Local municipality pushing forward with several development projects

Several economic development initiatives are making progress in a municipality of the Dayton area. These transformational projects will only be the beginning of more projects for the village.

Over the past few years, Covington has undertaken many projects and incentives to encourage development. The largest of these is the Schoolhouse Park Project. The project began in January with the demolition and reconstruction of the Rudy Elevator. It is now nearing completion. By July, the groundwork will be complete with a gravel lot and new road connecting Maple Street to Ash Street.

M&T Excavating, based in Bradford, has begun the main part of the project. They are responsible for the construction and site work. The main focus of the project is a small shelter measuring 15 feet by 20 feet that should be finished this summer. The playground equipment, funded by the $108,000 donation of the Covington community chest, will also be delivered and assembled during August. The village received $30,000.00 from Miami County Commissioners ARPA Funds to assist with the construction of a shelter.

The pavilion part of the project will include mechanicals, restroom construction and a splashpad. The village plans to put the project out to bid in July after the completion of the sitework. The pavilion is expected to be finished by the spring of 2024.

Inflation has caused the main element of the project, the amphitheater, to be partially funded. The village will work with builders to find ways to reduce the cost to build the amphitheater.

The village has recently broken ground on a new wastewater facility. This is in addition to the Schoolhouse Park Project, which is moving forward. Plans for the $21-million project were approved late in March. Wapakoneta's Peterson Construction Co. will be building the facility. It is anticipated to open in the fall of 2024.

Kyle Hinkelman is the village administrator of Covington. We can do more to help our people, said Kyle Hinkelman, village administrator of Covington.

The village keeps future initiatives in view as one project takes shape and another gets underway. Garmann Miller, a Minster-based architecture firm, is helping the village to make improvements to its Government Center on South High Street. The Government Center underwent major renovations back in 2005. However, its infrastructure is now outdated and needs to be replaced or updated. This includes the roof, internal mechanical system and windows. The village plans to build an addition on the center that will house council chambers, a community room and other amenities.

Recently, the village acquired the old Sellman's Warehouse behind the storefronts on High Street. The property consists of four parcels totaling just over half an acres, with two buildings constructed in 1953. A 40-foot-by-80-foot structure with two stories, accessible from Wright Street. And a 76 foot-by-70-foot structure with two stories, accessible via Main Street and Wright Street.

The purchase of this property was made to support the village's redevelopment and control the future development. The village, in collaboration with the previous owner Jane Sellman negotiated an agreement to purchase the properties. This was done to ensure that the existing businesses were supported and to allow for potential redevelopment.

The village has been working on plans for redevelopment of the site and will share these plans with the community to get feedback about what they want out of the property. The village also works with Miami County in order to identify community needs that warehouses can meet.