STEUBENVILLE — Jefferson County commissioners agreed Thursday to use $1,167,000 in ARPA funds for four water and sewer projects, subject to their consultant’s approval.
Commissioners had set aside roughly $1 million for water and sewer projects, and told Jefferson County Water and Sewer District Director Mike Eroshevich to figure out which of the projects on his to-do list should move to the top.
“We were told $1 million, we went a little over,” Eroshevich said afterward. “These are needed projects to update existing infrastructure.”
∫ Water: The Santucci booster station replacement, $900,000; the Toronto transmission line booster station, $118,000.
∫ Sewer: Murphy Lift Station rehab, $62,000; and Barbers Hollow return activated sludge pump replacement, $87,000.
Commissioner Tony Morelli applauded his choices, saying, “Those are all good projects that should have been done sooner.”
“Without ARPA money, most likely we wouldn’t be doing them now,” Morelli said. “Every year commissioners have to work hard to pass a budget.”
Commissioner Tom Graham said he’d like to see more infrastructure upgrades funded with ARPA dollars.
“This is what I have been advocating for as to how the ARPA money should be used, water and sewer projects,” Graham said. “We should use more of these funds for water and sewer projects.”
Commissioner Dave Maple agreed, adding he thought Eroshevich did a good job prioritizing projects “to capture both water and sewer issues and utilize the money we have appropriated to hm so far.”
“(And) I like that they are infrastructure projects and a good use of ARPA,” he added.
Eroshevich said the Santucci pump station “is in desperate need of repair or replacement.”
“It supplies water to Smithfield, Piney Fork and Dillonvale Ridge,” he said. “The drive units are 30 years old and need to be replaced. They control the pumps that supply 2 million gallons a day to the northern part of the county.”
He said the pumps at Barbers Hollow need to be replaced. “RAS is an important component to the treatment process for the sewer plant,” he added.
Likewise, he said the Murphy lift station “needs a complete overhaul.”
“All (of the projects) are very important and fit in the budget,” Eroshevich added. “Honestly, I could spend every dime of ARPA money and have a lot more to do, also.”
Eroshevich, meanwhile, also asked commissioners to extend the deadline for new sewer customers in the Amsterdam area to connect to the system by 90 days. Eroshevich cited delays in the supply chain, Covid and availability of contractors as contributing factors.
Commssioners also were updated on the Public Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County’s efforts to change their state classification from “municipal free” to “district” library status.
Library Director Mike Gray told commissioners the change wouldn’t impact operations.
“Funding would be the same, services to the county would be the same,” he said, adding they’d be asked to appoint four board members, with the other three picked by the presiding Common Pleas Court judge. Currently, board members are appointed by the mayor of Steubenville.
Gray said if the reclassification is approved, current board members would serve out their terms, telling commissioners the change would “better reflect the public library’s commitment to library service to all Jefferson County residents.”
* Moved $20,000 into the county auditor’s budget for contract services.
Contract services is the fund from which autopsy fees, toxicology studies and related costs are paid, and all the money currently appropriated to the contract services fund has been depleted.
Coroner Michael Scarpone told commissioners the expenditures were necessitated “due to the unfortunately high number of individuals requiring post-mortem and toxicological studies.
* Granted the prosecutor’s office a 30-day extension to complete its annual report.
* Will schedule a viewing and hearing to evaluate a petition to vacate the right-of-way along county Road 7G (Pottery Addition).
*Awarded the contract for Jefferson County Road 56-9, 77 and 11.87 to the lower bidder, Ohio-West Virginia Excavating, for $492,134. The engineer’s estimate was $538,470.
* Agreed to advertise for bids for slip repairs to county Road 1-3.4 and 2-2.1. The project consists of two drilled shaft retaining walls with precast congreet lagging. The engineer’s estimate is $197.861.
* Signed the notice of award for the $402,150 Barber Hollow wastewater treatment plant UV disinfection project
* Accepted payments from Toronto and the Jefferson County Airpark in the amount of $29,085 for chip/sealing roads in their jurisdiction.
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