Bowersock honored by mayor for 25 years of job creation in Mansfield

MANSFIELD – Tim Bowersock left his economic development job with the city of Mansfield the same way he started.

Help create local jobs.

Bowersock, who officially retired last week, attended Wednesday’s Mansfield City Council meeting to explain a pair of Community Reinvestment Area agreements for two projects near Mansfield Lahm Regional Airport.

One of the agreements is the final step toward construction of a new $13 million building. Industrial building of 150,000 square meters planned by Adena Corp. CEO Randy Payne on a 15.8-acre site at 1750 Airport West Parkway.

The second is with Schmidt Security Pro to construct a 6,000-square-foot building at 241 Mansfield Industrial Parkway, increasing the business space by approximately 50 percent.

Local lawmakers, meeting in Municipal Court 1 for the first time since renovations began in the council chambers, approved both tax incentive deals for the businesses.

Mayor Jodie Perry took the opportunity to honor Bowersock and issued a proclamation marking the 66-year-old’s 25 years of service to the city.

“Tim has been working for the city for a long time. Everything north of (US) 30, or a lot of what’s north of 30, Tim has had a hand in guiding and really building out a really great industrial park there,” said Perry, who led the Richland Area Chamber & Economic Development before taking office. office in January.

“So I think it’s only appropriate that we honor him,” Perry said before reading the proclamation.

Bowersock, a graduate of Crestview High School, was hired by then-Mayor Lydia Reid in 1998 and served under multiple mayors along the way.

“I appreciate the time I spend working for the city and I enjoy what I do, otherwise I wouldn’t have stayed,” he said with a laugh.

Perry praised Bowersock’s work.

“Tim has been central to our economic development projects for over twenty years, even in very challenging times. He knows how to ensure we aggressively attract new jobs while protecting the interests of the greater community,” Perry said.

“I have appreciated his dedication, creativity and perseverance throughout his career, on behalf of the entire city council and myself,” the mayor said in announcing November 6 as Tim Bowersock Appreciation Day in the city.

Perry told the council that her plan for replacing Bowersock will involve a contract with the Richland County Chamber & Economic Development through the Richland County Development Group.

The mayor said she would have legislation on that deal for the City Council to consider at its next meeting.

In other action Tuesday, city council:

— approved a $250,000 grant through the Richland County Foundation for local developer Famico Williams to renovate a property at the intersection of Mulberry Street and Fifth Street on the city’s north side.

– heard a proposal from Wayfinders director Miles Parsons to move the homeless shelter to a location at 661 Park Ave. East on the east side of the city.

– accepted a $250 donation from the Buckeye Garden Club to be used for landscape renovation as part of the Sterkel Park for All project.

– accepted a $28,178 grant from the Ohio Department of Public Safety for the Mansfield Police Department’s Impaired Driver Enforcement Program and Selective Traffic Enforcement Program. No local match is required.

– approved the creation of standing committees for the council now that General Counsel Shari Robertson has replaced Stephanie Zader on the council. Under the plan, Robertson will chair the public affairs committee and also serve on the claims, finance/audit, airports and economic development committees.

– accepted a $13,450 grant from the Rotary Club of Mansfield to be used for the construction of a Prospect Park pavilion.

– accepted a $1,500 grant from Global Energy Partners LLC for use to supply the city’s parks.

– accepted a $1,680 grant from Edge Plastics for use for youth jerseys used in the city’s parks and recreational flag football program.

– $375,000 from the non-appropriated security services fund allocated to the fire capital equipment fund, based on actual and projected EMS revenues through December 31, 2024.