ODOT opens new full-service Maintenance Facility
The Highland County Press
With construction finished and the move nearly complete, crews from the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) in Highland County have a new highway maintenance facility to call home.
“We have been working to construct a new complex for Highland County for some time, and this facility will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of our crews’ daily operations,” said District 9 Deputy Director Vaughn Wilson.
To commemorate this important project, Wilson and other ODOT representatives were joined by the contractors, local officials and members of the general public to celebrate with a ribbon cutting and open house on Wednesday, Nov. 19 at 521 E. Main Street.
During the open house, guests were able to tour the new facility, which is located across the street from the department’s old facility in Hillsboro.
Construction of the new maintenance facility across from the former garage, though, came about due to a unique partnership with the Highland County Commissioners and Engineer.
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While a majority of the 32-acre site was purchased from a private property owner, the remainder of the land was acquired through a trade with the commissioners, whereby ODOT acquired two parcels and a building occupied by the Highland County Engineer’s Office and, in turn, ODOT gave its old maintenance facility to the county engineer.
At a total cost of approximately $7 million, the new complex includes a 18,400-square foot truck storage building and a 10,738-square foot office and maintenance building with advanced technical and electronic systems. The site also houses a 4,800-square foot cold storage building, salt and materials storage buildings, and fuel storage.
The contractor for the project was DER Development Company of Milford, Ohio, and construction took approximately 10 months to complete.
In June 2013, Highland County Commissioners Shane Wilkin, Tom Horst and Jeremy Shaffer met with Highland County Engineer Dean Otworth, Deputy Engineer Chris Fauber, and representatives from District 9 of the Ohio Department of Transportation – including Dan Nartker, transportation administrator, Highland County Highway Maintenance Facility; Troy Huff, highway management administrator, ODOT District 9; and Doug Pack, real estate administrator, ODOT District 9 – regarding a proposed land swap for the respective departments.
"ODOT is finalizing plans for a new maintenance facility for Highland County," Otworth said. "We're thinking maybe we could work a deal – give some parcels of land from the county for the ODOT facility."
In return, the state would deed over its current maintenance facility to the county. The county would transfer 2.7 acres on the south side of state Route 124 to ODOT, and the state would transfer 10 acres on the north side of Route 124 to the county.
On Wednesday, Wilson thanked Otworth, "who drives a pretty hard bargain," and the county commissioners for their cooperation.
ODOT also purchased the Fay Gibson property on the south side of S.R. 124 and east of Barry Street.
Otworth expressed his appreciation for ODOT and the county offices for working together on the project.
"I always try to push the team concept," Otworth said during Wednesday's ceremony. "We've had great cooperation in trying to do the best we can with the funds we have."