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Franklin County continues to look for more ways to be environmentally-friendly and sustainable. Today, Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution authorizing the County Engineer to apply for a grant to pay for a road resurfacing project that reuses scrap tires.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources has a Scrap Tire Grant program that aims to fund projects, up to $100,000, that use methods to help eliminate existing scrap tires in Ohio landfills.
Commission President Marilyn Brown said, “I am so glad that the Engineer is participating in this program, and I would encourage others to get involved as well. This is a wonderful way to resurface our roads and re-use these old tires. We must all work to increase sustainability.”
This grant request of $59,677 would fund the resurfacing of a stretch of Central College Road in Westerville with ground tire rubber asphalt. Franklin County was awarded a grant last year in the amount of $91,698 for the resurfacing of Frank Road.
“Protecting our environment means we have to find reuses for materials like tires,” said Commissioner Mary Jo Kilroy. “Using them for road construction is a fiscally and environmentally responsible thing to do.”
One scrap tire is reused per ton of asphalt. This project would keep an estimated 1800 tires out of landfills.
“As a former city council member, I found tire recycling programs to be cost-efficient and well-received,” said Commissioner Paula Brooks. “I am pleased that over the last several years the County has been frugal and looked out for the taxpayer dollar. We are hoping to set an example here for the entire community.”
Franklin County Engineer Dean Ringle said, “This stretch of Central College Road is a good section of roadway to test the durability of the recycled tire asphalt mix as compared to a regular asphalt mix. We'll be able to see how well it works in damp conditions caused by tree cover shading the road".
Grant awards will be announced in May 2008.
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