A dangerous dog-leg turn in a rural Jackson Township roadway will no longer bite motorists as they traverse curves on Zuber Road following Aug. 7 action by trustees.
The three-member board approved a resolution for the $650,000 re-construction of Zuber Road, conducted in partnership with Franklin County, which will cost the township approximately $550,000. The county is providing in-house design work, construction management, and picking up the tab for a culvert, according to Trustee Bill Lotz and Administrator Michael Lilly.
"We’ve had this on the agenda since I was elected and the county kept putting it off," commented Lotz during the afternoon meeting. "It was $250,000 years ago, but now it will cost us over $500,000. If we would have to buy the road right-of-way, the cost would be too great for the project. The gas company said they have the right-of-way for us."
Lilly said the county engineer wanted to do the work in-house for the township, but also wanted assurances if they started working on the realignment of Zuber between Hoover and Seeds Roads, the township would proceed with construction bids.
"It’s a very dangerous dog leg and numerous accidents have happened there over the years," stated Lilly. "Last year Columbia Gas installed a new gas line in the area and purchased the easements. We’ve been budgeting for this project over the years and have saved money to do it. We’ll let the construction contracts in spring of next year and begin construction work shortly thereafter, which will probably take about 90 days."
Prior to the regular trustees’ meeting, Lilly reported on an upcoming Board of Zoning Appeals meeting on Aug. 13, when a change in setback for the Concord Cemetery will be discussed. The administrator said the cemetery association was granted a zoning variance in the mid-1980s for a 60-foot setback off of Hoover Road.
"Over time, they’ve been burying people in the setback, so the best setback we can now get is 25 feet."
A public input meeting is scheduled for the next regular Jackson Township Trustees meeting on Aug. 21 at 7:30 p.m., during which time the board is asking for public comments and recommendations for proposed improvements to the intersection at White and McDowell Roads. A 6:45 p.m. caucus session precedes the regular public meeting.
