Carroll County Commissioners back Kensington Forest preservation plan

Southeast Field Director Jacob Pries of Western Reserve Land Conservancy visited Carroll County commissioners at the Aug. 25 meeting, seeking a resolution of support for land behind Centreville Village.

Pries explained the Conservancy, Ohio’s largest land trust, seeks to permanently preserve the property under the Clean Ohio Conservation Fund program, limiting its use to passive recreation such as nature trails, hiking and nature education. The most substantial project would be a possible parking lot.

“It would be the same deal that we had just finished up with the Village of Carrollton with Village Woods Park behind Mercy Medical Center,” said Pries. “Village Administrator Mark Wells is interested in this and interested in offering more to the village and working with the township.”

While Western Reserve would initially hold ownership, the long-term plan is for the village or township to take over and develop the land for public use. He noted the township has a larger parcel than the village, and the village is focusing on Village Woods Park first.

The name of this area is the Kensington Forest Reserve Property.

Commissioners supported this resolution, Resolution 2025-24, and voted to approve the adoption of the resolution.

In other business, commissioners:

— PAID the bills of $113,711.37.

— HEARD Commissioner Chris Modranski say the county is still seeking a full-time dog warden/deputy dog warden, and there is still time to apply for economic development/Regional Planning executive director.

— APPROVED a contract amendment that increases the hourly rate from $25 to $35 for Trax Youth Services LLP for mentoring services.

— HEARD the courthouse and all nonemergency county offices will be closed Monday, Sept. 1, in observance of Labor Day.

— HEARD the prosecutor’s office will be getting a new heating, ventilation and air conditioning unit because there is a crack in the heat exchanger.