Scioto land bank awarded $82K in state dollars

State Sen. Terry Johnson, R-McDermott, has announced more than $1.5 million for economic development projects in Scioto and Brown counties. These projects will create new opportunity throughout southern Ohio.

In Scioto County, the Scioto County Land Reutilization Corp., aka Land Bank, will receive $82,464.

“This money will allow our neighborhoods to revitalize abandoned and hazardous properties, boosting area business growth and giving our families hope for a brighter future,” Johnson said. “I am happy to see such funding continue to flow into southern Ohio.”

This funding comes from the fifth round of the Demolition and Site Revitalization program, which has so far awarded more than $233 million to over 5,000 projects in all 88 Ohio counties.

Additionally, two projects will receive awards from the Brownfield Remediation program, which aims to help communities clean up and redevelop hazardous sites. The grant programs were allocated funds through House Bill 33, the state’s main operating budget, which Johnson supported.

See Tracks, Think Train week lasts through Saturday

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio and the Ohio Rail Development Commission are participating in See Tracks, Think Train Week, Sept. 23-27. The week is dedicated as a reminder to Ohioans to practice safety around all rail crossings.

Every three hours, a person or vehicle is hit by a train in the United States. Crashes at rail crossings can be more severe than other collisions and are more likely to result in death and injury.

“It’s up to all of us to make safe choices when walking or driving near railroad tracks and trains,” said PUCO Chair Jenifer French. “Crossing legally and carefully can prevent tragic collisions.”

PUCO issues reconnect order for heating season

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio has issued its Special Reconnect Order for the upcoming heating season. The Special Reconnect Order helps Ohioans served by PUCO-regulated utilities reconnect or maintain electric and natural gas service during the winter heating season between Oct. 14 and April 18.

Any residential customer of a PUCO-regulated electric or natural gas company may take advantage of the provisions contained in the order once per winter heating season. Last winter heating season more than 214,000 Ohioans used the Special Reconnect Order.

Under the Special Reconnect Order, customers must pay the utility no more than $175 plus any applicable reconnection charge which cannot exceed $36. If the utility’s reconnect charge is greater than $36, the balance above $36 may be charged to the customer on the customer’s next monthly bill.

The Special Reconnect Order also applies to customers seeking to establish new electric or natural gas service provided they are served by PUCO-regulated utilities. Rather than paying the full security deposit that may be required for new service, customers can pay up to $175 and the balance above $175 may be charged to the customer on the customer’s next monthly bill.

There is no income eligibility requirement to use the Special Reconnect Order; however, customers who are at or below 175 percent of the federal poverty guidelines may apply for assistance through the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) winter crisis program to pay the $175 amount.

Contact your electric or natural gas utility between Oct. 14 and April 18 to find out how to apply the Special Reconnect Order to your bill. Utility representatives will explain the order and set up a payment plan to address any remaining balance on your account after the $175 has been applied. A list of PUCO-regulated utilities is available on the PUCO website.

More information about energy assistance programs and ways to save on home heating bills this winter is available on the PUCO’s website here.

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