Council Candidate – Tony Johnson
Council candidate Tony Johnson provided the following information:
I am a lifelong resident of Barnesville. I have served on council for several years and currently, I serve as council president. I have worked hard for the community I’ve always called home, focusing on keeping Barnesville a great place to live.
My wife Lisa and I have been married for 25 years. We are the proud parents of five children with three now living across the country. Lexi, graduated from Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas with a business degree and is regional manager for 7 Brew in Oklahoma. Tal is finishing his degree in aerospace engineering at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona, FL. Aubrey is currently serving in the Army stationed in Hawaii. Carson is a senior and Mercedes is a sophomore in high school.
Outside of council I work for Waste Managment in Washington, PA, as fleet manager where I oversee fleet operations for a 125 truck fleet, working with Local 66 Operators and Local 585 Teamsters Unions to provide safe equipment for our drivers and reliable service for our customers.
During my time serving on Village Council, I have worked alongside my fellow members to strengthen our community, improve public safety and invest in Barnesville’s future. In cooperation with Barnesville Schools, we placed uniformed police officers in each school building to ensure the safety of students and staff. We also added a K-9 officer to our police department and continue to provide our officers with upgraded equipment and ongoing training.
Council has invested in our employees by offering CDL reimbursement training and police academy reimbursement programs. These initiatives support workforce development and create opportunities for advancement.
Significant investments have also been made in our downtown area. We have worked to save and restore several buildings while responsibly removing others to make way for future improvements. One major project underway is the replacement of the historic depot roof — a $200,000 investment in preserving an important part of Barnesville’s history.
We are also improving the railroad tunnel area and adding a walking trail, funded primarily through grants. Infrastructure remains a top priority. We have installed a new waterline from Slope Creek to the treatment plant, and we are planning to expand our water service area to Fairview and loop the waterline from Route 800 to Mt. Olivet.
Finally, council has focused on bringing new jobs and business opportunities to Barnesville. In cooperation with the county, private partners and townships, we have developed two industrial parks that have created hundreds of jobs and supported local economic growth.
I look forward to continuing to serve the Village of Barnesville and keep moving forward to “where history meets progress.”
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