The Committee meets, as called, to evaluate existing and pending legislation and regulations to ascertain how they do, or will, impact the Home Building Industry. The Committee works with elected officials so that legislation is not passed that will adversely affect the industry. The Committee cooperates and interacts with elected and appointed officials to insure a good working relationship between the Association and local, state and federal government.

There has been much written regarding the Agricultural Easement Purchase Program (AEPP) but the following article I found to be more informative.This article was in the Sept/Oct Township News and was written by Jill Clark, Ohio Field Representative, American Farmland Trust and she has given me permission to reprint it in this month's issue of our Courier.

Pros of the AEPP
• AEPP protects farmland permanently, while keeping it in private ownership.
• Participation in AEPP is voluntary.
• AEPP is implemented by a partnership between the state and a local government, or a private organization.

The Ohio Legislation passed HB 366. This Bill deals with counties and townships ability to enact access management.

Listed below is a summary checklist for those types of regulations as printed in the Nov., Dec., Twp News.

     While the law is a basic enabling statute for the adoption of access management regulations, the statute does include some specific provisions that must be included in the body of the regulations. Regulations should include the following specific provisions to comply with the statute:

1. Regulations must be for purpose of promoting traffic safety and efficiency and to maintain proper traffic capacity and flow.

Mold has been around for millions of years, and continues to travel in and out of our homes and work places through ventilation systems, doors and windows. Despite the fact that it is ever-present, mold has recently and increasingly become the subject of lawsuits being filed by homeowners against homebuilders, landlords, architects, realtors, building system manufacturers and insurance companies seeking property damage and bodily injury awards. Why this sudden attention to mold? In recent years, we have learned more and more about the health effects of mold, particularly with respect to mold as a cause of allergic reactions and asthma attacks.

 Q: I've been reading and hearing about annexation lately. What is it, exactly?

A: Property owners often seek the services that a city or village can provide, such as water and sewer service, full-time police and fire protection, and more favorable zoning or development practices.

Q: How can an individual property owner seek annexation?

 As I was preparing for the HBA April Courier, it occurred to me that with HBA's many new members they might like to read some of our previous articles.

     With that thought in mind I found the March article from 2001 that addresses land use issues. A subject that is now in vogue again.

In this article I speak of Urban Boundaries, you ask, "what are Urban Boundaries?"

A comprehensive package of reforms intended to bring balance and fairness to Ohio’s civil justice system has been introduced by Ohio Senator Steve Stivers (R-Columbus). Senate Bill 80 was announced with support from Governor Taft; Senate President Doug White and key Senate leaders; representatives of Ohio’s small and large businesses; and a standing-room-only crowd of supporters at a news conference on May 1. Hearings began in the Senate the week of May 5.

The Ohio Building Officials Association (OBOA) is drafting a new residential code based upon the International Residential Code (IRC). After its members adopt a new code, it will be published and distributed some time in 2004. OBOA will then urge the state to adopt the new IRC Code

In order to effectively represent our builder membership, the HBA Building Codes Committee decided to become an active participant in this process. The adoption process for a new OBOA Code began months ago.