Commissioners updated on county progress

Harrison County Economic Development Director Nick Homrighausen appeared last week before the board to provide an update on countywide business and development possibilities. He opened with EOG’s (Enron Oil & Gas Company) acquisition of Encino Energy. 

Although there wasn’t anything new to report, he said it was a positive development for Harrison County.

“It is good for Harrison County and our region and state, as EOG is a major player in the oil and gas industry,” Homrighausen explained. “So, it helps to legitimize Ohio as a major player from an investment standpoint.”

He said that from a global perspective, this would draw more attention to Ohio. The purchase is a very large investment—$5.6 billion, according to a June 14 Weirton Daily Times article.

“EAP (Encino Acquisition Partners) has obtained bids to frack several Ohio public lands, including: Valley Run Wildlife Area in Carroll County; Zepernick Wildlife Area in Columbiana County; Leesville Wildlife Area in Carroll County (along with other bids near Leesville Lake in the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District); and Ohio Department of Transportation land on Ohio 151 in Harrison County,” according to the Times article. “The acquisition of EAP’s 675,000 acres in Ohio will significantly increase EOG Resources’ Utica holdings to 1.1 million acres, representing 2 billion barrels of oil equivalent, EOG said.”

Homrighausen said this is a significant development and something authorities should “keep their eyes on.”

He also spoke about last month’s event at Tappan Lake, attended by the commissioners, to commemorate the new pump track biking amenity. The $450,000 investment is “part of the continued investment at Tappan Lake and other entities within Harrison County.”

Homrighausen said this would aid the Harrison County Community Improvement Corporation’s efforts to attract prospective investors to the county.

“The amenities that they are adding are something that I think we should all be proud of, and we should continue to try to talk about how they’re being used in all the parks within our county,” Homrighausen told the board.