BY AMY HIGGINS
The Cincinnati Enquirer
HAMILTON TOWNSHIP - State legislators want to give riders on the Little Miami Bike Trail a little relief.
The construction of restrooms along the township's 13-mile portion of the popular trail is to be financed with a state gift of $82,000. The money is part of $6.8 million earmarked for Warren County facilities in Ohio's capital improvement bill.
"There are no restroom facilities on the bike trail," said Jackie Terwilleger, township clerk-treasurer. "We thought this would help a little bit."
The state's $1.7 billion capital bill was sent to the full House on Thursday. The measure could be voted on in the Senate and be signed by the governor by year's end.
Almost all of the money budgeted for Warren County will be used at the Lebanon Correctional Institution. Terry Drumm, deputy warden of administration, said the state prison may use its $6.5 million to replace the 39-year-old mechanical locks on the 1,400 cell doors.
That project is estimated to cost $5.5 million and would provide greater safety for prison staff and inmates. Other potential projects at the prison are a $2.5 million electrical upgrade and an $800,000 water system upgrade.
"We'll be happy to have those three projects done," Mr. Drumm said. "It's not real glamorous stuff, but our institution functions like a small city. If we can't provide basic services, it collapses from within."
All other projects in Warren County budgeted through the state's capital improvements bill would be $50,000 or less.
That's fine with Ernest Lawson, president of the Rotary Senior Housing Board of Directors. The board owns the Rotary House, a nonprofit public housing facility in Waynesville. The house is a 12-unit facility that houses mostly elderly and handicapped low-income people.
The Rotary House is to receive $41,000 for upgrades and rehabilitation. Mr. Lawson said Rotary House hasn't had significant improvements, only as-needed maintenance, since it was built in 1974.
"This is enough for our general upgrades," he said.
News of the funds was also welcome to John Louallen, village administrator in South Lebanon. He said the $48,000 budgeted for his community will be used to resurface Section Street between Claude Avenue and Dogwood Trails Hill, Mary Lane Circle and Mary Lane Extension.
Other Warren County projects on the list:
- Pleasant Plain community improvements: $50,000.
- Morrow infrastructure improvements: $50,000.
- Harveysburg Community Historic Society: $40,000.
