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Commissioners OK airport funds, emergency absentee voting policy

By Jess Mancini 3 min read

Lighting of the taxiways was priority 1 in a request for funding presented to the Wood County Commission at the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport.

The commission on Monday approved a $90,000 allocation to address the lighting problems and other issues at the airport cited in a July 31 memorandum titled request for critical airport funding from Linda Hedrick, operations manager at the airport.

"That doesn't close the door on them from coming back" and asking for more money, commission President Blair Couch said.

The airport, owned by the county, asked for $15,000 for the lights, of which about 220 and directional signs are not operational, according to the memo from Hedrick.

"Contractors found severely deteriorated underground wiring, including breaks and melted wires, that cannot be reliably repaired,” the memo said. "Without lighting or FAA-accepted temporary measures, taxiways may have to be restricted after dark or in low visibility.”

The cost estimate for the work at the fuel farm, priority 2, was $52,000, Couch said.

Rust, dirt and contamination is being produced by the deterioration of iron pipe downstream of the fuel filters, among other items that failed an inspection. Pipe must be replaced with stainless steel, the airport said.

Funding was requested for Rebel Services to replace pipe and repair or replace other items, test the system and document the work.

The corrections are necessary for fuel and aircraft safety and other certifications, according to the memo.

Five priority projects including the lighting of the taxiways and the fuel farm were cited in the funding request. The others were repairs to the perimeter fences, hazardous waste removal and repairs to the roof and windows at the shop.

The airport is asking for $6,000 for the fences and $11,040 for the hazardous materials removal by Crystal Clean. Employees of the airport will make the roof and window repairs.

Several quotes from contractors for the roof were from $60,000 to $70,000, however, after pricing the materials, Blaine Auville, airport manager, at a previous commission meeting told commissioners the project could be done for $15,000 by employees.

The allocation was unanimously approved by Couch and Commissioners Jim Hamric and Jimmy Colombo

Commissioners on Monday also approved an emergency absentee voting policy, which is done in every election, County Administrator Marty Seufer said.

Two poll workers of different parties take a ballot to someone confined or will be confined in a hospital, nursing home or other health care facility and can not go to the polls on election day, County Clerk Joe Gonzales, chief elections officer for the county, said.

They can be in hospitals in Washington County, Jackson County and within 35 miles of the county seat, licensed health care facilities in Wood County and nursing homes in Wood County, the order from the commission said.

"This makes sure everyone who is unable to get out and vote can vote," Gonzalez said.

The policy follows state code, 3-3-5c, which establishes the procedure and requirements.

The number of voters varies, maybe up to 10, but usually there are more in the general election in November than the primary election, he said.

"When it's cold, we'll have more," Gonzalez said.

Starting at /week.