By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Before the Wood County Commissioners give their blessing to a countywide roadwork district, they want to make sure the route ahead has no hazards for the county.
For 20 years, the Rossford Transportation Improvement District has been aiding business by helping to find funding for roadways. But the Rossford TID has found its borders to be too confining, since the organization can only assist projects in Rossford and the adjoining Perrysburg Township.
Other projects have had to be rejected – like a request in Lake Township off Tracy Road for the Jones Hamilton plant. Though the plant is just on the border of Perrysburg Township, it had to be turned down, said Lane Williamson, legal counsel for the Rossford TID.
“We really can’t do a project in Lake Township” since it’s outside the TID jurisdiction,” Williamson said.
So organizers of the Rossford TID were back before the county commissioners again on Thursday, asking to expand the TID to the entire county.
Ed Pavuc, chairman of the Rossford TID, said the organization allows access to Ohio Department of Transportation funding.
“It is an economic development tool,” Pavuc told the commissioners.
“They would be much more successful accessing grants,” if the county had the benefit of an expanded TID, he said.
Mike Scott, Rossford municipal administrator, said the current TID is the only TID in the state that is not countywide.
“It’s another great economic development tool,” Scott said. “It expands the tools in your arsenal.”
Wood County Engineer John Musteric agreed, noting the possibility of getting funds for the Jones Hamilton project and others. “I think it’s a good thing.”
However, Wood County Treasurer Jill Engle wasn’t sold on the idea. She told the commissioners that the state auditor had declared the Rossford TID “unauditable.”
“That has not been addressed,” Engle said, adding that such an issue could affect the county trying to keep its good bond rating. “Why expand a group that can’t handle their finances?”
Scott explained that during the transition from one administrator to another, a filing deadline with the state auditor was missed. That led to the automatic issuance of an “unauditable” designation. Scott explained that the TID is all volunteer, and that the records will be submitted soon.
Williamson added that the information has historically been on time to the state auditor.
Wood County Auditor Michael Sibbersen also had some questions, since the county’s 2000 audit had been held up because of problems with the Rossford TID audit. Williamson said that was a one-time instance, and the TID is now and will no longer be a component unit of Wood County for auditing purposes.
Sibbersen suggested that it “would be wise” if the county made certain that after expanding the TID that it will not fall under the county audit. Williamson said the county commissioners would only be appointing two of the 11 TID board members, so the county would not have liability.
Jeff Loehrke, of ODOT, talked about the funding the county may be able to access if the TID was expanded. ODOT gives out $3.5 million annually to TIDs, with 15 projects funded last year. He also noted that any new TIDs approved in the state now have to be countywide programs.
The funding can be used for industrial, commercial and service industry related projects. It can be spent on design, construction and right-of-way acquisition.
It would be a “real benefit” to the county, Loehrke said.
“There’s a state funding opportunity to cover a shortfall in local funding,” Williamson said. “We see it working that way throughout the county.”
Rex Huffman, of the Wood County Port Authority, talked about the work of that agency since its countywide expansion. Among the projects the port authority has assisted are Home Depot in Troy Township and Calphalon in Middleton Township.
The TID would work with the county engineer’s office.
“I see a lot of positives here,” Wood County Commissioner Ted Bowlus said.
“I saw the benefits as a township trustee,” said Commissioner Craig LaHote, a former Perrysburg Township trustee.
“I think it would be good for the county,” allowing it to leverage state funding, Pavuc said.
But Commissioner Doris Herringshaw said the county’s approval should be contingent upon the TID getting a clean state audit.
“I think we have some work to do before we move ahead,” Herringshaw said.
