‘Over the hill’ tour for local VIPs and community members

On December 5, 2016, Carroll County Energy had the pleasure of giving local residents, neighbors, village officials, a Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) commissioner and the superintendent of the County Home a tour of the power facility’s construction activities. Carroll County Energy rented a tour bus from fleet owner Lynn Noble of Carroll County and all attendees met at the Jenkins Farms to avoid parking at the construction site.

Mike Murphy, Site Manager for Carroll County Energy greeted the group and provided a brief presentation on how the plant generates electricity. Everyone then piled into the tour bus to begin the adventure “over the hill,” a local term used to describe the plant from the road. The guests were very impressed and overwhelmed with the size and magnitude of the project site.

The attentive group asked many questions. One person on the tour asked about the water tower and whether the builder was a local outfit. It was explained that Phoenix, an Indiana company, built the tower. As with most out-of-state companies used on the project, they supply a service that is not available locally. There is no union for people who build water towers and it is a small industry with few competitors.

The next queries were about the switchyard and questions continued with each system as we traveled down the hill, ranging from the number of workers onsite to if and how the air-cooled condenser was regulated.

Notably, our driver seemed to know many of the construction workers we passed during the tour.

At the end of the tour, everyone congregated at the Jenkins Farms once again. With much appreciation and praise from the group, the outing resulted in a very positive return and a new understanding for what is “over the hill” in Carroll County, off Route 9.

Power plant tour attendees:
Bill Stoneman: mayor
Mark Wells : village administrator
Larry Jenkins: farm owner
Brian Shaw: President and CEO of Efficient Services Ohio
Lester Dodds: owner, Dodds Funeral Home, Carrollton, Ohio
John Baker: owner, Fusion Ceramics
Lee Rummell: farm owner
Ollie Scott: superintendent, County Home-Golden Age Retreat
Brad Wheeler: owner, Wheeler Construction
William Wohlwend: Carroll County clerk of courts
Denny Roudebush: commissioner, Community Improvement Corporation (CIC)