Hocking County commissioners signed off Thursday on a new special-event permit rule and a seven-figure state road grant, tightening oversight of large gatherings while helping clear the way for infrastructure tied to the planned Grand Village at Hocking Hills.
The decisions came at the board’s regular meeting in Logan and give the county’s emergency management officials more say over how big public events are planned and staffed, while also locking in state money for key roadway improvements serving a major tourism-focused development.
Commissioners voted to accept a grant award agreement from the Ohio Department of Development backing the Grand Village project. A Controlling Board request shows the state signed off on releasing $1,566,655.50 for the work, which is expected to cover about 6,000 linear feet of new roadway through the Grand Village and an approximately 375-foot turn lane on southbound State Route 664. The request estimates the project could support up to 426 jobs, according to the Ohio Controlling Board.
New special-event permit from EMA
The newly approved resolution creates a county-level special-event permit drafted by the Hocking County Emergency Management Agency, setting ground rules for large gatherings, emergency planning and traffic control.
County planning staff and EMA officials had previously brought reco mmendations to the board earlier this year, which ultimately informed the language commissioners adopted, as detailed in Hocking County minutes.
Road projects and county budgets
Beyond the event rules and Grand Village funding, commissioners moved through a stack of routine financial and infrastructure items.
They approved appropriation transfers for 9-1-1 and the Soil and Water Conservation District, added appropriations for EMA and the prosecutor’s office, and issued a certificate of additional revenue for the Board of Developmental Disabilities. The board also authorized two construction projects with McKee Paving, greenlit right-of-way applications from Spectrum, AT&T, American Electric Power and South Central Power, and publicly thanked the Fourth of July organizing committee, according to the Logan Daily News.
What residents should expect
Under the new rules, event organizers can expect to submit safety and traffic plans to EMA and work through any road closures or public-safety measures with the county before their gatherings get the green light.
Residents looking to keep tabs on how the permit system rolls out can follow implementation details and future agendas on the county website. The Hocking County Board of Commissioners meets weekly in Logan, typically on Thursdays at 9:30 a.m., according to the Hocking County Commissioners page.
Officials said the county will sort out permitting procedures and construction timelines in upcoming meetings. For now, the approvals hand emergency planners new authority over large events and officially secure state roadwork dollars aimed at improving access for tourism and local businesses as the Grand Village development advances.
