Commissioners approve flood-reduction funds

During a meeting Thursday, the Hancock County Board of Commissioners approved a payment of $109,603 from flood-reduction funds to Stantec, the engineering company handling design of benching on the Blanchard River. Benching work west of the Main Street bridge has been done, except for replacement of the Norfolk-Southern railroad bridge, while work is pending east of the bridge to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way. The benching provides more space for the river to rise during flooding before it reaches streets downtown, lessening damage to buildings. The north side of the river bank is being dug out to provide the additional space. The county has purchased and demolished many structures along the river to provide additional open space for flood waters. The commissioners also reported receiving one bid for a 2021 Toyota Sienna minivan for Hancock County Veterans Service office. The agency will use the van to transport veterans to various appointments. Columbus Mobility Specialists, Worthington, bid $63,325 for the handicapped-accessible van. The bid will be reviewed by county personnel and a decision will be made in the next week. Hancock County department personnel continue to meet with the county commissioners this week to discuss their 2021 budget proposals, prior to a final document being approved later this month. Once the commissioners finish the hearings next week, the budget document will be available for public review before a resolution is approved in December to cover 2021. The financial document is amended and adjusted throughout the year as additional funds become available. The commissioners also held a closed executive session to discuss personnel hiring, potential litigation and potential real estate acquisition.