Honda Central
Mayor remembers all his neighbors
days are flying by for Mayor Frank Manus but that doesn’t mean he’s in his backyard sipping lemonade. He said he’s been hard at work at City Hall and has no idea where the week went.
“I just can’t believe the week’s over already. It seems like last Friday was yesterday,” Manus said.
While the week may have been a blur, he spent some quality time keeping all the ducks in a row for Honda. He, the attorneys, engineers and other local officials took time out to have a conference call as the infrastructure for the Honda site is under way and the dirt is moving out at the Interstate 74 and U.S. Highway 421 junction. He also attended the City Tax Incremental Financing meeting Wednesday where they passed a resolution to pledge money to the Honda project.
“Everything is settled and they’ll be giving $1 million for the next 10 years to get the water lines ready,” Manus said.
The Mayor also made his way to a meeting of the local Economic Development Corporation where Hugh Hagerman, project procurement manager for the Honda site, let local officials know how the next two years of construction will be played out.
“He was talking about all the necessary things that had to be put together out at the site. He was very professional,” Manus noted. “It was a real down to earth, this is what they need, kind of presentation. They have everything in a time frame on what they will need when.”
Manus said he was informed some mobile homes, a cafeteria and portable toliets will need to be set up for the workers at the Honda site. He added Hagerman pledged to use local people first for all Honda's needs and Manus urges contractors and businesses in Greensburg and the county to respond to the requests when the opportunity knocks.
Manus also spent some time in Westport Friday after the big storm. He felt bad for the area and offered the town any help he could give.
“It’s unbelievable how hard they got hit,” he said. “They were trees and debris everywhere.”
Manus said he sent Greensburg Fire Chief Scott Chasteen to Westport to offer his expertise dealing with disasters. In addition, Manus trucked wood chippers from the Greensburg Street Department to aid in the clean-up effort. The Mayor noted the help he offered was the least he could do.
“They were in serious trouble. They still are really. They didn’t have the equipment they needed. We did, so I sent it down there,” Manus said. “I think that’s what it’s all about really, helping your neighbor. I know Westport would be here if it was Greensburg that got hit.”
Being a good neighbor is a duty Manus tries to uphold. Early this week, he will entertain Commissioners from the two Ohio counties who were in the running for the Honda site. He said he expects the officials to view the site and see what Greensburg had to offer.
Then on Wednesday, officials from Lawrenceburg will pay a visit to City Hall to see how the $10 million granted to Greensburg is to be spent. Manus is looking forward to their visit and returning some of the hospitality.
“We’re definitely going to treat them well. They sure treated us nice,” he said with a chuckle.
Overall, Manus said he hopes this week will go a little slower and things keep moving at a steady pace. Regardless, he said he will keep doing what he does.
“I’m a mayor and I’m just trying to do my job the best I can,” he said.
To comment on or view reaction to this or any other story, visit www.greensburgdailynews.com.
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