By BRAD KANE
bradkane@sanduskyregister.com

SANDUSKY - The Ohio House of Representatives approved giving $13.2 million of the state's $1.53-billion capital budget for projects in Erie and Ottawa counties at places like Middle Bass Island, the State Theatre and the Ohio Veterans Home.

The state Senate still has to approve the action; Senate Majority Leader Randy Gardner, R-Bowling Green, said he expects that vote to take place on Tuesday.

"There were other requests in Ottawa and Erie counties, so it is not like we achieved everything we set out to do in those two counties," Gardner said. "That being said, we have been working on this for quite a number of months, and it is an accomplishment to see it move forward."

Ohio House Minority Leader Chris Redfern, D-Catawba Island, voted in favor of the legislation, which he said was required for the area agencies to get the money.

"Randy Gardner's leadership on this issue has been invaluable," Redfern said. "I think teamwork has paid off here. I'm pleased Sen. Gardner and I have been able to work together to improve our community."

The State Theatre in Sandusky is getting $325,000 of the money to renovate its basement and add on to the stage.  

"It is an incredible vote of confidence in us from the state of Ohio," State Theatre Executive Director Terry Bergman said. "We know it if incredibly tough for them to come up with this money."

The Ohio Veterans Home will receive $4.4 million for several projects in its Perkins Township and Georgetown facilities.

About $2.7 million of its money came from federal grants and the rest was from patient payments that had to be approved by the state. In order to be eligible for the grants, OVH had to come up with at least $400,000 worth of projects.

"We combined a lot of projects to hit the $400,000 mark," OVH Fiscal Director Mike Liptay said.

The bulk of the funding going to Ottawa County is $7.5 million for boating facilities and other improvements at Middle Bass Island State Park. The remaining $400,000 is for Camp Perry.

"Tourism is a vital part of our economy," Redfern said. "By investing in Camp Perry and the facilities available in our are for boaters, I hope we can continue to attract visitors -- and their dollars -- to our area."

The state capital budget also includes money for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to administer a grant program to places that want to construct marinas.

The rest of the money coming to Erie County will be $325,000 for the Great Lakes Historical Society to repair its Inland Seas Maritime Museum in Vermilion and $191,849 for renovations at BGSU Firelands in Huron.