Cincinnati supports Clean Ohio Fund ballot initiative

Cincinnati City Council has passed a resolution supporting a fully-funded renewal of the Clean Ohio Fund bond package, which will appear on the November ballot.

Councilmember Chris Monzel was the lone dissenting vote.

The measure, which is part of Governor Ted Strickland's $1.6 billion economic stimulus package, was approved for the November 4 ballot by the Ohio Senate on May 28.

The $400 million program, which doubles previous funding amounts, is divided approximately among:

* 50 percent for brownfield revitalization
* 37.5 percent for greenspace conservation
* 6.25 percent for recreational trail development
* 6.25 percent for farmland preservation

Approved projects are paid for through the issuance of general revenue bonds.

Since its approval by voters in November 2000, the Clean Ohio Fund has funded over 700 projects, cleaning up 141 polluted sites, preserving over 42,000 acres of natural areas and farmland, and creating more than 216 miles of recreational trails.

Clean Ohio Funds have been used to develop such projects as Park Place at Lytle and Linden Pointe on the Lateral.

Funds are currently being used for remediation and redevelopment at Factory Square, MetroWest Commerce Park, Red Bank Village, the Center Hill Landfill, and the former Celotex site in Lockland.