Status Report
DATE: JULY 9, 2002
TO: AD HOC ACCESS MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE AND OTHER “FRIENDS OF ACCESS MANAGEMENT FOR OHIO”
FROM: JOHN HEILMAN, OKI TECHNICAL SERVICES COORDINATOR
RE: IT’S THE LAW ! ! (Well, almost!)
Amended Substitute House Bill 366, the township/county access management enabling legislation, was passed in the Ohio Senate by a 33-0 vote on Wednesday, June 19, 2002. It had previously passed in the House by a 90-0 vote. It will now be forwarded to the Governor’s office, where a bill-signing ceremony occurred on Thursday, July 25, 2002.
I think we can finally say that we did it, folks!! We did it!! It’s been a long, hard struggle, but we have succeeded. It was January 26, 1993, when I first wrote a memo to Gary Coburn at ODOT in Columbus, outlining my reasons for believing that meaningful progress in access management in Ohio would depend on amending the Ohio Revised Code. Now I must admit that many of us have indeed made significant progress in the intervening years, even without the legislation, but there are now no longer any legal obstacles to stand in our way.
I am very appreciative of Representative Tony Core (R-87th), the bill’s primary sponsor, for all of his work in involving affected parties in the negotiations leading up to passage, and for shepherding the bill through the House and Senate. I am also appreciative of Larry Long at the County Commissioners Association of Ohio, and Mike Cochran at the Ohio Townships Association, and their respective staffs, for their perseverance and mediation skills, without which we would not have been successful. The County Engineer’s Association of Ohio and the County Planning Director’s Association of Ohio also stepped up and ended their support whenever called upon. And I want to thank all the members of our Southwest Ohio Ad Hoc Access Management Committee, who met and strategized over the years, trying to find a workable solution to our problem that we thought we could get implemented. And, of course, thanks to all of you “friends” who have supported us throughout this effort.
If any of you decide to proceed with an AM program under this legislation, I hope you will keep me posted as to your progress. I am also available at any time if you have any questions or comments. Thank you again.
