Butler County Engineer
Greg Wilkens issues the following statement in support of State
Issue 1:
On November 8th, Butler
County and Ohio voters will be asked to vote on State Issue 1.
The provisions of this ballot issue include further funding of
the very successful State Capital Improvement Program (SCIP).
This program has efficiently provided direct financial assistance
to local governments for improvements to existing infrastructure.
It has been critical to Butler County where explosive growth
has dictated that we spend road and bridge funds on expanding
the roadway grid while maintaining what we already have. The
SCIP program has enabled the Butler County Engineer's Office
(BCEO) to replace aging bridges and culverts, fix dangerous intersections,
and repair and widen overburdened roads. This frees up more local
funds that can be used as match money for major federal grants
to help us build a safer, more efficient transportation system
that accommodates today's needs.
It is imperative that
the State Capital Improvement Program continue. The BCEO and
local governments critically need State Issue 1 to continue funding
infrastructure improvements that include not only roads and bridges,
but also storm and sanitary sewer systems, solid waste treatment
systems, and water supply facilities.
Over $90 million in
SCIP funds have been availed to Butler County and its communities
since the inception of this program, resulting in nearly $203
million worth of improvements. The Butler County Engineer's Office
has completed 280 projects totaling $29 million with the help
of SCIP funding. Specifically, the BCEO has replaced or repaired
59 bridges and 192 culverts, constructed twelve roadway improvements,
upgraded ten hazardous intersections, paved several miles of
roadway, and performed several drainage improvements. While all
of these projects have been critical, a few are particularly
noteworthy:
- Port Union Road widening;
- State Route 122 widening;
- Morgan Ross Road improvements;
- Five Points intersection
improvement;
- Howe Road bridge replacement
over Elk Creek;
- Cox Road extension
and upgrade to Hamilton Mason Road;
- River Road upgrade
and slip repairs.
The Butler County Engineer's
Office has utilized SCIP money to develop numerous bridge replacement
packages that have helped reduce the number of load-restricted
bridges on our roadways. This funding source also allows us to
expedite bridge replacements more quickly than through the Federal
process. We can program several SCIP-funded bridge projects at
any given time and reasonably expect funds to be available within
six to twelve months. Federal funds, while critical for large
projects, can take several years to leverage.
We are also able to
use SCIP funds as local match money for Federal grants. This
is how we were able to widen Cincinnati Dayton Road from I-75
to Tylersville Road in West Chester Township. Another recent
example of this was our partnering with the City of Fairfield
to upgrade Muhlhauser Road and the State Route 4 / Muhlhauser
intersection -- a $10 million project.
Safer roads, smoother
traffic flow, and easier access that allow businesses to thrive.
Butler County has clearly benefitted from the SCIP program and
stands to gain even more if Issue 1 passes, thereby continuing
this crucial funding source. And the best part is, it does not
raise taxes but simply authorizes the State to issue bonds for
important programs. Funds for repayment of Issue 1 bonds are
already built into Ohio's future budgets so again, Issue 1 will
not increase taxes. Moreover, programs made possible by Issue
1 will generate new revenues for state and local governments
by helping expand our job base statewide.
Issue 1 will also make
Ohio and its local communities more economically competitive
by providing grants to local governments to prepare job ready
sites for new businesses and job creation.
Issue 1 enjoys strong
bi-partisan support in the Ohio General Assembly as well as from
county commissioners, mayors, township trustees, county engineers,
the Ohio Farm Bureau, and business and labor organizations, including
the AFL-CIO.
Join me, your Butler
County Engineer, in support of State Issue 1 on November 8th.
Please vote YES on Issue 1.
Greg Wilkens, P.E.,
P.S.
Butler County Engineer
# # #
For more information
contact:
Chris
Petrocy, BCEO Public Information Supervisor
Greg Wilkens, P.E., P.S.,
Butler County Engineer
Phone 513.867.5744 • Fax 513.867.5849
