Village move, food drive, airport fuel-tank and demolition grant updates discussed at Morrow County meeting

County staff and village and airport representatives used the November session to update the commissioners on several ongoing local projects and community programs, including a food drive, building moves and grant-funded demolition work.

Donna, identified in the meeting as a village representative, told the board that, because of the federal government shutdown affecting SNAP and other benefits, her village will hold a food drive on Saturday, Nov. 22, from 9 a.m. to noon at the village office. She asked donors to make checks payable to "Morrow County Food Pantry" and to label cash donations "mayor's food drive." Donna said the food pantry serves the entire county and that the pantry can open for emergency requests outside of regular hours.

Donna also asked about the village's timeline for moving into the former engineer's building. County staff described cleanup work under way — roll-off dumpsters, power washing and coordination on records retention — and said two rooms remained to be cleared. Staff expressed hope that the facility would be cleaned and the village able to move in by the end of the year, but noted utilities currently remained in the county's name and that some items are still being vacated.

Mister Brooker reported that the airport's treasurer/operator financial responsibilities had been assigned, that a credit-card fuel payment system is being set up, and that the fuel-tank and service-station project should be completed within a week or two. Brooker also said painting and flooring work had started on a service building and that the county treasurer photographed 14 sites slated for cleanup under a demolition grant. Staff said most targeted sites were vacant and that the grant requires a permanent structure to qualify; they emphasized the demolition program is 100% grant-funded with no local match, and estimated about $200,000 in cleanup funds would be available for selected sites.

Staff listed specific potential projects for demolition or brownfield remediation, including a former village water department building, a house in disrepair and a former Lindner schoolhouse in the Denmark area. Brownfield candidate sites mentioned included a property behind Harkins and other gasoline-station properties; staff said some sites remained under discussion.

County staff announced the next 250 committee meeting is scheduled for Nov. 20 at 8:30 a.m. at the Environmental Health Building, with Secretary of State Frank Rose expected to appear. The announcement included a note that donuts and coffee will be provided.

No formal votes or policy changes were taken on these updates; they were presented for information and coordination.