A local match of $30,000 to receive a possible $600,000 in federal funds to make improvements on a taxiway at the Ashland County Airport is on standby.

The Ashland County Commissioners met with Ashland County Airport Authority members for the second time in about two weeks Thursday to discuss the issue and possible alternatoves.

Commissioner Barb Queer says since the grant was first discussed Feb,. 25, problems with fixing the roof at the Ashland County Courthouse has arisen and may have to be addressed first. Airport authority board president Denny Edwards suggested the board may be able to look at other outside sources and break the project down into a greatest needs situation.

In other business, the commissioners hired a new information technology director in Jim Storch, who will replace Jeff Beebe. Beebe is stepping down to take a new position as State Operations Director fo Northeast Ohio at Connect Ohio.

Storch, who begins his new position March 29, formerly worked for the past 13 years with the Ashland County Department of Job and Family Services.