June 2024 | Jeff Linkous, P.E. P.S, VP - North East region
One of President McCall’s first acts as President was to create a special committee to examine our annual conference. As the chair of this committee, I am working with members across the country performing a deep dive to find out what works, what doesn’t and what can be improved for you and your staff’s conference experience.
Some early measures originating from this group is a concerted effort to have conference technical session information out months before we have in the past. With a goal of around the same time registration opens, this can make gaining approvals easier for those who require it. We will also be examining everything from food/beverage, conference-wide events and some new “al-a-carte” options for guests to enjoy the conference more economically. I look forward to reporting out our recommendations in the coming months.
Summer has arrived in Ohio, bringing with it a heat wave across the Midwest. Temperatures are expected to soar into the 90s over the next week. Thankfully, favorable weather in April and May allowed farmers to plant their crops, which are now thriving. Construction projects are also progressing smoothly; repairs to culverts, roadways, and bridges have been largely uninterrupted by rain.
June marks our annual meeting with Township Trustees in Ohio. Ohio categorizes roadways into three tiers of roadways outside of Villages and Cities: the Ohio Department of Transportation maintains interstates and major arterials (25% of roads), County Engineers oversee minor arterials and collectors (40% of roads), and local roads (35%) fall under Township jurisdiction. The County Engineers also manage all bridges on both county and township roads.
What is a Township Trustee? Most counties are divided into 10 to 20 townships and each township elects three trustees and a fiscal officer to run the township. The trustees are responsible for managing 15 to 30 miles of roads in each township. In rural counties, trustees often perform road maintenance and snow plowing themselves, sometimes with minimal staff. To assist them in meeting regulatory requirements, our office collaborates closely with townships, providing support in maintenance and ensuring compliance with laws affecting them.
Ohio County Engineers, who are also elected officials, serve as the designated "Professional Engineer" for townships under Ohio law. Annual meetings are mandated to ensure coordination and compliance. To encourage attendance, we host dinners featuring training sessions and updates for trustees, inviting county, state, and federal officials who interact with them. This fosters networking and enhances cooperation during emergencies.
Beyond meetings, our office aids townships in updating road mileage reports to the state and oversees bridge inspections, providing condition reports to each township. Additionally, we facilitate joint bidding on maintenance contracts such as roadway sealing, sweeping, striping, and salt procurement, which often results in cost savings for both parties.
Ohio law requires townships to obtain cost estimates and professional engineering reviews for projects. We assist in preparing bid packages and provide estimates, allowing townships to comply efficiently. In addition, we offer free engineering services like curve and sign studies, drainage assessments, and surveying, supporting township projects and compliance efforts.
We also assist townships in identifying and applying for grants, such as those for signage and public works, to secure external funding opportunities. Through initiatives like the Safe Streets program, we collaborate with townships on accident mapping, curve assessments, and signage compliance, enhancing road safety across the county.
By fostering strong partnerships with township trustees, the entire county benefits from a well-coordinated roadway system. Collaboration among state, county, and township authorities maximizes efficiency and resource utilization, particularly during emergencies and storm management scenarios.
Across Ohio, County Engineers' offices work closely with townships, each contributing uniquely to the statewide road infrastructure, united in ensuring public safety and operational effectiveness.