[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6180466,"mediaKeyId","5117927-38f76711a80c0e445271e6b744bd2700","parentId",5117927,"title","Auditor’s office recommends replacing outdated Linx alarm with Threat Extinguisher system; commissioners approve","audioSeconds",511,"startMs",4587000,"endMs",5098000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5117927-38f76711a80c0e445271e6b744bd2700&start=4587&end=5098","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5117927-38f76711a80c0e445271e6b744bd2700/thumbnail_4587000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6180466/Richland-County/Ohio/Auditors-office-recommends-replacing-outdated-Linx-alarm-with-Threat-Extinguisher-system-commissioners-approve","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6180466-5a046d97cfad0ec5ae84908722f74a52/orig.mp4?Expires=1771126020&Signature=UO0sfDb38GJtCnqwYe1jsPJEN8KRKqWRVuVOi5Pk~NkVraQwaLttd9nRup-5O1MAIwE0roAfECOde-4g~DnAfOA2yoQ4KcfKuyl1tvnDe5LvyFJVoVAQVXGomH84Kb8LK0o5o5RUqq5RHp9qoUOeiDccVGJyi3NvHiFUTcvrkxPfLl4t9MPzcI~L2XHIgJvCVYAXXdvmqKg-q3LOU6uOPtyDQ59C9m1smDfSUlrPVlubeCLecQHFQvPKn0OYxUxeQ~AGo~XVCpE7HRJhhKC~fL6e5LgMX7LcBU5TkXjLRO8~fxhGqeaLgi7cq39~-hpYWg0YWNKw3yqBNh34r3Cd-Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Richland County OH","date","2025-07-02T03:47:24Z","article","Auditor’s office staff recommended replacing an aging Linx emergency notification system in the courthouse with a Threat Extinguisher installation; the Board of Commissioners approved the purchase at the meeting.

Officials said the current Linx system covers only the courthouse and costs about $3,000 per year; it has reliability problems with wireless panic buttons. Auditor’s staff reported a vendor quote of $17,123.25 for full hardware replacement and integration with the county’s access control and said annual charges would drop to $1,250. Those figures were presented as a cost‑saving measure over time: the staff estimate showed a roughly $1,758 annual saving versus the legacy contract, paying off the hardware in under 10 years.

Function and integration: The system vendor and county IT staff said Threat Extinguisher operates from a cloud platform, integrates with the county’s access control system (Schmidt), can send alerts to computers, TVs, texts and phone calls, and is designed to remain operational on backup internet and generator power. Auditor’s staff said the system is compatible with other buildings and could be extended to additional county facilities in the future if governance and state‑entity constraints allow.

Board action and rationale: Commissioners voted to approve the purchase after staff described reliability problems with the existing system and the integration benefits. Staff said local public‑safety stakeholders, including jail/dispatch contacts, reviewed the product and found its dispatch connectivity acceptable.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Commissioners Zoom's Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Auditor’s staff recommended replacing the building’s Linx emergency notification system with a Threat Extinguisher installation at a one‑time cost of $17,123.25 and an annual service cost of $1,250; commissioners approved the purchase, citing longer‑term savings and improved features.","taxTitle","Richland County, Ohio","taxId",12673,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6180472,"County engineer wins bids for road resurfacing, accepts right‑of‑way, approves truck purchase",276,3686000,3962000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5117927-38f76711a80c0e445271e6b744bd2700&start=3686&end=3962","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5117927-38f76711a80c0e445271e6b744bd2700/thumbnail_3686000.jpg","/articles/6180472/Richland-County/Ohio/County-engineer-wins-bids-for-road-resurfacing-accepts-rightofway-approves-truck-purchase","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6180472-f5fdcabafd8b122749017b6e0a3833b1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771126020&Signature=CyUg~j4MrsjIF1BhhaASnAfTdqQ50w3bQz~zgdDt0aMPMCsv7f8Ohfbq5RVPY8BAxi99Dq420eTiknpE1F9dlsKUSyu5BU9eaoWpPkgp6xD9BZiEmCT4rFyeV34YhAIGZJtnSZqSkxKvV7ndI59bZmf3Q35eHXuILZVb9rNk7J6aNl~H7PoWjfZxYjF~dO0uCKOqSkbBiKiQ5HOjFUNsAXY8UKyZsvSxVLVqz2FOKx8dY00yBMadCMn~tH01WpHkYZLD6h-fd0x2XbZ1nqyGLk1cXTdeT36LTCWMris76YDrhDbIH4aWUOfHv2BkA8c2rmYw8mV7FpYvXomHQHRdHA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Richland County Engineer Adam Gove presented multiple construction bids and right‑of‑way transactions and recommended award or acceptance on several projects; the Board of Commissioners approved each item during the meeting.

Engineer bids and awards: The board approved awarding the Noble Road resurfacing contract (State Route 13 to the Rumpke Landfill entrance) to the apparent low bidder, Kekozing Construction Company, at $305,864.25; the engineer’s estimate had been $313,498. Adam Gove said the project will repair approximately 2,000 feet of roadway and that the Solid Waste Management Agency will help pay part of the cost.

The board also approved a hot‑mix asphalt resurfacing contract on Mansfield‑Washington Road. The apparent low bidder was listed as Chilean Sands Incorporated at $518,698.05, which Gove said was below the engineer’s estimate. For a cold constructed asphalt (CCAP) resurfacing program covering roughly 10.5 miles, the board approved awarding a contract to Earthworm Construction LLC for $760,087.50; that bid was about 8.5% over the engineer’s estimate but within the allowable award range.

Right‑of‑way and bridge project: The board accepted two of three required permanent easements and temporary construction easements for the Marion Avenue bridge replacement at Millsboro Road and scheduled the bridge for next year’s construction. Gove said negotiations continue on the third parcel; three of the four easement conveyances were gifts and one was paid based on an appraisal value.

Equipment purchase: The commissioners approved purchasing a 2026 Ford F‑350 for the engineer’s fleet to replace an older vehicle; the replaced unit will be repurposed within the county fleet.

Funding sources and grant support: Gove said the Mansfield‑Washington Road resurfacing project received an Ohio Public Works Commission grant covering roughly 40.45% of the project. For other resurfacing items, Gove explained county funding comes from license‑plate and gas‑tax revenues.

Board action: Commissioners voted to approve each of Gove’s recommendations in the meeting; roll calls for approvals were recorded by name on the record.","Richland County Engineer Adam Gove recommended and the commissioners approved multiple resurfacing contracts, accepted right‑of‑way parcels for a Marion Avenue bridge project, and authorized a 2026 Ford F‑350; several projects will use local funds and state grants.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6180476,"Richland leaders announce $20 million in state funding for Route 30 broadband middle‑mile",641,116000,757000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5117927-38f76711a80c0e445271e6b744bd2700&start=116&end=757","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5117927-38f76711a80c0e445271e6b744bd2700/thumbnail_116000.jpg","/articles/6180476/Richland-County/Ohio/Richland-leaders-announce-20-million-in-state-funding-for-Route-30-broadband-middlemile","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6180476-0717707fa4d8d2452f12ec9c7dce01a4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771126020&Signature=D5fYG9O5Y7latYLalSRLJU4r586Qw2I4P9nVZxdTEbuH4s6r-~KQovlhd5PwaIz6~VBRXCkO6wr6SZwL0ge-ibdeCAMDOhOie-aABsGBzVBmphRSFhD7FVKiz-CmLCDmreR-E-kbhUEaB9b6Ag7KZjid06mTWJVGU5jio2iFAZDK2DybRo2F~3HP882XcgzRf7ZLLENc47s9sTPcIxhtqJlpih2d43GCyHsoD7-AZs~eUBCENSDqcyQHfWz53WRAQk6xFcyXh3y~2Ri8ov6Ize3BLcUABu3O6GE0lbihvufngAktwQXVY65X8dFQPJeUh91eFMOfvljAG3EMXjdpfA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Commissioner Tony Vero and state and local officials announced that the state has appropriated $20,000,000 in General Revenue Fund (GRF) money for a Route 30 broadband expansion project aimed at building a middle‑mile fiber route across North Central Ohio.

The funding was presented as a two‑part appropriation that makes roughly $10,500,000 available in fiscal 2026 and the remaining funds available in fiscal 2027. State Representative Marilyn John and a presenter identified in the meeting as Dr. Diab credited years of local advocacy and legislative support for securing the appropriation.

The project will join the Ohio Academic Resources Network (ORNET) and create a point of presence, or POP, near the Mansfield airbase to connect the corridor into the state’s network backbone. “It’s about—it’s like water and electricity. Right? We cannot live without it,” Dr. Diab said, describing internet capacity as a modern utility for education, research and business. Barrett, who the meeting identified as the technical speaker, described a POP as a connection node on the backbone similar to an on‑ramp on a freeway and said the work is “middle mile” infrastructure meant to make last‑mile builds by local ISPs cheaper and more feasible.

Why it matters: County officials said the middle‑mile route will make it cheaper for local internet service providers to extend fiber to homes and businesses that currently lack high‑speed options. “When that connection point is a quarter mile instead of five miles, build‑out costs drop dramatically,” Barrett said. Officials also cited the Mansfield airbase transition and expanded cyber mission as reasons the corridor’s additional network capacity is urgent for both national security and local economic growth.

Details and next steps: County officials said the Ohio Department of Development (ODOD) will coordinate the appropriation and the procurement process. According to comments at the meeting, ODOD will contact Richland County to discuss issuing an RFP and whether the work is bid as a single corridor project between Canton and Lima or in sections (for example, Mansfield to Kent and Mansfield to Lima). Commissioner Vero and other local leaders said they expect Richland County to press to start construction in the Mansfield area because the POP is planned there, but they acknowledged ODOD will determine the procurement and phasing.

Estimates and uncertainties discussed: Speakers said $20 million is an estimate produced with input from ORNET (also referred to as OARnet in the meeting), BroadbandOhio and interested ISPs, and that the figure could change once design and procurement are complete. Local figures cited included a separate northern‑county last‑mile project estimated at about $8.2 million to serve roughly 750 locations, of which Richland’s contribution was stated as $2,000,000. Meeting participants also said individual last‑mile build costs can be high in rural areas—local examples ranged into the tens of thousands of dollars for a single property—so the middle‑mile backbone is intended to lower those barriers.

Right‑of‑way and regulatory notes: County officials reported early conversations with the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) indicated sufficient right‑of‑way along U.S. Highway 30 and no immediate objections, but they said detailed permitting and any federal involvement remain to be clarified during project design. The meeting also referenced the federal BEAD (Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment) funding context and state budgeting processes as background to the appropriation.

What leaders asked of residents and partners: Officials asked local governments, ISPs and other counties within the corridor to coordinate with ODOD and Richland County as ODOD begins procurement and design work. James Kennedy of the County Commissioners Association of Ohio was credited with legislative outreach and tracking vetoes during the budget process.

The announcement was framed as the start of implementation rather than a finished project: ODOD will lead procurement, Richland County officials said they intend to be “at the table” during RFP and contracting phases, and the timeline for construction and service availability will be determined after ODOD completes scoping and bidding.","County officials and state lawmakers announced a $20 million state GRF appropriation to build a middle‑mile fiber route along Route 30, with a point of presence near Mansfield Airbase; ODOD will coordinate project procurement and local officials said the funding will be distributed across fiscal years 2026 and 2027.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Auditor’s office recommends replacing outdated Linx alarm with Threat Extinguisher system; commissioners approve

County engineer wins bids for road resurfacing, accepts right‑of‑way, approves truck purchase

Richland leaders announce $20 million in state funding for Route 30 broadband middle‑mile