Pickaway County has had a banner year within the last 12 months, so maybe it’s time to chronicle some of the amazing progress that’s been made.
For many years, the belvedere atop Circleville City Hall has needed repair. That all changed when the belvedere was lovingly restored to its former glory this spring. The completion of this restoration project celebrates the rich history and architectural heritage of Circleville.
Through a concerted restoration effort, the old structure was replaced with a new one that adheres to the US Secretary of the Interior Standards for Historic Preservation. All rotten wood has been replaced, and the copper elements meticulously restored, ensuring the longevity of this historic structure.
The belvedere’s bell was laid in December and the project was completed in the spring, Circleville City Hall’s belvedere project was paid for by the city using American Rescue Plan Act funds to the tune of about $587,000.
Speaking of City Hall, City Auditor Mark Bidwell reported that the City used American Rescue Plan Act funds for:
• $100K went to the Pickaway County Community Foundation.
• $290K went to upgrade the city’s 911/communication center
• $129,188 so far has gone to the downtown sidewalk and tree replacement
• $57,543.23 so far has gone to renovations of the old utilities building at 114 W Franklin St.
• $587,325 went to repairing the Cupola/Belvedere, and reinstalling the bell on City Hall
Bidwell said there are still some funds available that have not been spent, but they are slated to be used to complete the renovations of the old utilities building, and to finish the work on the downtown sidewalk and tree replacement.
Speaking of Bidwell, he and his wife Lori own Mega Bites, a food truck which makes a grilled macaroni and cheese sandwich — their most popular food item — among other menu favorites. Kudos to Bidwell, who is most likely the only City Auditor in Ohio, possibly the nation, who cooks/manages a food truck on the side.
Back to Pickaway Progress — the Cargill grain elevator, located at the gateway of Circleville, is getting a $20 million facelift.
In early March at a Circleville Sunrise Rotary meeting, John Barrett, Cargill’s regional operations leader, announced the project runs from March 2024 to August 2025.
“Our intent is to revitalize the property,” said John Barrett, Cargill’s regional operations leader.
Project goals include updating equipment and support buildings used to weigh and grade corn and soybeans, enhancing safety, improving customer service and efficiency, and improving the appearance of the property at 309 West Main St., Barrett said.
The improvements should enable Cargill to process grain filling up to 105 rail cars over a 24-hour period. That process now takes up to two days, Barrett said. The plant processes up to 900,000 bushels of grain a year.
Worth noting, Pickaway County is growing — there’s no denying the optimistic pulse in the community, present and future.
William Murdock, the Executive Director of the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC), projects an approximate increase of 20,000 people in the county over the next two decades. He pointed out Pickaway County’s strategic location, situated within 40-60 minutes of major companies like Intel, Honda, and LG, positions it as an attractive residential area for employees working in the region.
Where are those people going to live? Answer: Maybe some of them will buy a house in a new housing development planned for Pickaway County.
In February, there was a groundbreaking in February for a new housing development planned for the West Side of North Court Street where there is currently farmland, north of Marshal Drive in the area of Dry Run Creek. The project is roughly 83.5 total acres and has 190 plots for homes that will be built by property developer D.R. Horton, America’s largest home builder. The lots will be a minimum of 6,000 square feet with a lot width of at least 50 feet with a maximum lot coverage of 40 percent. There will be approximately 3.2 houses per gross acre.
Why are folks choosing to come to Pickaway County? Answer: Job growth!
Governor Mike DeWine and other local leaders attended a ceremonial groundbreaking in March morning for Sofidel’s $185 million expansion project that promises to add 100+ more employees to the plant’s workforce, estimated to be around 500 Ohioans.
The project in Circleville involves the construction of a new building that will house the new Valmet DCT 200 paper mill machine, which will start operation in the third quarter of 2025 with a production capacity of 70,000 metric tons per year.
As to infrastructure improvements, plans call for $19 million in upgrades to the U.S. Route 23 and state Route 762 interchange, one of the busiest and most dangerous intersections in Pickaway County. About a year ago, State Representative Brian Stewart, R-Ashville, announced that the Transportation Review Advisory Council (TRAC) approved their annual final list of projects to receive funding from the Ohio Department of Transportation’s (ODOT) Major New Capacity Program which included this interchange.
According to the Ohio Department of Transportation, preliminary engineering studies and environmental impact studies are underway. Design phase will start in 2025.
The proposed project would increase the safety of the 30,000 vehicles that travel through the current intersection each day, improve commute times, and decrease traffic congestion.
Speaking of infrastructure improvements — a second entrance to the Pickaway County Fairgrounds was completed in recent months at the intersection by Nicholas Drive and Lancaster Pike.
The project cost about $420,000 and was needed for both the week of the fair and other uses as they enter the second phase of renovations at the Pickaway County Agriculture and Event Center.
Phase two calls for replacing the Ankrom building and moving the horse barns. To improve traffic, a new fence will be erected between the gravel parking lot down the hill.
And that’s not the only big news for Circleville — plans call for 9,000-square-foot Inspiration Station to be built on North Court Street in the same complex as the Pickaway County Public Library.
Inspiration Station was a project born from the Pickaway County Community Foundation that has taken private donations over the last several months in order to bring a place where visitors can have hands-on learning and creativity experiences that enhance their physical, mental, and emotional growth.
When a pre-construction grand opening was held in February, Circleville City Council member Katie Logan Hedges said, “We’ve had so much success in our endeavor. We set out to do a $3 million campaign. We’re about half way there — the halfway point meant we got to break ground on construction.”
As to parks and recreation, Circleville’s newest park was officially dedicated in honor of Milt Emerine in December.
The park is located between Ohio Street and Corwin Street near Everts Hill and served as softball diamonds and a playground for students when the building was a school.
The park was named after Emerine following his years of service managing funds raised for cancer research and his service to the community. Emerine died in 2022 after what his obituary called an extended illness.
In early April, Larry Logan, chairman of the Friends of Ted Lewis Park committee, and co-chairman Ty Ankrom, spoke to Circleville Sunrise Rotary about the group’s efforts to revitalize the park. The $2.4 million already raised through a city grant and donations helped build an ADA-approved playground, splash pad (which opened in March of 2023), a shelter house and new bathrooms.
Now the committee is raising funds for new park amenities, the foremost being $500,000 to complete an enclosed shelter house and concession stand, Logan said. An additional $200,000 is needed to install LED lights on softball and youth-league football fields, add basketball courts, trails and benches, and upgrade the park entrance.
What about the IOOF building in downtown Circleville — how’s that going?
Local businessman Kevin Steward, who bought the building in 2022, said renovations to the first floor have been completed and that space is being leased.
Steward said the second floor was framed out for six apartments, but that space needs some work. He said the third floor too needs some work; six loft apartments — 18-foot high ceilings, but he doesn’t have any plans to utilize any of that space as apartments. He has been talking to people and has prospects for that space, but as yet nothing is underway.
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