FAIRFIELD - Mike Samoviski will soon head the organization he helped start nearly seven years ago to speed up road construction projects in Butler County.

        The Butler County Transportation Improvement District (TID) on Monday hired Mr. Samoviski, 56, to become its executive director. He replaces former director Greg Wilkens, who was elected Butler County engineer in November and took office last week.
       

Short retirement
        Mr. Samoviski, who is retiring as Hamilton's public works director Jan. 19, will start his new duties Jan. 22. His annual salary will be $75,000.

        “We're very fortunate to have Mike,” said West Chester Township Administrator David Gully, who sits on the TID board. “There will be no loss of vitality to the TID.”

        Mr. Samoviski began work in Hamilton as a traffic engineer in 1974 and was promoted to public works director five years later. During his 27 years in Hamilton, he was involved in several transportation issues, including regional planning with the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments, road and bridge projects and the transition of the Hamilton-Fairfield Airport to the Butler County Regional Airport.

        Since its formation, the TID has overseen more than $175 million of road projects in southeastern Butler County, said Mr. Samoviski, who has been on the TID board since its 1994 start. Among those were the Michael A. Fox Highway that gave Hamilton its first Interstate 75 interchange, improvements or extensions of Ohio 747, Tylersville and Muhlhauser roads along with West Chester Township's Union Center interchange with I-75.
       

Role review
        Mr. Samoviski said he would like to see the TID board expanded to include more Butler County communities. It is made up of representatives from Hamilton, Fairfield and West Chester, Liberty and Fairfield townships.

        “One of the issues we need to address is the role of the TID,” Mr. Samoviski said. “Is there any interest in going countywide? I would also like to see more coordination with Warren County.”

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