Community Development

MANSFIELD — Mayor Tim Theaker on Tuesday proposed $9,070,116 in American Rescue Plan Act spending to City Council, including $3.75 million to renovate and repair the front foundation of the Municipal Building. The proposal includes $4,124,500 in “regular” ARPA spending and $4,855,616 allowed in “revenue replacement” under the federal rules. There are more restrictions on […]

MANSFIELD — Alomar Davenport has been outspoken in support of a new community center on the city’s north side since the century-old Ocie Hill Neighborhood Center was closed in 2020. That replacement — an $8 million facility planned by the North End Community Improvement Collaborative — moved another step forward Tuesday when the city administration announced plans […]

MANSFIELD — Richland County Juvenile Court Judge Steve McKinley and his administrator, Brian Bumpus, asked county commissioners for financial help on Tuesday. They left empty-handed, other than homework assignments, after the three-member board requested more information before acting on a pair of requests. The larger request was money to increase pay for deputy clerks and detention center […]

MANSFIELD — The Richland County Sheriff’s Office is throwing out a large “help wanted” sign on several local billboards. “We need corrections officers very badly,” Maj. Joe Masi said after county commissioners on Tuesday approved the department spending $9,886 with Lind Media for four billboard locations. The billboards will be going up on North Main […]

MANSFIELD — A local fabrication company wants to buy almost nine acres in the Reid Industrial Park near Lahm Regional Airport, a move that could free up space for another firm seeking to expand. City Council is scheduled to vote on the sale Tuesday evening to Mike Carroll, owner of MTC Holdings, LLC, and Carroll […]

MANSFIELD — Barrett Thomas understands economic development. It’s his career and his passion at the Richland Area Chamber & Economic Development. But he doesn’t begin to claim to have all the good ideas. Now he and others involved with the 2022 U.S. Corridor Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy want public input into a project aimed at […]

MANSFIELD — The city’s Public Art Commission, a group created in 2021 that could help accomplish one of the central goals found in the Mansfield Rising downtown investment plan, is ready to take the next step. The nine-member commission will host a “Public Art Q&A” at the Richland Area Chamber of Commerce on Monday, April […]

MANSFIELD — Local architects and engineers are busy people, it would appear. Richland County Administrator Andrew Keller said Thursday morning it will likely be two more months before a company is selected to design the renovations that will allow the relocation of the Clerk of Courts and lead to the addition of a fourth Common Pleas […]

MANSFIELD — Richland County Auditor Pat Dropsey has seen many different county commissioners during his tenure in office. He offered high praise to the current board on Tuesday during a session with commissioners to discuss a recent decision by Moody’s Investor Service to award Richland County its highest-ever financial rating. Moody’s advanced Richland County on […]

MANSFIELD — The Mansfield Board of Control on Tuesday approved contracts totaling $746,506 for various projects around the city. All of the work was previously approved by City Council and the contracts were awarded after a bidding process. The single biggest contract awarded was $379,507.50 to BK Layer, LLC, from Perrysville for the storm sewer […]