Kristi Tullis
Harrison News-Herald Staff Writer
SCIO —The Harrison Regional Planning Commission (HRPC) has given its approval for appropriations to continue in the village of Scio, paving the way for vital projects and improvements.
Among the immediate priorities is the formation of a committee to review and address the 22 properties in urgent need of demolition. These properties were previously overlooked but will now receive the attention they require for redevelopment and revitalization. The HRPC has set the application deadline for the Ohio Water Development Authority (OWDA) for Aug. 28 with the anticipated project commencement scheduled near the end of September.
Mayor Jim Clark spearheaded discussions with the council members, focusing on Ordinance 2023-003, which is a revision of Ordinance 00-002, and Ordnance 2021-007. These ordinances are designed to facilitate the annexation of all extraterritorial properties that use municipal water and/or sewer services. Citing legal precedents and long-standing state policy encouraging annexation, Mayor Clark emphasized the village’s intention to pursue annexation as a strategic move. He outlined the manifold benefits of this plan, including a potential increase in the village’s population, ensuring its sustainability, and securing its future prosperity.
The mayor highlighted that annexation would bolster the village’s income-tax base, leading to more substantial resources for the constituents. These additional funds would enable Scio to enhance its services across various domains, such as parks, recreation, safety, streets, and more. Requiring annexation has been a consistent policy of Scio, and the village is steadfast in its commitment to proceed with this approach. Mayor Clark underscored that the new ordinance serves to align with the village’s objectives, reduce costs, avoid litigation delays, and uphold Scio’s constitutional authority.
Turning to ongoing matters, the discussion surrounding West Main Street repairs continues to be a priority. Representatives from the Harrison County ODOT were present on-site to assess the situation, and pictures have been forwarded to the relevant authorities at OMEGA.
Given the present construction projects underway in the county, Village Administrator Tubaugh acknowledged that finding a solution for funding this year might be challenging. However, he expressed openness to discussing short-term fixes as temporary measures until a comprehensive resolution can be implemented.
Additionally, the council addressed concerns related to the project slated for state Route 646, which is facing persistent delays attributed to Frontier Communications. The council remains optimistic that the project will commence soon to prevent further delays as the cooler weather approaches.
In light of new discussions, the council has expressed concerns over the parking situation on East Main Street. The weight of vehicles on sidewalks and private properties poses a serious risk of causing underground piping collapse, potentially incurring substantial repair costs. To tackle this issue, the council has granted Tubaugh permission to explore all potential remedies.
In recent news, the village faced an unexpected incident when a Toro zero-turn mower caught fire while mowing the water storage tank area on July 19. The village administrator has promptly submitted a warranty claim with Toro, and the clerk has informed the village’s insurance provider. To ensure continuous maintenance operations, the village has acquired a replacement mower for $7,799, with reimbursement pending upon claim approval.
Presently, the village faces challenges with 12 properties remaining untouched, overrun by noxious weeds and overgrowth, and six vehicles on public roads bearing expired license plates. Additionally, street sign orders have been placed, but unforeseen delays are causing delays in shipment.
Due to the Summer Festival, the mosquito spraying initially scheduled for Aug. 9 has been canceled and rescheduled for Aug. 2 following a request.
The village of Scio is gearing up for its next council meeting, scheduled for Monday, Aug. 7, at 6 p.m., where these critical matters and further community initiatives will be discussed.
