Tim Bubb, Licking County Commissioner

Greetings…

In this update … I will provide a quick County Government update as well as information on the County Bicentennial year. As the weatherman says – April is the month when winter and spring fight it out – and finally spring wins! Hopefully that will be soon!


In 2008 Licking County is celebrating its Bicentennial and events in May include…



*This Thursday, May 1st - Licking County Courthouse Open House and Tours -

This County Bicentennial event downtown is hosted by the five County Common Pleas Court Judges on Law Day – celebrating our heritage of freedom, justice and equality under the law. The public, and especially young people, are invited to tour the Courthouse between 6:00pm and 8:00pm. Built in 1876, the Licking County Courthouse is considered one of the finest and most beautiful courthouses in Ohio, and in this Bicentennial year is decorated with red, white and blue bunting.



*This Saturday – May 3rd - Newark Earthworks Day – Programs at the Newark Campus and Moundbuilders State Memorial in Heath.

This international event will draw visitors from across the U.S. and Mexico to compare Central Ohio Earthworks with Stonehenge and the pyramids of Teotihuacan. A number of presentations are planned for the Newark Campus, followed by the official reopening of the Museum at Moundbuilders State Memorial. A highlight will be a presentation by Aztec Dancers at the Museum at the Great Circle Mound in the State Park on Hebron Road.



Other Bicentennial Events…



Bicentennial Pioneer Days (Spring) – Joint Licking and Knox County Counties Bicentennial Celebration – May 17th – at 4-H Camp Ohio. A wide variety of family oriented outdoor activities are planned.



French and Indian War Living History Encampment – May 17th-18th –

Step 250 years back in time to when the rivers were superhighways and two European super powers were fighting over what is now Ohio. Experience what life was like for the French and British soldiers serving in harsh conditions. Get a glimpse into how the native Americans allied themselves with either the French or British to save their territory. Featured will be trade scenarios, and authentic battle reenactments. Parking charge is $5. For information call the Park District at 740-587-2535.


Fifth Annual Johnny Clem Breakfast – Saturday, May 24th – 8:00am-11:00am - Event honoring Newark native and Civil War Veteran, General Clem, on Memorial Day weekend at Buckingham House in Veterans Park in Newark. Tickets $5 each – featuring breakfast buffet and Civil War Re-enactors, Information – Licking County Historical Society – 740-345-4898.


U.S. Route 40/Historic National Road Cruise-In Event – May 28th-June 1st, - In conjunction with the annual National Road Yard Sale that weekend, a touring cruise-in featuring historic automobiles is being planned for Saturday morning, May 31st.

Participants should begin arriving on Main Street in the Village Gratiot (eastern Licking County on U S Route 40) at 9:30am. The ‘rolling cruise’ begins around 10:00am and will head west on Route 40 to Hebron. A two-hour stop at midday is planned at the Hometown Deli.

Participation is free and those who join the drive will receive a memento of the Licking County Bicentennial.


County Government Update…


The combination of an expensive winter and increasing asphalt costs would have meant a severe reduction in County road paving this year. The Engineer had on hand just over $800-thousand and the need is $1.3-million. As Commissioner I advocated spending an additional half million dollars to make certain the roads are properly paved, which is indeed a safety issue!

This summer County paving is planned for Licking Valley Road between Hanover and Ohio 79, Homer Road, Jug Street, Blue Jay Road, Outville Road between Kirkersville and Deeds Road, Dayton Road, Welsh Hills Road, Lakeshore Drive, Price Road, Dorsey Mill Road east of Ohio 13, Freeman Memorial Drive, and Purity Road near the bridge.

In addition County crews will chip and seal lesser traveled roads, and handle small bridge repair.


This Wednesday, April 30th I will join a delegation from Licking County on a mission to lobby our Congressional Delegation in Washington D.C. The trip, organized by the Port Authority, will include leaders from the business community and local government officials discussing economic development issues with our federal representatives and their staffs. In addition we will lobby for continued support for the military workloads currently at the Port Authority site, which is the former Newark Air Force base.


The Commissioners recently approved changing the name of the Newark Public Library to the Licking County Library. It was considered a relevant change as the District has branches in Newark, Buckeye Lake, Hebron, Utica and Johnstown. The State Library will have the final say on the change.

If approved the County would be the appointing and taxing authority for the County Library District. The four smaller Library Districts in the County in Alexandria, Homer, Pataskala and Granville will continue to be independent and the territories they serve will be excluded from the County Library District.


In a move to better serve our local veterans, the County has leased a larger more accessible facility to house the Veterans Service Office. The building is located at 935 Buckeye Avenue in west Newark, and the Veterans Service Office will be there by early summer. The move addresses an overcrowding problems and privacy concerns, especially with the influx of veterans back from the current conflict.

In addition the County has purchased and outfitted a mobile Veterans Service Office. That vehicle will be visiting the various communities in Licking County on a regular basis to serve veterans and their families who are unable to travel to Newark.


Annual Recycling Events from County Litter and Recycling…



* May 17th (Saturday) 9:00 am-1:00 pm - Tire and Appliance Recycling Collection will be held at the Licking County Highway Garage at 771 East Main Street in Newark. All you need to do is bring your tires and appliances, and they will unload them. A small recycling fee is changed for each appliance and tire, and only cash is accepted. Call Larry or Luellen for details at 740-670-5128.

* August 23rd (Saturday) 8:00 am-1:00 pm - Household Hazardous Waste Collection will be held at the Newark campus of OSU-COTC. Call Carol at 740-349-6308 or Larry at 740-670-5128 for details.

* September 13th (Saturday) 9:00-1:00 Tire Recycling Collection in Pataskala.



Finally, this Thursday, May 1st is the National Day of Prayer.


This Thursday, during the day, a community wide prayer event is held around the Square, and Thursday during the lunch hour, from 12:20pm to 12:40pm, the annual Day of Prayer event will happen on the steps of the Newark City Building at 40 West Main Street.

Regardless of your religious affiliation, I would ask you to say a good word or two, this Thursday, for our Federal, State and local governments! It is a challenging time in our nation’s history and a little devine help might be a good thing!



At the Newark City Hall event I will add this prayer to the program…



On this National Day of Prayer – in this year 2008 - as Licking County celebrates its Bicentennial - I would ask each of you consider the hardships the pioneers faced as they blazed their trails into this fertile Licking River Valley. The self-reliant people who settled this region brought with them their work ethic, family values, the ability to live off the land, and maybe most important - their faith!



The immigrants - just as we see today – came to America at great personal risk to enjoy opportunity and freedom of religion. And among their first efforts here were to root their faith here by establishing churches in every direction. O God – we thank you for the history of this County and the wealth of opportunities for meaningful occupation and family life that it has provided to successive generations.



Today, we pray, that the citizens of our County enjoy a renewed sense of this faith – a faith that meant so much to the pioneers that settled this County. I would ask you to pray for County Government, and the men and women who maintain the roads and bridges, oversee the cause of justice, guard the standards of public health, and in various ways make our common life together workable.



We also remember the ancient heritage of this Licking River Valley, reaching back into the lives of the Native American Moundbuilders, the vestiges of their impressive culture being still visible on our landscape. Lord – we are so blessed here in Licking County and we pray for the future that our area may serve the hopes and dreams of those who come after us. In your holy name!





As your County Commissioner I look forward to serving you throughout 2008, and into a second term, as well!



Feel free to contact me at the office at (740) 670-5118 or e-mail me at the County Building at tbubb@lcounty.com .

At home call (740) 323-3951 or e-mail timbubb@roadrunner.com .

Again my website is http://timbubb.com/ and I invite you to click on it often for campaign updates.