Jerome Township incentive meeting set

The first public hearing to let a couple of significant properties into Jerome Township’s economic development agreement is set.

Trustees voted to set the hearing for the amendment to the Marysville-Jerome Township Joint Economic Development District (JEDD) for September.

Trustee Joe Craft emphasized the importance of the step after years of effort to bring these particular spots into the agreement.

“The entire eight years previous when I served as trustee, this is what we worked on and this is just so exciting to be setting one of these first hearings,” he said.

While Kroger itself was admitted into the JEDD earlier this year, this would bring additional parcels on the property north of U.S. 33 into the agreement. OhioHealth, which now sits at the southern corner of U.S. 33 and U.S. 42, opened earlier this year.

Jerome and Marysville discussed the JEDD agreement over several years but made it effective as of early 2023. Officials said since townships don’t have the ability to levy an income tax, this partnership with Marysville opens the door for development opportunities.

Trustee Barry Adler said the agreement outlines that as each new parcel comes in play, the township has to voted them in by law.

“The arrangement is, basically, that it puts a 1.5% income tax on these parcels that gets split between Marysville and Jerome Township,” he said, noting that the Cooperative Economic Development Agreement (CEDA) that’s also in place, among other things, prevents annexation by the city.

Craft added the income tax levied includes what the company makes and what employees pay in, which is all then earmarked for infrastructure and economic development improvements with the township.

This would only be for parcels requiring new water or sewer services, which are provided by the city.

“This does not affect existing businesses, it does not affect residential,” Craft said. “It’s a big, big deal.”

Also at Jerome Tuesday night, the board agreed to move forward in its search for financing options for a new roads department building.

The trustees approved a measure that allows the township administrator and fiscal officer tot start that process.

Administrator Brandon Standley said in order to move forward with the next steps for the project, he needed board approval.

“It will allow (Fiscal Officer Robert Caldwell) and I to work with Bricker Graydon law firm to analyze and find financing options to fund this building,” he said. “The building is estimated to cost $1.6-1.7 million and we just think it’s wise to do our due diligence and look at the proper funding options to make this happen.”

Standley said township officials looked at a possible USDA loan but that option wasn’t as reliable.

“The USDA loan option was going to push everything back to March. It’s very, very uncertain. We don’t know what the presidential election is going to do. That could turn the federal budget around in lots of different ways so it’s very unpredictable.”

Standley said action taken at the meeting allows the two township officials to consult with legal counsel that specializes in bank bonds to get the building paid for.

The new building would be on the existing township grounds at 9777 Industrial Parkway. It would be built in the yard area that’s adjacent to the parking lot, according to the administrator.

According to Standley, the building will be a 140-feet wide and 60-feet deep and construction bids may be announced in the coming weeks.

“The new building will be something that should last with growth for the next few years,” Standley said. “It will include six bays for easier truck access and storage for equipment. The building is just completing the design phase by Pebble Construction, who won the bid process and was approved by our board.”