Duane Flowers

Biography

Personal History

Duane was born and raised in Licking County, and spent most of his youth working in construction and farming with his uncles. He worked with his father, Chester in the 1960s as a bulk fuel deliverer for Marathon Oil. Duane is a graduate of Licking Valley High School and lived in the Hanover area most of his life. He graduated from Virginia Computer College in 1971 and from the United States Drill Sergeant Academy in 1973. He married his wife Marty in 1973, has two children, and five grandchildren.

Work Experience

After college, Duane joined the military and took a job with the Department of State Agency for International Development in Washington D.C. He had Top Secret Security Clearance, and worked as a computer technician in the foreign payroll department. After completion of military training, he left the State Department to move back to Licking County where he became a computer operator/programmer for Pioneer Mutual Insurance Company in Columbus, Ohio. In 1975, he took a job with Acts Computer Corporation where he worked as a Data Processing Manager at the Newark, Ohio Kaiser Aluminum Plant. In 1976, he formally started his construction company. In 1977, he completed his military duty with an honorable discharge as a Specialist 5.

Duane has done construction supervision on large projects such as shopping malls, retirement centers, banks, etc. He has done major land developments, built hundreds of custom homes throughout Licking County and Central Ohio, and is a former owner of a construction inspections company.

Duane was Mayor of Hanover from 2000 to 2012. During his three terms as Mayor, he helped develop, administer, construct, and finalize the Village Wastewater Treatment Facility, which included that no property owner or business had to pay a tap or hook-up fee and a monthly rate of 40% under EPA projection. He has administrated roughly $2M in grants and $1M in interest free loans. He also worked to have every road in the Village asphalted in 2007 and worked with Licking Valley Schools to receive a $290,000 SRTS grant for the year 2013. He has led his community in re-structuring new development, sewer, and zoning regulations; 201 and 208 plans and comprehensive studies. He has worked with the Licking Valley School Systems in their continuation in improving their facilities, such as the new school intersection with traffic lights, the architectural and building committee for the new schools, and has interviewed new hires such as coaches and a superintendent. He has also worked with many different government agencies, Congress, and Representatives in cooperating in many projects. Duane has also worked with the Army Corp of Engineers and ODNR as Flood Plain Manager for Hanover during his time as Mayor. Duane has served as President of the Board of Commissioners in 2017-2018.

Community Involvement and Memberships

In 1999, Duane organized the Hanover Bicentennial Committee, with the sole purpose of collecting local historical items. Along with the Bicentennial event, he organized and raised money to make the hallway of Licking Valley High School a KIA memorial dedicated to all military individuals from the five townships of Licking Valley, having served our country, but never returned home.

Duane is the originator/founder of the Licking Valley Heritage Society established in 2005 and was the author of the 501c-3 Corporation status that exists today. The organization is blessed with many members who are currently working on the final touches of the museum/learning center, which will help educate area residents and students of our local history. The Society has also managed Flint Ridge Park and Museum to keep it open for the public, and working with ODNR and The Friends of Black Hand Gorge to help maintain and improve the characteristics of the nature preserve.

Duane also helped start the Red, White, and Blue Kaboom in 2007 to help bring the Licking Valley community together to celebrate our nation’s independence. He is a member of the Licking Valley Schools Financial Task Force, Licking Valley Lions Club, Hanover American Legion Post 764, ACIA, Ohio Farm Bureau, and the NRA.

Duane has served as a Volunteer Project Manager at the New Legacy Park in Hanover in 2017, 2018, and 2019.

Duane believes the proper purpose of government is to protect liberties, ensure fairness, and to enable people to pursue success without government interference.

As Commissioner since 2012, Duane is a founding member of the Licking County Transportation Improvement District and Licking County Land Revitalization Corporation. He has helped to create and start the Licking County Crime and Drug Lab. He is the Founding Commissioner from Licking County; setting up the Buckeye Lake Regional Corp. Duane also sits on multiple boards within the county, as well as other counties.