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STEUBENVILLE -- Still looking for a solution to its meter problem, Jefferson County Water and Sewer District has proposed leasing a new system.
Supervisor Mike Eroshevich told commissioners the "vast majority" of the 8,000 residential water meter heads and transponders currently in use are past their 10-year shelf life and the batteries are failing.
"Five hundred and ninety-three of them are not currently responding," he said. "We don't have any new ones on the shelf and our supplier tells us it's going to be nine months to get them in."
He's proposing replacing all of the district's meters, reading equipment and software, including installation, using a municipal lease agreement, which commissioners agreed to send to the prosecutor's office for review. If approved, he said funding would come from the department.
"Last August we had 401 meters that weren't responding," he added. "We used all the ones we had on the shelf, and that dropped us to 197."
Eroshevich also suggested bringing vendors in to meet with commissioners.
Commissioner Dave Maple conceded the price tag is no doubt hefty, "but so is losing revenue because of bad meters, not charging what we should be charging."
Meanwhile, Auditor E.J. Conn recommended asking the county's data processing board to vet and interview companies for a new countywide phone system. The board is made up of various department heads and elected officials with the expertise to evaluate technology solutions, he said.
"The board gave its support for this proposal at its last meeting, as they believe it is a more efficient and effective way to select the best company for the job," Conn said. "Not only will it save time and money, but it will ensure that the selected vendor is well-suited to meet the needs of the county."
Conn told commissioners he thinks having the data board vet and interview vendors "will lead to a better outcome for the county, as (its) members have a vested interest in ensuring that the new phone system meets the needs of their respective departments," he said. "As elected officials, they are accountable to the public, which adds an extra layer of transparency and accountability to the process.
"I know we discussed going the request for proposals route previously," Conn said. "The pricing, we don't believe, will (hit the mandatory bid threshold), so we don't believe an RFP is required."
He said they're also running into trouble finding companies to draw up the specs.
"We can vet any vendor that has expressed interest," he said. "We think it's the most efficient way."
The vote was delayed a week after Commissioner Eric Timmons balked at a quick decision, pointing out, "We had previously talked about going to bid because there's more transparency."
"If it takes a little more time to do that, I'm OK," Maple said.
"I would like to make sure we do it right," Morelli agreed.
Conn said he's fine going with an RFP "if you can find a consultant who won't refer us to a vendor, that's a bad look."
Commissioners also:
• Agreed to ask the Ohio Treasurer of State to release a $112,950 payment from its building fund to Edgell for improvements at Eastern Ohio Correction Facility.
• Commissioner Tony Morelli reported on the national opioid lawsuit settlements, pointing out they are receiving some of those funds. "This money from these suits that have been settled, 30 percent comes to local government, 55 percent comes to the One Ohio Foundation and 15 percent to the Attorney General for any legal work that needs done," he said.
The auditor's office reports Jefferson County has accumulated $200,000 in settlement fund.
"We've already received some money, so we need to get together and brainstorm some projects we may want to apply for," Morelli said.
• Heard Jefferson County Engineer Jim Branagan's annual report and offered kudos for the work done by him and his staff.
• Barry Bardone, adjutant of the Veterans Association, told commissioners they'd dedicated the shelter between Veterans Memorial Wall and Memorial Park to the memory of the late Sheriff Fred Abdalla Sr. He also reported progress in efforts to secure a Congressional Medal of Honor for the late Fred McGee, telling commissioners he's been told it will be signed by the president, "hopefully this year" and his family would be invited to the White House for the presentation.
Bardone also told commissioners adults and children are climbing on military equipment on display, requesting signs telling them to stay off, and that someone had stolen a wooden propeller from the aircraft on display.
• Maintenance Supervisor Patrick Boyles said crews painting the fire escape at the courthouse encountered a problem. He said scaffolding was put up inside it so the contractor can prime the side structure and discovered gaps that need to be filled. They proposed caulking the gaps, but commissioners were undecided.
Caulking would cost $16,000, but they have a $5,000 credit that has yet to be applied. Architect Tim Mizer also pointed out they have a $30,000 contingency fund that hasn't been touched, "so in essence it's going to cost us $11,000 to caulk it."
Maple pointing caulking would need to be redone "every few years," and asked if they'd considered spray painting. Them.
"We could ask," Mizer said. "The problem the gaps vary ... but we can ask."
Timmons said he'd "rather consult with painters, see if they can do it," while Morelli said he'd originally figured caulking was the way to go, "but I didn't think about it (having to be redone)."