MANSFIELD — Richland County Commissioner Tony Vero said Thursday he’s confident a proposed Buc-ee’s Travel Center will meet any needed environmental requirements.
“They have been great to work with. They’re speaking to all the necessary (environmental) agencies and any regulatory agencies,” Vero said.
“I know that’s a concern and certainly a justifiable one. But they’ve been looking at this for some time now. They’re working with all the necessary parties to make sure that there’s minimal impact on the land and will comply with all the necessary regulations,” the commissioner said.
“I was at a meeting where they were making sure that there was nothing that would trigger any federal EPA involvement,” he said.
What comes next?
The city of Mansfield and trustees in Madison and Mifflin townships have approved the plan to annex 112.5 acres into the city.
The Richland County Board of Commissioners approved the annexation Thursday.
The annexation request will now have to “wait” for 60 days before Mansfield City Council can vote on making it official.
Mansfield Mayor Jodie Perry said Tuesday night the city Planning Commission would be working on zoning approval for the site and a formal development agreement between the city and Buc-ee’s would be developed.
If all goes as planned, local lawmakers could provide final, formal approval at their May 19 legislative session.
The annexation legislation cannot be approved as an emergency, which means it would take effect 30 days after it’s approved.
Construction could begin this summer and is expected to take 15 to 18 months to complete.
“I’m not speaking definitively because we don’t know yet. We haven’t seen the development, but I know there have been the necessary conversations to make sure that the development’s done appropriately,” he said.
His comments, in response to Richland Source questions, came after county commissioners on Thursday unanimously approved the annexation of 112.5 acres from Madison and Mifflin townships into the city of Mansfield.
Area residents on social media have raised questions about the planned development at the site. Three spoke against it Tuesday night during a Mansfield City Council meeting.
Commissioners took the next required step in a a land annexation process that could lead to a sprawling Buc-ee’s Travel Center being built near the intersection of I-71/Ohio 39.
The development could mean more than 200 new, full-time jobs in the city at a retail site that would encompass more than 70,000 square feet.
Richland County administrator Andrew Keller said jobs for county residents was key.
“We’re excited, of course, for our municipality friends. This will help with revenue to deliver services out to the site.
“But I think the biggest part of the story is upwards of 200 full-time jobs that pay very well for Richland County residents,” Keller said.
“This is going to be a real opportunity for residents both within Richland County and neighbors who are looking for a quality, good-paying, full-time jobs that are largely supported by visitors from far outside the county visiting Buc-ee’s along the I-71 corridor,” he said.
“This is going to be a real asset for the workforce in Richland County,” Keller said.
According to the company website, associates at a Buc-ee’s Travel Center begin work at $18 to $21 per hour. Team leads are paid $21 to $24 per hour while department managers earn between $31 and $33 per hour. An outlet’s assistant general manager is paid $125,000 annually and the general manager receives between $200,000 and $275,000.
The annexation request came from the current property owner, who intends to sell the land to Buc-ee’s after the annexation is complete.
“It’s a great day for Richland County, growth and economic development,” Richland County Commissioner Cliff Mears said.
Commissioners said the proposed site on the southeast side of the interchange is not the location of a Native American burial ground as some have suggested on social media.
“There is some confusion. That is absolutely not the property that Buc-ee’s plans to be developed,” Vero said.
Richland County Engineer Adam Gove, who attended the meeting Thursday, said the burial ground site is on the northeast side of the interchange.
Commissioners also reiterated the Buc-ee’s development will only take about 35 acres. The majority of the annexation includes a portion of I-71 that connects the existing city limits to the planned store.
“I think that’s just a misunderstanding of the annexation,” Vero said.
The commissioner credited the cooperation of the city, townships, county and the Richland Area Chamber & Economic Development for attracting the planned development. The company contacted Mansfield Mayor Jodie Perry in May 2025.
“People talk about government standing in the way of economic development and oftentimes that is true,” Vero said.
“You look at a project of this size, which will require annexation and land acquisition, and here we are in March, and we are approving the annexation today. To have that done in less than a year… I think for a project this size, I think government sometimes can work efficiently,” he said.
