Jefferson County commissioners discuss spending remaining ARPA funding on project

STEUBENVILLE -- Jefferson County Commissioners made plans Thursday to spend about $1.4 million of their remaining federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars.

Commissioners asked Auditor E.J. Conn to prepare resolutions earmarking up to $700,000 in ARPA funds for their parking lot project, which would include the cost to demolish two buildings adjacent to the site; nearly $565,000 for the local match to expand broadband connectivity to Ross Township; and up to $140,000 to purchase backup generators for the courthouse and Tower building.

Noticeably absent from that list: funding for a small barn at Friendship Park with a big price tag: When the Jefferson County Agricultural Society pitched the idea in June, they figured the total cost for the 7,000-square foot barn at around $150,000, but since then the price tag has nearly tripled.

When commissioners opened the first round of bids for the barn March 9, the lowest came in at $465,000 for just the base project--more than $100,000 above the engineer's estimate. Those bids were rejected Thursday.

A streamlined version of the project is currently out for bid, this time with an engineer's estimate of $420,000. That bid opening is set for April 27.

"That's too much for me," Commissioner Tony Morelli muttered during a mid-meeting work session, later adding he thinks a pole barn built on a concrete pad could be the answer, even factoring in building it and labor.

"I think it would probably be around half what we're talking about," he theorized. "I can see us bidding it again, but getting the specs–a 7,000 square foot pole barn on a pad of concrete, electric and so forth, and building it, materials and labor. I think it would probably be about half what we're talking about."

Jefferson County has about $1.8 million left from its ARPA allotment. Once the $1.4 million earmarked for the parking lot, broadband and generators is deducted, they'll have about $400,000 left to spend--and decisions to be made on the barn project as well requests from local governments and non-profits.

Commissioner Dave Maple said he isn't sure what's going to happen with the barn project.

"My personal position is I'm undecided (on it) at this point," he said. "That's a sincere answer. If it still comes in real high…I want to get them a barn, but when the brain says someone can get you a barn for $100,000 and then you have to entertain a $400,000 estimate, I don't see where that's good for the citizens."

He said there's "got to be some legal way to get them their need met without being this huge dollar" amount.

ARPA funds have to be committed by the end of 2024, and must be expended by the end of 2026. Commissioners said if they don't need the full $1.4 million for the parking lot, generators and broadband projects, the excess will go back into the ARPA account and be used for something else.

Earlier, McKinley Architecture and Engineering's Tim Mizer had presented commissioners with the streamlined re-bid budget, which called for a slightly narrower building (58 foot, compared to the original 60 foot), less concrete, different overhead fans, fewer electrical receptacles and circuts and different doors.

Mizer urged commissioners to be wary about buying a building package.

"Various groups (have discussed) that the cost of the building should be more in line with a building package from a reputable lumber distributor," he told commissioners." Upon further analysis of one such quote I determined that the quality of the roof and wall aluminum panels were not as required by the Ohio Building Code. Even though the quote provided a 40-year warranty on the paint finish, the aluminum panels didn't meet the thickness required."

Commissioners also:

— Will schedule a work session to discuss if and how they should streamline the Appalachian Grant subcommitte.

"My position is still the same," Maple said. "No matter what method we use to go forward, I think (we need) a smaller…action-oriented group able to get thing done faster and better than our larger committee."

Jefferson County was recently awarded a $198,140 technical assistance grant to plan and design its Appalachian Grant projects, which focused largely around using trails, unique wildlife and habitats and Civil War battlefields, all intended to spur tourism and investments.

"We want to make sure everybody feels going forward that we were supportive of their efforts and find the best use of that money," Maple said.

— Gave Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District's Wendee Dodds permission to enter into a Water Pollution Control loan fund agreement on behalf of the health department for repair and replacement of failing septic systems.

Dodds told commissioners they've "brought in over a million dollars" and replaced dozens of septic systems since the program's inception in 2014. She said septic replacement cost about $12,000-$15,000 last year.

Participants must be income eligible.

"This is not for people to fix their house and sell, this is for people who live in homes," she said, adding the septic system "has to be deemed failing in order to be eligible for funding."

— Agreed to transfer a strip of land next to Toronto Union Cemetery to the city.

— Reappointed Dr. Paul DiBiase to the Jefferson County E-911 board of directors. DiBiase, representing the Jefferson County Medical Society, will serve through Dec. 31, 2026.

— Authorized the county's participation in the Ohio Department of Transportation's 2023-24 road salt contract.

— Approved a memorandum of understanding for a $1,580 grant from the Statewide Consortium of County Law Library Resource Boards.

Jefferson County Law Librarian Jeanmarie Byrge said they'll use the money for a new desktop PC, monitor, speakers and external DVD writer and software.

Byrge said they've applied for and received grants from the state board every year since 2012.

— Were notified a contractor will start the fire escape painting project in two weeks.

— Emerged from a closed-door session to announce Markosky Engineering Group exercised its option to renew its lease at the Tower building.