FREMONT - Newly appointed Sandusky County Engineer Carlos Baez came to Fremont in 1994 from Colombia as an exchange student at Ross High School, and developed his love for engineering. After graduating from the University of Toledo and working as a civil engineer for the City of Oregon, he came back to his home away from home to join the Sandusky County Engineer's Office in 2010 with the goal of becoming the county's engineer.
Latest News
Latest News
10/01/2020
Crash-prone intersection will get a two-lane roundabout
Madison County, Ohio -A roundabout is coming to a Plain City-area intersection that has experienced a high rate of vehicle crashes over the last several years.
Madison County Engineer Bryan Dhume reported on Sept. 29 that the county will receive $1.3 million in federal money to put toward construction of a two-lane roundabout at the intersection of Plain City-Georgesville Road, Converse Huff Road, and Cemetery Pike.
07/24/2020
Ohio County Engineers Attend White House Event
WASHINGTON – On Thursday, July 16, 2020, over 200 state, local, and tribal officials from around the country joined President Donald J. Trump on the White House South Lawn as he reviewed the administration’s ongoing efforts to reduce burdensome federal regulations. The President highlighted the regulatory actions taken to expedite infrastructure projects at an event entitled Rollback of Regulations Helping All Americans. Engineers attending from Ohio included Champaign County Engineer Stephen McCall, Delaware County Engineer Chris Bauserman, and CEAO Executive Director Dean Ringle who were invited as part of a delegation with seven other local transportation officials from the National Association of County Engineers (NACE). Vice President Mike Pence, Idaho Governor Bradley Little, and Alaska Governor Michael Dunleavy also addressed the group.
07/23/2020
Assistant Engineer Needed in Gallia County
Gallia County - Job Opportunity - The Gallia County Engineer's office is in search of an Assistant Engineer. Gallia County Job Posting Assistant Engineer
07/23/2020
Civil Engineer/Project Manager Needed in Muskingum County
Muskingum County - Job Opportunity - The Muskingum County Engineer's office is in search of a Civil Engineer/Project Manager. The position is full time. Muskingum County Civil Engineer Job Description
04/06/2020
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine Enacts Stay at Home Order concerning COVID-19
Governor Mike DeWine along with Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton have enacted a stay-at-home order as the number of cases in the state continues to rise.
Update: Dr. Acton issued a new stay at home order that begins on April 7, 2020 and lasts through May 1, 2020. This order prohibits holding gatherings of any size and closes all nonessential businesses. It does NOT prohibit essential activities like going to the grocery store, receiving medical care, or taking your pet for a walk. Residents can return home from out of state and can leave the state.
Ohio Department of Health Stay at Home Order
Helpful resources and guidelines:
CISA Memo and Guidance on Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce
Information on Stay at Home Order
We encourage you to stay up-to-date with information at www.coronavirus.ohio.gov.
Also, if you have questions, call the Ohio Department of Health hotline at 1-833-4ASK-ODH.
04/06/2020
Drop in traffic and gas consumption amid pandemic could impact ODOT funding for roads and bridges
Cleveland, Ohio - News 5 Cleveland - According to Governor Mike DeWine, the drop in traffic is being felt at the pump. He says gas consumption is down 30 to 40 percent. “That would obviously impact our budget,” Bruning said.
03/30/2020
Coronavirus: Road repair, construction continue — for the moment — in central Ohio
Columbus, Ohio - (Columbus Dispatch) While much of central Ohio is keeping close to home under a state order to prevent the spread of coronavirus, some of the men and women who build and repair roads and bridges remain on the job, ensuring critical infrastructure is safe and available. (please note a subscription may be required to read the full article)
03/23/2020
ODOT Transportation Waiver for Essential Goods
OHIO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION WAIVER
The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) is modifying the process for haulers carrying heavy loads of essential goods.
Generally, Ohio requires haulers with loads classified as “oversized” to seek advanced permission from ODOT before they are legally allowed to travel in the state.
To assist in the state’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak, ODOT will modify the process for haulers carrying heavy or oversized loads of food, non-alcoholic beverages, medical supplies, cleaning products, and other household goods. Haulers carrying these essential goods can download and print the permit at https://transportation.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/odot/
02/10/2020
Hamilton County's Engineer Is Retiring
Cincinnati, Ohio - Hamilton County Engineer Ted Hubbard is retiring on Feb. 29 after working for 38 years at the county engineer's office.
01/13/2020
Ohio Gas Tax Increase Will Fund Road Repairs in 2020
Columbus Underground - Columbus, Ohio, By Tyler Buchanan
Tim Schumm is already looking forward to spring. County engineers like him also serve as amateur meteorologists. Forget baseball. Spring means it’s paving season, and the Henry County official knows the recent influx of gas tax revenue will help to get an extra 11 miles of road paved this spring. His office couldn’t have paid for those miles otherwise.
01/06/2020
Butler County roundabout boom will continue in 2020 and beyond
Journal News - Butler County, Hamilton, Ohio — The latest roundabout project keeps Butler County on pace to include more than 30 by 2022, which the county engineer said underlines officials are “no doubt a believer in them.”
01/06/2020
County, cities sitting on excess salt, preparing for usage
The Morning Journal - Loraine and Erie Counties - Although salt supply tonnage is difficult to estimate for the rest of the winter, both the county and its municipalities are sitting on an excess of salt from the previous winter. Salt is ordered throughout the winter as needed, with the county averaging a little over 11,000 tons a year over the past 15 years, according to the Ohio Department of Transportation.
County tonnage: Going into the new season, assistant county engineer Bob Klaiber said the county has 5,000 tons of salt on hand as of mid-December. This amount of leftover tonnage is a bit more than average in comparison to previous years, Klaiber said.
12/19/2019
Grant funding for speed and passing zone studies OK’d
The Daily Jeffersonian - Guernsey County - The Guernsey County Commissioners recently approved a passing zone safety study and a speed zone study. The County Engineer’s Office put a request in for funding and received two grants, one for each study. According to County Engineer Paul Sherry, the passing zone study is a broad study of all the paved roads in the county to help determine where the pavement markers should be changed from a double yellow line to a single passing line and on which side of the road it should be.
12/19/2019
Roundabouts Contribute to Safety, less Crashes in Butler County
Butler County Connection - “We currently have the 18th roundabout in Butler County that we were involved with, and it was just constructed at Hamilton Mason Road and Gilmore Road,” said Traffic Engineer Matt Loeffler of the Butler County Engineer’s Office.
12/09/2019
Boothe recognized as County Engineer of Year
Gallipolis Daily Tribune - Brett A. Boothe, P.E., P.S., Gallia County Engineer, received the award of 2019 County Engineer of the Year.
08/31/2019
Inspectors work to find bridge issues before they become problems
Columbus Dispatch --Columbus, OH --As morning commuters passed overhead, Maxwell Faulkner donned his scuba gear and slipped into Blacklick Creek to check underwater sections of an East Side bridge for any signs of deterioration. Across town, at about the same time, David Dibling, assistant Franklin County bridge engineer, was climbing through an access door more than 100 feet above Lane Avenue on the Ohio State University campus to inspect cables supporting the bridge that carries traffic and pedestrians over the Olentangy River. It’s the midyear point for the Franklin County Engineer’s office’s annual bridge-inspection program. On any given day, people such as Faulkner and Dibling are hard at work down low and up high to ensure that structures around the county are safe for vehicles and people.
08/30/2019
Lake County engineers discuss state of the county's bridges
With bodies of water like Big Creek and the Grand and Chagrin rivers running through Lake County, motorists and pedestrians alike depend on many bridges. The (Lake) county’s engineering department is responsible for 304 bridges, roughly one-third of the total amount with the remaining bridges falling under Ohio Department of Transportation, local municipalities and private railroad lines. “If it’s over a body of water and it’s in (Lake) County then it’s our responsibility,” County Engineer Jim Gills explained the distinction.
07/15/2019
Greene gets its first female county engineer
XENIA — Greene County officially has its first female county engineer.
Thursday’s appointment by the Republican Central Committee makes Stephanie Goff, P.E., P.S., the only current female county-wide elected official in Greene County. Goff’s new title also makes her one of three female county engineers in the state.
“The vote was unanimous to appoint Stephanie Goff to the position of Greene County Engineer,” Jan Basham, central committee chair, said. “She is an asset to the county with her experience and skill set … [and] will serve Greene County well.”
07/02/2019
Gas tax for Ohio begins
The last increase in the state gas tax was 2005. “I want to say it’s much appreciated because our costs have gone up since the last increase,” said county Engineer Bert Dawson. “It’s more of a catch up.”
06/04/2019
Engineer to retire, cites work to restore Greene’s covered bridges
Bob Geyer said he made one promise when he was elected as the Greene County engineer in 1996. “I will leave the county in better shape than I found it. And I think I accomplished that,” said Geyer. He announced this week that he will retire in May.
05/15/2019
Ottawa County Now Accepting Applicants for Deputy Drainage Engineer position
The Ottawa County Engineer’s Office is accepting applications and resumes through May 17, 2019 for the position of Deputy Drainage Engineer.
View the job description listing the requirements and duties of the position.
05/15/2019
New county engineer fulfills dream as he prepares for summer projects
04/03/2019
Chris Fauber named Highland County engineer
Highland County commissioners on Wednesday approved Chris Fauber as the new county engineer, replacing longtime engineer Dean Otworth, who resigned last month to take a job at the Ohio Department of Transportation. Commissioner Jeff Duncan said Fauber, who was the deputy engineer until Wednesday’s vote, will fill the seat until the Highland County Republican Central Committee officially appoints someone.
04/03/2019
Ohio legislature OKs 10.5-cent gas-tax hike, ends front-plate requirement
Ohio drivers will pay an additional 10.5 cents per gallon in gas tax and, starting next summer, will no longer need a front license plate under a two-year transportation budget that got final legislative approval on Tuesday, April 2.
02/06/2019
ODOT director stresses Ohio facing road funding crisis without new revenue
Columbus, OH –As Gov. Mike DeWine and state lawmakers consider a possible gas-tax increase, Ohio’s transportation director warned Tuesday that the state’s road maintenance and infrastructure projects are facing an “impending crisis” unless more money is generated.
01/23/2019
Statewide coalition sounds warning about Ohio’s lack of funding for deteriorating roads, bridges
Growing statewide coalition of business, local government and transportation industry leaders launch effort
to educate Ohioans on looming transportation funding shortfall
Columbus, OH – Sharply reduced funding for vital improvements to Ohio’s deteriorating roads and bridges presents a major economic and transportation problem according to a statewide coalition advocating for adequate infrastructure spending.
01/22/2019
Time to find ways to meet Ohio’s road, transit needs
Columbus, Ohio — Among the first orders of business for Gov. Mike DeWine and the 133rd Ohio General Assembly
will be setting a new two-year transportation budget. For a good start, they should consider a plan by a statewide coalition to get a shriveling transportation capital program back on track. Fix Our Roads Ohio, a group including county governments, chambers of commerce, regional planning bodies and transportation organizations, is sounding the alarm: Even as Ohio’s roads, bridges and transit systems become more congested and in need of repair, transportation funding is about to take a dive.
01/22/2019
Clinton County Engineering Assistant Smith honored
Clinton County —Gary Smith, Engineering Assistant at the Clinton County Engineer’s Office, was awarded the CEAO David Brand Safety Award at the County Commissioners Association of Ohio and County Engineers Association of Ohio Winter Conference in December.
12/21/2018
Bauserman named top county engineer
Delaware County — Delaware County Engineer Chris Bauserman, P.E., P.S., and staff received the 2018 County Engineer of the Year award from the County Engineers Association of Ohio (CEAO) during its annual business meeting held Dec. 9-11.
11/01/2018
New traffic signage at two Guernsey County intersections
Guernsey County — Based on the results of a grant-funded safety study, new traffic signage has been posted at two intersections in Guernsey County — Ohio Avenue and Corduroy Road, and North Eighth Street Road and Lemon Hill Road.
11/01/2018
Aging bridges and broken-down buses rank among Hamilton County voters' top concerns
CINCINNATI -- The state of the region's roads, bridges and public transit sits at the front of Hamilton County voters' minds as the 2018 midterm elections approach, with more than one high-profile race hanging in the balance.
10/22/2018
Bridge to be saved, Grant approved for covered bridge
Washington County - Washington County Engineer Roger Wright said rot has set in on the structural members holding the bridge up. Work to repair it will be complex and require craftsmen with specialized skills, he said.
A month ago, he said, a grant application to the federal government was approved, and the work will probably be scheduled in the 2020 fiscal year.
“We were able to get rather good funding,” he said. The federal government through two programs will pay 95 percent of the cost, which Wright estimated to be between $700,000 and $750,000.
10/10/2018
Snow salt prices rise in Portage, state
Portage County - Last winter may not have seemed particularly harsh to the average Ohio motorist.
But the high number of small “snow events,” each requiring salt, plus the high number of days when temperatures fell below freezing and rose above freezing in a single day, took a toll on salt supplies, as well as the condition of pavement.
09/19/2018
Infrastructure projects seek $11M in state funding for 2019
YOUNGSTOWN - Mahoning and Trumbull counties and several municipalities are competing for more than $11 million in Ohio Public Works Commission grant and loan funding for infrastructure projects in 2019.
06/26/2018
Woolpert's Cliff Lovin Scholarship is Accepting Applications
Applications are currently being accepted for the annual Cliff Lovin Scholarship for a geography or engineering student attending school in the State of Ohio. Woolpert generously established this scholarship to support the geospatial industry by helping students in furthering their education in the field.
The scholarship will be awarded to an undergraduate student with a major in geography or engineering who is currently enrolled at an Ohio university. Applications and an official transcript are due by September 1, 2018, and the recipient will be announced during the 2018 Ohio GIS Conference, September 24-26, in Columbus, Ohio.
For application information, please see the links below:
Cliff Lovin Scholarship Information
Cliff Lovin Scholarship Application
05/17/2018
Now Accepting Scholarship Applications for Civil Engineering and/or Surveying Students
CEAO’s Board of Directors has established a scholarship program for Civil Engineering and/or Surveying students attending school in the State of Ohio. The intent of the Board is to increase awareness of the County Engineering profession and to encourage students and current county employees to become registered both as a Professional Engineer and as a Professional Surveyor.
Scholarships will be awarded to Civil Engineering and Surveying students at the Junior and Senior level of a Bachelors program and to current county employees who are interested in working toward their dual registration.
The 2018 Scholarship Application should be submitted directly to the CEAO office; selections will be made by the CEAO Scholarship Committee. Official transcripts from any college level courses you have completed must be included. Please return the completed application along with your supporting documentation by June 15, 2018 to:
County Engineers Association of Ohio
Attention: Scholarship Committee
6500 Busch Blvd. Suite 100
Columbus, OH 43229-1738
02/28/2018
Holmes County Road 160 project earns award
WINESBURG — A project that caused plenty of grumbling and complaining prior to its completion has proven to be an extremely successful undertaking.
The Holmes County Road 160 intersection project has been selected as the winner of the 2018 Outstanding Highway Project Award by the Cuyahoga Valley Section of the American Society of Highway Engineers (ASHE) in the under $5 million category.
02/22/2018
Civil engineering a difficult, but satisfying job for Keaton
Mount Vernon - The field of engineering is intricately woven into the fabric of our everyday lives.
"If you think about it, anything and everything you think of at some point in time probably had an engineer involved in it," Knox County Engineer Cameron Keaton told the news.
01/31/2018
Ohio ranks among worst states with deficient bridges
Ohio has some of the most structurally deficient bridges in the U.S., according to a new report.
The American Road and Transportation Builders Association released an analysis on Monday that shows Ohio has the 12th-highest number of structurally deficient bridges in the country.
01/31/2018
Summit County OKs $5 motor vehicle license fees hike to pay for bridge, road projects
Starting next year Summit County residents will pay $5 more to register each of their motor vehicles.
01/26/2018
Extreme winter weather means more potholes in Clark County, region
The most severe winter weather in recent years also has produced more potholes on Clark County roads.
“Some counties are saying the potholes are worse this year,” Ohio Department of Transportation spokeswoman Mandi Dillon said in a statement.
01/26/2018
Utica Shale helps fund road repairs
A new report by Energy In Depth and the Ohio Oil and Gas Association (OOGA) finds that oil and gas operators have paid more than $302.6 million for road, bridge and culvert improvements via the Road Use Maintenance Agreement (RUMA), which is an agreement between operators and counties to ensure road damages by heavy equipment being moved for shale drilling and pipeline work are either prevented or repaired.
01/26/2018
Officials: Mahoning County's pothole-palooza likely to get worse
Potholes have begun to devour many Mahoning County roads, and with wildly varying temperatures, county Engineer Pat Ginnetti said it’s likely to get worse.
“These roads are falling apart,” Ginnetti said.
01/26/2018
County Council holds license fee hearing
Summit County Council took another step toward approving a new fee by holding a public hearing on the proposal at its Jan. 22 meeting.
Summit County Engineer Alan Brubaker proposed a $5 license fee last year to help pay for road and bridge repairs. The public hearing was a necessary procedural step in enacting the new fee.
10/12/2017
ARTBA Attends White House Transportation Meetings
ARTBA President & CEO Pete Ruane and other senior staff made several trips to the White House this week to discuss the Trump administration’s infrastructure package and regulatory reform efforts. Paul Gruner, Montgomery County Engineer in Dayton, Ohio, represented ARTBA at a White House briefing on the administration’s infrastructure package.
07/27/2017
Fairgrounds’ new entrance comes in a very old package
LISBON — The county fairgrounds can now boast two historical bridges, and the same man was behind both projects that were 45 years apart.
07/25/2017
Rover Pipeline project: 1st line constructed, 2nd could be delayed by federal order
The first of two parallel pipelines running through Richland County is completely constructed, but the second could be delayed by federal order.
07/25/2017
How safe are Butler County roundabouts? New report details results
The Butler County Engineer’s Office says its roundabouts are even safer than the national average as far as preventing crashes.
07/25/2017
Innovative sealing method saves roads and money in Trumbull County
VIENNA, Ohio (WKBN) – The Trumbull County Engineer’s Office is trying out a new process when it comes to chip sealing roads — using recycled asphalt grindings from paving projects in other parts of the county.
06/16/2017
Cornell Robertson named acting Franklin County engineer
Cornell Robertson has been named Franklin County’s acting engineer.
06/06/2017
With little $$, fixing county bridges is like 'putting out fires'
Athens County has an enormous number of bridges, 335 to be exact, that may well be among the most for a county in Ohio, if not the most. But with increased expenses and decreased funding, it’s near impossible to get ahead of the game when addressing damaged bridges, Athens County Engineer Jeff Maiden explained last week.
06/06/2017
Cost of asphalt limits road resurfacing plans
LISBON –The county engineer’s office will be resurfacing fewer miles of roads this year because more of the effort will focus on asphalt, which is much costlier than chip/seal.
05/24/2017
Commissioners likely to weigh additional license-plate fee
Wood County's commissioners will likely discuss seeking an additional $5 license-plate fee that could generate nearly $750,000 per year for road and bridge work.
05/24/2017
Lucas County official seeks plate fee hike
Lucas County Engineer Keith Earley made a plea to the county commissioners Tuesday for increased vehicle registration fees to fund the rising costs of construction for area roads and bridges.
05/04/2017
Dangerous railroad crossings: Can counties afford to fix them?
DELAWARE — Widening roads to ease congestion is necessary in growing communities. But engineers and public officials face challenges when railroad crossings are in the way. Do they widen around the tracks? Build a bridge over them? Or create a trench underneath?
05/04/2017
Franklin County Engineer Dean Ringle retiring after 17 years in office
Franklin County’s long-time engineer is retiring — and recommending his replacement.
Dean Ringle, 60, has been the county’s elected engineer for 17 years but has worked for the Engineer’s Office for 36 years. “I know I look younger than that,” Ringle joked.
05/04/2017
Franklin County Engineer Dean Ringle leaving post
Dean Ringle is resigning from the Franklin County Engineer's Office after 36 years of employment there, including the last 17 leading it. He'll leave next month to become executive director for the County Engineers Association of Ohio.
05/04/2017
Longtime County Engineer Sharrett to retire after 43 years
Ron Sharrett, the longtime engineer of Vinton County, has announced he will retire next month.
04/25/2017
Local highway department 'starting to take off' with projects
Not for prom or even graduation. And certainly not Christmas. No, it’s the time of year when the Huron County Engineer’s Office and Highway Department is busy with multiple projects.
03/24/2017
Mahoning County engineer: More money needed to fix crumbling roads
YOUNGSTOWN — Raising taxes and fees is never popular, but more money is needed to properly maintain road infrastructure, Mahoning County County Engineer Patrick Ginnetti told the county commissioners today.
03/23/2017
Holmes engineer rolls out plan to pave roads with sales tax dollars
MILLERSBURG — Holmes County Engineer Chris Young has released the details of the 2017 Paving Plan, the first such paving plan that will incorporate revenue from a five-year 0.25 percent road sales tax approved by Holmes County voters in November 2016.
03/23/2017
Belmont County Commissioners considering putting license plate fee hike up for levy
BELMONT COUNTY, Ohio — A proposed license plate fee hike was addressed during the Belmont County Commission meeting on Wednesday morning.
03/10/2017
County engineer gets money for projects, equipment
03/09/2017
Holmes County voters approve sales tax increase
03/09/2017
Salt reserve taking mild winter in stride
03/09/2017
County engineer reports on Rover pipeline progress
03/09/2017
How a Michigan County Road Got Stuck in Regulation Purgatory
03/06/2017
Belmont County commissioners contemplate license plate fee
03/06/2017
Erie County boasts robust bridge rating
03/06/2017
Engineer: Funds needed for bridge repairs
03/02/2017
Belmont County engineer looking for money to upgrade roads
03/02/2017
County engineer attends Trump address
02/27/2017
Trumbull engineer’s office to have truck washing facility by fall
02/27/2017
Increased license plate fee may be on ballot
02/27/2017
Ditzler to state lawmakers: Get some guts
02/27/2017
Proposed license plate fee increase targets road and bridge improvements
02/22/2017
Cost could soon rise for Ohio driver's licenses, plates
02/21/2017
Using data to drive Licking County road work
02/21/2017
Battle expected over annexation request from Jerome to Dublin
02/17/2017
Boothe addresses concerns with state finance committee
02/17/2017
More than 1,600 Ohio bridges deemed structurally deficient
02/17/2017
Mahoning County Engineer says road improvement budget is tight
02/13/2017
ROADS/BRIDGES: Overpass crumbles onto I-75 median in Bay County, Mich.
02/13/2017
Trumbull County buys four CNG trucks
02/13/2017
Belmont engineer welcomes assistant
02/13/2017
Restoration of county computer data could be weeks away
02/13/2017
Hoagland Bridge Bill Should Pass
02/13/2017
Mahoning County Engineer calls for funding changes
02/13/2017
ROADS/BRIDGES: Governors to submit list of 300 infrastructure projects to Trump administration
02/08/2017
County engineer talks about sagging infrastructure
02/07/2017
Hoagland introduces bill to help bridges
02/06/2017
FUNDING: GOP Senator, House Democrat propose separate highway funding plans
02/02/2017
Senator Brown and colleagues create proposal to rebuild America's infrastructure
01/30/2017
ROADS/BRIDGES: Largest concrete surface in Michigan to be replaced
01/30/2017
Brent Spence Bridge rumored to be second on Trump’s infrastructure priority list
01/30/2017
Senator Brown calls for $1 trillion spending on roads and bridges
01/18/2017
Licking County TID focuses on Jug Street, Ohio 310
01/18/2017
Ohio’s highest bridge opens to traffic after 6 years of construction
01/17/2017
Pothole problem? Report it to road crews
01/17/2017
Busy stretches of Butler County roadway to see changes in 2017
01/11/2017
Legal load limit on most county roads to be reduced
01/11/2017
Vrooman Road Bridge project lawsuit officially dismissed
01/11/2017
Mercer County Engineer completes bridge inspections
01/06/2017
Clark County drivers cautioned as bitter cold to remain
01/06/2017
Corn stalks saving tax dollars, increasing road safety in Franklin County
01/05/2017
Woolpert Contracted to Collect Orthoimagery for Ohio
01/05/2017
County retirees amass more than 100 years
01/04/2017
Surber continues to work with less money
01/03/2017
Beck wraps up seven terms as county engineer
01/03/2017
Lake County commissioners approve settlement agreement with Ruhlin Co. over Vrooman Road bridge project
12/30/2016
City, county and state road warriors prepare for winter
12/30/2016
Shaking in Adams County
12/29/2016
Belmont County Engineer Fred Bennett Hangs Up His Hat
12/21/2016
How cornstalks prevent snowdrifts on Franklin County roads
12/16/2016
Opinions differ on how to fund broken bridge fixes
12/16/2016
The Problem With Our Infrastructure Isn't Lack Of Spending, It's Regulations
12/16/2016
Morrow’s newly elected county officials sworn in
12/16/2016
First snowfall for county
12/16/2016
Two Allen County bridges lose weight limits, open to all traffic
12/14/2016
Clark County road crews prep for cold blasts after first big snowfall
12/14/2016
Ready for more snow
The Portage County Engineer's staff is ready for more snow.
12/12/2016
County prepares for winter weather
MIAMI COUNTY — While students are dreaming of the first snow day, county crews are preparing their trucks, mounting plows and salters, and, while Santa has been getting ready to stuff stockings with toys, the Highway Department has been busy stuffing the salt storage barn to the rafters with rock salt.
12/12/2016
Gas tax increase proposed to fix county roads, bridges
A county supervisors' group is proposing raising the state gas tax to pay for repairs to Mississippi's aging roads and bridges, but lawmakers say there may not be the political will to increase fuel taxes.
12/12/2016
Clark, Champaign road crews gear up for winter weather
SPRINGFIELD —Traffic crews in Clark and Champaign counties have prepared salt trucks as winter weather is expected to approach the area over the next few days and weeks.
12/12/2016
Roundabout planned near township fire station
Although construction likely will not start for at least a few more years, plans to build a roundabout adjacent to Berlin Township's fire station moved forward last week.
12/12/2016
County trucks ready for winter
The Hancock County Engineer’s Office has filled the salt building off Lima Avenue and completed maintenance on county trucks, as employees prepare for winter and keeping 362 miles of county roads drivable during the snowy months, county Engineer Chris Long reports.
12/12/2016
Suit still pending in local case pitting roadwork vs. health
A federal wrongful death lawsuit remains pending against the Athens County Engineer over road maintenance work on Dutch Creek Road that the litigants say poses a mortal threat to a resident with chemical sensitivity. Each side recently filed updated complaints or answers in the case.
12/12/2016
Joe Bachman column: County Engineer's Office funding issues real
After seeing and hearing some of the advertising in the recent county commissioner's race, I would like to clarify some issues. The sitting commissioners, in support of the challenger, made an issue of the Road and Bridge Department's carryover balance as though it were a negative issue. Our end of the year 2015 carryover was $1.4 million; the Commissioners' General Fund end of year 2015 carryover was $5.1 million.
12/01/2016
County ready for snow to fly
Seneca County departments are making annual preparations for snowfall and residents should too.
11/16/2016
Biggest Spike in Traffic Deaths in 50 Years? Blame Apps
The messaging app Snapchat allows motorists to post photos that record the speed of the vehicle. The navigation app Waze rewards drivers with points when they report traffic jams and accidents. Even the game Pokémon Go has drivers searching for virtual creatures on the nation’s highways.
11/16/2016
Butler County communities stockpiling road salt, spending less
BUTLER COUNTY - Several Butler County communities will be spending $200,000 or more each for road salt this winter and have already stockpiled thousands of tons of salt in preparation for the upcoming winter.
11/15/2016
Pausch testimony before the Joint Legislative Task Force
COLUMBUS - CEAO Executive Director Fredrick Pausch testified today before the Joint Legislative Task Force on Department of Transportation Issues.
11/14/2016
Long-planned Sawmill Parkway extension opens
Delaware County officials began discussing a new route between the county's southern border and the city of Delaware in the late 1980s.
10/26/2016
Historic bridge restored in Monroe County
WOODSFIELD – The Foraker Covered Bridge in Monroe County just received a $215,000 makeover that should keep the historic structure functioning for many more years.
10/17/2016
New gas wells planned for Monroe County
WOODSFIELD — Economic activity in Monroe County is picking up as oil and gas exploration firms seek new land lease/royalty agreements for drilling.
10/12/2016
Dedicated sales tax keeps Delaware County bridges in better repair than most
DELAWARE — Stone Mill bridge, a century old, was being repaired almost annually in recent years, allowing motorists to cross the Olentangy River north of the city.
09/23/2016
Warren County weighs $18 million in road financing for P&G
A Warren County transportation board is planning to finance $18 million to speed up completion of road projects around a Proctor & Gamble expansion expected to bring 1,300 jobs to the county.
09/15/2016
Inadequate Road and Bridge Infrastructure in Farm Country
From the front seat of his Dodge pickup truck, Steve Greene surveys the local roads in Jewell County, Kansas. There are 1,500 miles of county-maintained roads in this north-central Kansas county, where Greene serves as chairman of the county commission. Only 15 miles are paved; 700 miles are rock or gravel. The rest are minimum-maintenance dirt roads, many of which have outdated bridges and are pocked with ruts.
08/26/2016
If Surber says we need - we need it
[Surber's] staff has been cut and his funding is nowhere near where it once was, but he continues to do a magnificent job for the county by finding alternative ways to get the job done.
08/22/2016
Sales Tax Change Could Affect County Revenues
Nothing is certain when it comes to local revenues that run through the state coffers, county officials have learned.
08/19/2016
BRIDGE INSPECTION: Ohio Turnpike Commission to test bridge inspections with drones
The Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission in September will complete its first bridge inspection using an unmanned aircraft system (UAS), or drone.
05/31/2016
Delaware County is fastest growing county in Ohio
05/31/2016
Crumbling bridges, cratered roads and leaking metros
05/26/2016
Erie County engineers drive $3M for bridge, road upgrades
05/24/2016
NACE Announces New David P. Brand Safety Award
05/03/2016
The worst bridges in the Miami Valley
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - Area bridges are literally falling apart in the Miami valley.
03/09/2016
Debate over road cost split delays Warren County development
The developer of the 4,500 home Union Village planned community is balking at a condition sought by Warren County spelling out who will pay for more than $50 million in road improvements around the development.
03/09/2016
County leaders meet with oil and gas company reps to talk road use agreements
BELMONT COUNTY, Ohio — When oil and gas companies sign agreements on county roads, they're held to their end of the bargain. And county leaders keep a close eye on the projects.
03/07/2016
EverPower ready to ask for tax agreement
Project ready to proceed in Hardin County, but Logan County piece hinges on PILOT
03/07/2016
Lucky babies and elections
By Jim Surber, I was struck by a recent headline that seemed radically different from normal. A pronouncement from Warren Buffett in his annual letter to Berkshire-Hathaway shareholders reads in part: "It’s an election year, and candidates can’t stop speaking about our country’s problems (which, of course, only they can solve).”
02/16/2016
Bridges require special care when they travel over protected Ohio waterways
Chris Mullins crawled along the temporary catwalk and peered up at the bottom of the 104-year-old Florence Bridge. He saw only daylight in places where there should have been iron.
02/02/2016
Sharon Budd’s catastrophic ordeal leads to new safety rules for bridge projects statewide
The family of a Lake Township schoolteacher critically injured when a rock was dropped on their car from an overpass has helped push through new state rules to limit the chances such a tragedy could happen to someone else.
07/14/2015
Latest Road and Bridge Data by State Released
Ohio ranks #5 in Structurally Deficient or Functionally Obsolete bridges at 6,647 (24.6%) and 5,300 are county bridges.
04/02/2015
No April Fools' Day Joke: 2,080 of Ohio's Bridges Need Structural Repair, New Analysis of U.S. Department of Transportation Data Finds
WASHINGTON, April 1, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- An analysis of the recently-released 2014 U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) National Bridge Inventory database finds good news and bad news when it comes to the most heavily traveled U.S. bridges. The good news is that there are 162 fewer structurally deficient structures in Ohio than there were in 2013. The bad news is that it means 61,000 structurally deficient bridges across the nation are still in need of significant repair. And it is a problem that hits close to home.
03/04/2015
Time to Get Moving on Transportation Funding
Each year, I hope that the decisions I make in the legislature help to improve the lives of my constituents, create jobs in my community, and keep Ohio safe, healthy, thriving and economically sound. Though I wish that Ohio had a blank check and unlimited money to invest in the programs that our state needs, that just isn't reality; we have to carefully consider where we invest our limited dollars. After a father of four was tragically killed last month when a bridge collapsed in Cincinnati, it's very clear to me that investing in transportation and infrastructure needs to be a priority at both the state and federal levels.
02/23/2015
Muskingum County Repurposes Steel for Cost-Effective Upgrades to Aging Bridge Inventory
In these times of tight budgets and aging infrastructure, Ohio's Muskingum County has adopted a creative sustainable practice for the replacement of structurally deficient and fuctionally obsolete short span bridges- recycling steel bridge beams.
02/23/2015
Ohio highway funding plan lacks a road map
Ohio kicked off its construction season last year with transportation officials boasting that it would be the largest in the state’s history.
07/18/2014
Ohio counties look for different ways to keep roads safe
With federal highway funding stalled, states are looking for different ways to keep roadways safe and in good repair. For Ohio Public Radio, WVXU’s Tana Weingartner reports that Hamilton County is adding a full-time Weights & Inspections Unit, one of fewer than 30 counties statewide to do so.
04/22/2014
Lt. gov. presents $8.4M plan in support of bridge repairs
Ohio Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor joined other state and local officials Monday in Lafayette Township to unveil an $8.4 million program that will rebuild bridges in Medina and Lorain counties.
The Ohio Bridge Partnership program provides $120 million for the repair or replacement of more than 200 bridges statewide deemed “structurally deficient.”
11/25/2013
ODOT and local officials announce Ohio Bridge Partnership
State Senator Larry Obhof (R–Medina) joined State Representative Mark Romanchuk (R–Ontario) and Lieutenant Governor Mary Taylor on Monday to announce bridge improvement projects in Richland County that will be undertaken as part of a new initiative between the Ohio Department of Transportation and local governments.
11/15/2013
Let bridge-repair partnership span all quadrants of the state
Public safety in Ohio received a much needed boost recently when the Ohio Department of Transportation announced it has formed a $120 million partnership with counties and cities in the state to repair or replace 220 structurally deficient bridges over the next three years.
11/08/2013
Ohio’s Bridge Partnership to invest $120 million in Local Bridges
The Ohio Department of Transportation has launched a new partnership with cities and counties that will fully fund the repair or replacement of locally owned bridges. Aptly named Ohio’s Bridge Partnership, the first-of-its-kind initiative will invest $120 million in local bridges over the next three years. More than 200 county and city bridges are expected to be repaired or replaced with work beginning on 40 of them as early as spring 2014. This is really a big deal. The initiative is important for several reasons. Let’s take a look.
Members in the News
07/27/2017
Fairgrounds’ new entrance comes in a very old package
LISBON — The county fairgrounds can now boast two historical bridges, and the same man was behind both projects that were 45 years apart.
07/25/2017
Rover Pipeline project: 1st line constructed, 2nd could be delayed by federal order
The first of two parallel pipelines running through Richland County is completely constructed, but the second could be delayed by federal order.
07/25/2017
How safe are Butler County roundabouts? New report details results
The Butler County Engineer’s Office says its roundabouts are even safer than the national average as far as preventing crashes.
07/25/2017
Innovative sealing method saves roads and money in Trumbull County
VIENNA, Ohio (WKBN) – The Trumbull County Engineer’s Office is trying out a new process when it comes to chip sealing roads — using recycled asphalt grindings from paving projects in other parts of the county.
11/03/2014
VMT fee: The right remedy at the right time?
When the 21st century reaches its half-way point, projected is a U.S. population of 400 million people; that’s up from the 300 million mark reached in late 2006, early 2007, if memory serves me well.
10/21/2014
Ohio Department of Transportation launches partnership with counties, cities on bridge repair projects
This year, the Ohio Department of Transportation launched a partnership with counties and cities to fully fund the replacement or repair of locally-owned bridges.
08/27/2014
Private ‘Sponsorships’ For Roadways To Fund Infrastructure?
Infrastructure investment seems to be a recurring political theme without a definitive solution. Roads and bridges across the country are in sore need of maintenance, but investment hasn’t kept up with that need. States have been left to seek creative ways to earn money, and roadway sponsorships are one piece of Ohio’s strategy.
08/26/2014
Ohio Adds 10 Projects to Local Bridge Partnership Program
Ohio’s $120-million Local Bridge Partnership Program is adding ten bridges to a program that is already fixing or replacing 220 bridges in local communities throughout the state.
05/09/2013
Records: Ohio has 2,230 Bridges Needing Repair
DAYTON, Ohio — The Ohio Department of Transportation says that more than 2,200 bridges are structurally deficient statewide — but there isn’t enough money to fix them.
The Dayton Daily News reports that DOT records listed 2,230 structurally deficient bridges, but officials say lack of funding makes it difficult to keep up with repairs.
05/09/2013
Counties Can't Keep Up With Deteriorating Bridges
Ohio Department of Transportation records indicate that 2,230 bridges statewide are rated as structurally deficient, but government agencies say they lack the funds to keep up on repairs.
“There’s not enough money to stay ahead of it,” Montgomery County Engineer Paul Gruner said. “The more we let them go, the more it costs to replace them, and we need more money to be able to replace them.”
©2020 CEAO | County Engineers Association of Ohio
6500 Busch Boulevard Suite 100 | Columbus, Ohio 43229-1738
tel: 614-221-0707 | fax: 614-221-5761 | Email: Info@ceao.org | Contact Us
6500 Busch Boulevard Suite 100 | Columbus, Ohio 43229-1738
tel: 614-221-0707 | fax: 614-221-5761 | Email: Info@ceao.org | Contact Us
