2015 Special Districts and Authorities Caucus

Board of Trustees Rep Election: Cher Johnson and Neil Munger elected

Discussion Topics: Innovative projects done to enhance communities

The group talked about projects that have already happened

1.      Chessie Circle

•          There has been a lot of progress so far
•        Hopefully the bridge demo will be bid soon
•           Long term hopefully a trail bridge will replace the current rail bridge over the Maumee River
•          Would like to remove the current piers but it may not be cost effective
•          Bridge needs to be engineered to hold full capacity
•           The bridge is the “most important part of the entire trail”

2.      Home Depot Distribution Center in Troy Twp.

• Adding sewer/water to the site made it a job ready site and made the “locals” bills lower
• Eastwood schools is a huge beneficiary of this
• Site is almost complete and there was great collaboration between all partners
• Great example of using our “Geographic Advantage”
• Much better environmentally for the people that live in the area now

Multiple Pipelines will be coming through our area very soon

• These pipelines should be an opportunity for the local college to provide training (many job opportunities)
• There is a shortage in the area for skilled trade workers of this sort
• Should TMACOG play a role in advocating the need for training/transportation/data?
• Defiance, OH is currently a hub for many of these types of pipelines
• These companies do have some eminent domain power, but they usually try not to use it
• There are some negative attitudes towards the project
• These projects do affect the public, especially farmers
• But these companies are usually very accommodating to the people the projects affect

Rossford & TARTA

•  This collaboration was more about “regional transportation” than “public transportation”
• The education of the public was crucial in the passage 
• Have public transportation is  very important when applying for some types of funding
• TARPS was a big factor for Rossford as well, could not afford to lose TARPS services
• Millennials love public transit/biking/walking, they don’t  love owning a vehicle and the extra expenses that go along with that vehicle
• Public transportation is also an important piece of Complete Streets, which is tied to STP funding

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