Several local mayors took some of their problems to U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson during a meeting Friday at the Greater Lawrence County Area Chamber of Commerce.
By David Malloy
Huntington Herald-Dispatch
Published June 15, 2012
Several local mayors took some of their problems to U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson during a meeting Friday at the Greater Lawrence County Area Chamber of Commerce.
Johnson, R-Ohio, sought input from local mayors and township trustees during a campaign swing in the Tri-State Friday. Chesapeake Mayor Dick Gilpin, South Point Mayor Ron West and South Point Village Administrator Pat Leighty, among others, attended.
Gilpin asked for any assistance from the Congressman's office the village of Chesapeake could get for a silt problem at the Symmes Creek boat ramp.
"It's so bad, our fire department can't launch their emergency boat," Gilpin said. Tongue in cheek, he said the silt was so bad ducks could walk across Symmes Creek instead of swimming across it.
The Corps of Engineers used to dredge the area, but don't anymore, Gilpin said. The village has tried to clean up some of the silt without any noticeable impact, he said.
"We don't have any funds for dredging," Gilpin said. "We as a village don't have money to maintain it."
Johnson said that Congress no longer has earmarks in the budget to address such issues, but his office staff will check into the possibility of a federal grant.
"We have to be creative with grants," he said.
West complained about the condition of several Norfolk and Southern railroad tracks in the village of South Point.
"We probably have some of the worst crossings in the state," Leighty added.
Johnson again directed his staff to look into the problem.
Leighty also asked Johnson to see if any funds could be directed toward Interstate 73 and 74 proposed to connect Detroit and Myrtle Beach, S.C.
"Some other states have built part of it," Leighty said. "Ohio has no plans to build anything. As of now, it will stop at Kenova."
The state could build a bridge in the South Point area and build a road north toward Columbus as part of the project, Leighty said.
Johnson said he wasn't familiar with the proposal, but would bring the matter up when he meets with Ohio Department of Transportation officials in the next few days.
