Sun Nov 08 2009
By MARC KOVAC
C-N Capital Bureau
COLUMBUS -- State lawmakers began reviewing nearly $1.3 billion in capital spending Monday, part of the biennial projects bill they plan to approve before breaking for the summer.
House Bill 562, sponsored by Rep. Jay Hottinger, R-Newark, includes funding for flood mitigation in Paulding and Putnam counties and a wind power study in Fulton County as well as funding for the Henry County Historical Society Museum and Antwerp Railroad Depot historic building.
A total of $3 million was included in the capital budget by Rep. Lynn Wachtmann, R-Napoleon, and Rep. Cliff Hite, R-Findlay, for flood mitigation efforts in Paulding, Putnam, Hancock, Allen, Hardin and Wyandot counties.
The areas were hit hard by Blanchard River flooding, including a near-record cresting last August.
According to the two lawmakers, the funding will go toward a larger, $150 million effort being undertaken by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and six counties to address Blanchard River watershed flooding issues.
The legislation also includes some technical corrections to the state's biennial operating budget, approved by lawmakers last year, as well as corrections outlined by Gov. Ted Strickland earlier this year in light of an anticipated budget shortfall.
"However, the primary purpose of this bill is to address the state's ongoing need to improve, maintain and construct state facilities," Hottinger said in opening comments during a committee hearing Monday morning.
"Although some of these appropriations are directed toward the construction of new facilities, the majority are targeted for improving or replacing existing ones."
Under the current version of HB 562, Fulton County would receive more than $1.4 million for several projects at Northwest State Community College, including a county wind project and for basic renovations.
Henry County would receive $89,000, including $59,000 for the Henry County Historical Society Museum and $30,000 for parks improvements in the village of Hamler.
Paulding County would receive $106,000 for the Antwerp Railroad Depot historic building, through the Cultural Facilities Commission.
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