COLUMBUS – Two new air quality improvement projects were approved during this week's monthly Ohio Air Quality Development Authority (OAQDA) board meeting.

The Authority approved up to $422,570 in bond financing for businesses in Knox and Summit counties to purchase and install energy-efficient equipment.

“The Authority recognizes that it can be challenging and time-consuming to navigate environmental regulations and prioritize the costs associated with environmentally friendly upgrades to buildings and equipment,” Christina O’Keeffe, executive director of OAQDA, said. “We’re pleased to offer financial assistance to support Ohio small businesses through our Clean Air Resource Center.”

The projects approved at OAQDA’s Oct. 13 meeting are as follows:

• Gault’s Plaza Cleaners & Laundromat (Knox County) is a third-generation, family-owned dry-cleaner and laundromat in Mount Vernon. OAQDA approved up to $85,210 in funding for the purchase of new dry-cleaning equipment that will replace outdated machines and eliminate the use of PERC, a known carcinogen.
• QT Equipment Company (Summit County) is an Akron-based business specializing in servicing and building field service trucks for construction companies, equipment dealers, mining companies, utility companies, municipalities and independent mechanics. The Authority granted up to $337,360 in funding for QT Equipment’s expansion, which will include the installation of two downdraft spray paint booths. The expansion will create 15 skilled labor jobs in the Akron area.

The Ohio Air Quality Development Authority is a non-regulatory government agency created to help Ohio businesses comply and go beyond clean-air regulations. Since its creation in 1970, OAQDA has worked to prevent air pollution throughout the state of Ohio by providing businesses with the resources they need to reduce harmful air emissions and be more energy efficient while creating jobs and boosting local economies. To date, OAQDA has awarded more than $8 billion to finance air quality projects. For more information about OAQDA and its services, please visit ohioairquality.org.

Mount Vernon loose leaf drop-off

The loose leaf drop-off area will open to accept leaves on Monday, Oct. 19. This year, the drop-off area will be located at Knox County Compost Facility, 7425 Thayer Road, Mount Vernon, OH 43050. The facility will be open from 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. Monday-Saturday until Nov. 30.

The drop-off area is for loose leaves only. All bags or other containers must be removed from the area after they are emptied.

If you have any questions, please call 740-393-9501.

Controlled goose hunt notice

The city of Mount Vernon is accepting applications for participation in a controlled goose hunt at Ariel-Foundation Park. Hunting dates will be Tuesday, Nov. 17, and Friday, Nov. 20, with hunting hours 30 minutes before sunrise to 1 p.m.

Applications are available at the Mount Vernon Parks Department, now located at 1700 Old Delaware Road in Mount Vernon. Please note that this is a new location from where applications were previously submitted. The deadline to submit applications is 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 10.

Hunters will be randomly drawn for each date. Applicants are required to attend a mandatory orientation meeting at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 12.

If you have any questions, please call the Mount Vernon Parks Department office at 740-393-9501.

Fredericktown FFA takes 2nd place in the County Forestry Contest!

Members of the Fredericktown FFA chapter recently competed in the County FFA Forestry contest held at Garrett and Linda Swendal's farm in Danville. In this competition, members must be able to show their knowledge in a timber-cruising practicum on 10 different trees. They had to identify the tree, properly use the DBH tape to measure the width of the tree, and find out how many 16-foot logs are in the tree; and then use this information and charts to see how much that tree is worth in the end. As they advance to the next level of competition, not only will they be completing a timber cruise practicum but they will also be completing other practicums for this year and testing their knowledge in the areas of general forestry, diseases and disorders, wood products and forestry equipment. 

The Fredericktown team placed second overall, with Emily Rook taking first place individually for the entire contest.

Debra Burden is the Fredericktown FFA Advisor.  

Members pictured are (from left to right):  

Front row:  Kacie Rook, Lilyana Springston, Jessica Cummings, Ashlee Williams, Natasha Tucker and Emily Rook.

Back Row:  Kelsey Scott, Chloe Wells, Kaid Benson, Autumn Gault, Nikki Frazier and Jacob VanSlyke.