Rite Aid. So far the county has spent $73,120 on this project that has been estimated to cost around $2.4 million in total.
The building has been totally gutted, and crews — as of Jan. 31 — worked on erecting steel studs based on a blueprint that calls for a separate environmental health and public health section. There have been four change orders on this project so far.
The back of the building, around 4,000 square-feet, will be used for storage. Originally it was meant to house the county’s emergency management agency, but that department will move into a smaller space in the county’s administrative building on Cottage Street.
Downtown, at the JFS building on Orange Street, crews are currently working on giving a large portion of the building’s first floor a makeover. There will be cubicles and a modernized aesthetic meant to offer clients and employees a more welcoming environment.
The $315,000 project is being headed by BC&G Weithman Construction out of Bucyrus. There have been two change orders approved for this project so far.
The three projects represent the county’s largest ongoing construction projects. But there are more slated for this year, including the completion of Corner Park’s third phase and a window replacement project at the courthouse, said Nikki Hiller, the county clerk.
