The Noble County Commissioners continue to advance the idea of providing public transportation for the people of Noble County. They recently met with Melissa Zoller of Buckeye Hills RC&D and Shannon Wells and John Samson of Morgan County Transit.

Wells and Samson explained to the Commissioners their company provides public transportation for Morgan and Monroe Counties and is interested in expanding into Noble County. ODOT has informed them they have some money for regional transportation.

They discussed plans for a public meeting in late March on the subject. They also discussed developing a transit plan with the help of the Commissioners and the possible creation of an Appalachian Transportation Company.

“We are interested in helping get this project off the ground,” stated Commissioner Ty Moore. “We are going to look into grant money to help with startup costs.”

In other business, the Commissioners gave final approval for the adoption and update of subdivision and zoning regulations. This is the culmination of a year-long study, spearheaded by Gwynn Stewart, Noble County Extension Economic Development Director, and conducted by American Structure Point and the Noble County Planning Commission.

The zoning regulations identify residential and commercial pockets in the county. Nuisance ordinances were established with the goal of raising property values within the county. The subdivision regulations establish the Noble County Health Department as the authority on nuisance properties and property overgrowth and the Noble County Sheriff’s Office as the authority on junk vehicles.

“We are very happy this work on subdivision and zoning regulations has been completed,” stated Allen Fraley, President of the Commissioners. “Gwynn Stewart has worked tirelessly to see this through and deserves to be praised for her effort. This will make the work of the Noble County Health Department much easier when it comes to enforcing zoning regulations.” In final business, the Commissioners inspected, then vacated two-tenths of Zerger Quarry Road to the entrance of the Ohio Boys Wilderness Camp in Stock Township. This action was taken with the approval of all three Stock Township Trustees.