STEUBENVILLE — The Jefferson County commissioners on Wednesday signed paperwork for $639,734 in grants from the Ohio Public Works Commission for sewer and road projects.

The county water and sewer department received $57,888 for the Amsterdam sewer project, while the engineer’s department received $199,000 for resurfacing work on county Roads 2, 10 and 56, and $382,846 for paving on county Road 78 and various township roads.

Commissioner Thomas Graham said it was great news the county is receiving the money.

Commissioners signed a contract for $494,606 with NLS of St. Clairsville for the paving of county Road 78 and township roads. Commissioners opened two bids on June 20. The estimate was $466,457.

Commissioners opened a second set of bids for sidewalk, drainage and paving on county Road 7B in the Georges Run area. The county regional planning commission received a $300,000 Community Development Block Grant for the work. The engineer’s estimate was $575,725. Cast & Baker of Canonsburg, Pa., submitted the apparent low bid of $575,725.

Commissioners rejected the first set of bids because they were more than 10 percent higher than the estimate.

County Engineer James Branagan said some paving work was eliminated from the project to reduce the cost.

Commissioners agreed at the request of the engineer’s department to advertise for slip-repair projects.

Two slips will be repaired on county Road 26. The estimate is $102,836.

Three slips will be repaired on county Road 28. The estimate is $180,364. Branagan said he is trying to get Federal Emergency Management Agency reimbursement for the slips on county Road 28, which be said were caused by flooding rains in February. The county is part of a federal disaster declaration.

Commissioners also:

¯ Signed contracts between juvenile detention and the Pennsylvania counties of Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Green, Lawrence and Armstrong to house juveniles at the center. Bill Ward, director of detention, said the daily rate is $175.

¯ Received a request from county Coroner Dr. Michael Scarpone for additional money for autopsies and toxicology tests. Commissioners appropriated $20,000 for the contract services at the beginning of the year. The coroner’s office already has spent $15,000. Commissioners gave the office an additional $10,000.

¯ Were informed a position for a real estate agent is open on the county port authority. According to the port authority’s bylaws, the appointee must live outside Steubenville. Steubenville and the commissioners each appoint members.

Commissioner Tom Gentile said there could be a conflict with a real estate agent being on the board and assisting companies in finding properties. Commissioner David Maple said the prior agent on the board was able to avoid conflicts. He said there is value in having a real estate agent on the port authority. The commissioners said they will ask agents about filling the position.

¯ Were informed attorney Robert Hargrave has resigned from the county law library resource board after many years of service. Commissioners make an appointment and that person is the chairman of the resource board. Commissioners appointed Steubenville Municipal Court Judge John J. Mascio to the post. Mascio has been serving on the board since 2014.

¯ Announced the meeting on July 18 has been canceled because of a lack of a quorum.