Some major projects are completed or will be completed in 2024. Overtime you will see how each of these individual projects contribute to an integrated Village Plan.
In general, these are the highlights for 2023:
History
Ashville has a rich history going back to 1882. That history has not been lost but can be found at our “Small Town Museum”.
Financial
The council and I put together the 2024 budget to fund many of the projects underway and in a manner to anticipate future needs while using a conservative approach to that development. In 2023, our projected expenses are 5.69 million dollars. The budget is 7.97 million dollars. Our projected- revenue for 2023 is 5.1 million dollars with an actual 2022 "Carry-over" of 2.9 million dollars providing projected funds available of 8.0 million dollars.
Thus, we are keeping our expenditures in aliment with our actual revenue and maintaining a sufficient "Carry-over' for 2024.
Cooperation
The village continues to seek collaboration with other local entities and central Ohio that will strengthen our ability to meet your needs. In 2016 we completed an emergency water interconnection with South Bloomfield. This provided a more secure water supply for both communities. We seek in 2024 to do a similar interconnect with Earnhardt Hill Water District.
For refuse, we are part of Consortium, which keeps our rates low. Other entities or programs we work collaboratively with include CDBG, DEFA, ODOT, OWDA, OWPC, MORPC, PICCA, Pickaway County Chamber of Commerce, and Pickaway Progress Partnership (P3). You will see the results of that collaboration in the next section on Projects.
The Joint Economic Development District (JEDD)
The Joint Economic Development Districts (JEDD's) were expanded in Harrison Township and Madison Township.
Ashville Projects
The following are “Improvement Projects” that were begun earlier and completed in 2023:
Griggs Street Paving Project
The milling and resurfacing of Griggs Steet was a $75,000 project. Earlier in the year crack sealing was completed in several subdivision areas. That cost was $50,000.
The total street expenditure in 2023 was $125,000.
The funds left from 2023 and collected in 2024 will help allow for milling, resurfacing, sidewalk replacement, stormwater, and water line relocation on Randolph Street between Station and Madision Street. This 2024 Randolph Street Project is projected to be $800,000. We are in the process to investigate additional funding sources.
Cromley Road
Our collaborative work with the County Engineer and their Cromley Road Project from Little Walnut to State Route 316. Our monetary participation was under $13,000.
2024 Project
Ashville & ODOT is funding a Pedestrian Enhanced Intersection Improvement Project. The intent is to add two (2) pedestrian signals and five (5) LED streetlights. For more information click on the Banner or Read. ODOT will be providing up to $100,000 (FHWA Funds $80,000 & State Funds $20,000).
Police Department
The police will continue to protect our community and we will continue to provide the police with the resources to accomplish that objective.
We are working on continued drug and traffic enforcement. The Village is now involved with a task force which is developing plans to deal with the opiate issues in Ashville as part of Pickaway County, State, and Nation.
We are working on holding down the cost.
In 2023, the village purchased a three Ford Police Interceptor SUV’s. The expense budget for police is 1.1 million dollars. And, the department is fully staffed-10 officers.
Service Department
The village is committed to making our streets as safe as possible, but this is an increasing challenge for all municipalities. This you can see from our projects above but it is difficult with costs so high and some revenue resources declining. We will continue to look for additional funding partners.
Parks and Recreation has been working with the Pickaway Park District in developing a Park Master Plan. That Master Plan will shortly be completed and place on our website. One item will be a 10-acre Westside Park where The Knights of Pythias are building a facility that can be rented for events.
Extensive landscaping has been completed around the Administrative Building. The old non-working ballpark lights were removed, and several park buildings received new metal roofs.
The Service Department just placed a new truck with a snowplow into service. You should now be aware of many speed limit changes on 752 and Long Steet now with flashing reminders.
The Street Department expenditures in 2023 are projected to be $383,822. The Park Department expenditure is projected to be $137,570. The Stormwater Department expenditure is projected to be $73,742. Continue stormwater management as part of our I and I improvement plan.
Utility Department
Wastewater
In the Water Resource Recovery area for 2023, the village reinvested $350,000 in the 2017 facility to improve its functionality and correct several control issues. The plant has been working correctly since that time.
We continue working with Ohio EPA on a mandate to address Inflow and Infiltration (I&I). A change in using gray water to clean several screens will save 50,000 gallons (about twice the volume of a one-car garage) per day of processed water.
Water
In the Water Department area, Ashville has contracted with Jones & Henry Engineers to design a new water facility. The estimated cost will be under eleven million dollars. A "General Plan" is with the Ohio EPA for approval. Ashville will be looking at State Funding DEFA, and OWDA as funding sources for this project.
On our homepage, see above, you are linked to the billing web-portal. Even if you do not pay online, you can see current and past activities on your account. You can also pay income tax, traffic ticket, mayor’s court, utility deposit, and others (miscellaneous).
Planning & Zoning/Building Department
The Planning and Zoning/Building Department has been busy in residential and light industrial development with Ashton Crossing, DHL, The Distillery, Gold Ventures, Hickory Glen Lumber, PickDirt, Pine Ridge, and Walnut Mills. This department work includes signage and uniform enforcement of zoning codes with the Police Department. A new contract with Toole and Associates will provide a better review of development plans and zoning permits being issued. An update of the P&Z Codes is budgeted for next year.
Tax Department
We have a new Tax Administrator, Kristin Sturgill. The new tax legislation can be found under 2023 Ordinances on our website. Income Tax Revenue is projected to be 1.6 million dollars.
Administration
The Village of Ashville has enacted two new revenue streams involving new commercial and residential development.
Which only affects new residential or commercial/industrial development, not current homeowners or businesses.
Impact Fees for Streets, Parks & Recreation, Police, Fire, and General Government:
$275,465.28 collected in 2023 and $1,055,950.24 more projected in 2024. Ashville New Community Authority created in 2023. This is a 10-mill organization for new properties coming into the Village of Ashville. Also, water and sewer tap fees were increased...all these increases will provide funding for many projects; however, some have restricted uses.
We continue to work as part of the Cooperative Economic Development Agreement (CEDA) group and the two Joint Economic Development Districts JEDD’s). You can see the growth as you drive on State Route 762. South Bloomfield, Harrison Township, and Ashville is going to update their 2013 Strategic Land Use Plan in 2024.
In Conclusion
We thank the organizations and people who made all events in the village a tremendous success: Viking Festival, Fun in the Sun, Ashville Market, July Fourth Festival, Museum’s Food Truck Festival Fund Raiser, Halloween Parade, and December Holiday Events. You can find out more information about these events on our website.
None of what we do would be possible if it were not for the great
citizens we have, council members who work together, various boards, and of course our loyal employees.
Thanks again, and for more information on what is happening in Ashville go to our website, the address has not changed:
www.ashvilleohio.gov. This website will be updated in 2024 and
we look forward to an Ashville App. As part of this package.
Sincerely,
Nelson Embrey II, Mayor
Past State of the Village
2021-2022 State of the Village