MOUNT VERNON — The Knox County Commissioners had a full day of meetings Thursday, starting off with Darrell Severns, urban conservation specialist with the Knox County Soil & Water District.
The discussion involved the stormwater detention project under way near the Knox County Jail. Upon completion, the project will exceed current construction standards in the county. The project had run into problems regarding moving electricity poles and the guy wires to support them. Severns proposed avoiding the problem altogether by running the power line underground. The commissioners agreed to Severns’ proposed plan, hoping the underground power line would also not impede future development.
Also in the morning hours, the commissioners met with Dennis Murray, health commissioner from the Knox County Health Department. Murray was meeting with the commissioners about potential contract problems concerning the Delaware, Knox, Morrow and Marion Solid Waste District. The proposed new contract is multi-year, which concerned Murray because of unclear specifics concerning funding.
It was not clear why the proposed contract was multi-year, and it was agreed the contract needed further investigation. The contract was reviewed by Jennifer Springer, Knox County assistant prosecutor, who noted several potential problems with it. Murray and the commissioners agreed to work on the contract before the commissioners meet with commissioners from the other counties.
In the early afternoon, the commissioners met with representatives from Kokosing Construction Co. to sign and finalize a public-private partnership to apply for public money to upgrade equipment to reduce emissions. All three commissioners approved the partnership. Because the project applications are due on Monday, the commissioners were asked to sign several applications. The applications will be hand-delivered by Steve Green of Kokosing to the Ohio Energy Office in Columbus.
The final meeting for the commissioners in the afternoon was with two representatives from the Knox County Visitor’s Bureau, Pat Crow, executive cirector, and Matt Starr, chairman. Crow went over the budget from 2007, and presented several new and continuing marketing ideas to improve awareness of what tourist and visitor services Knox County has to offer. Crow also had examples of signs celebrating Knox County’s bicentennial; these signs will be erected at entry points into the county.
Responding to a question from Commissioner Allen Stockberger, Crow noted that the visitor’s bureau is “moving forward on the concept” of a welcome center in Knox County.
