Jefferson County has a litter enforcement officer again
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STEUBENVILLE -- Jefferson County has a litter enforcement officer again.
After months of inactivity, commissioners signed off Thursday on the sheriff department's contract with the JB Green Team.
The agreement, months in the making, calls for JB Green to cover an officer's salary -- up to $80,000 for a full year -- and provide a vehicle that would be used for enforcement activities.
"This contract was thoroughly negotiated," Commissioner Dave Maple said. "Thoroughly. I appreciate both parties working together and finding a resolution. I'm glad to get it done ... I appreciate everybody's help."
Talks between JB Green and Sheriff Fred Abdalla Jr. broke off in February after a dispute arose over the lettering on the cruiser: Some members of the utility's board had wanted the wording to specify it was a litter enforcement vehicle rather than a sheriff's cruiser, but Abdalla was adamant that it had to say 'Sheriff's Department' -- in part because of the Buckeye State Sheriff's Association expectations when it comes to the official markings of an Ohio sheriff cruiser, but also out of concern for the officer's safety in the event he or she had to respond to a non-litter call in that vehicle.
After the meeting, Maple and Commissioners Tony Morelli and Eric Timmons said they were pleased that JB Green and the sheriff came to an agreement.
"It just took a long time," Maple said. "There has been a litter control officer in place for quite a few years now. Off-and-on (there've been questions) about who pays and who he/she would report to. I'm glad now the contract gives all of that some clarity and stability. Personally, I've been advocating for it since I've been elected. Enforcement is a needed component of controlling junk and litter."
Maple in the past had said he'd like to see tipping fees, not tax dollars, cover litter enforcement efforts. Tipping fees are paid by the entities that bring wastes to the landfill.
He said the contract accomplishes that, so taxpayers will no longer foot the bill.
"JB Green's revenue is from tipping fees -- people putting (wastes) in our landfill pay an extra fee to help us clean up our community," he said. "If you're going to have a landfill, we might as well get some revenue to help our communities out. To me it's a great way to use it -- it's less money taxpayers have to pay and we still get some enforcement."
Morelli said he appreciates Abdalla and the JB Green Team "getting it done."
"Litter is a big problem in our county," Morelli said. "We are making progress but we have a long way to go. The environmental officer is another tool to combat it."
He said one of the problems they've had in the past is people dumping garbage in the JB Green Team recycling bins. "They will monitor those locations and anyone caught will be cited," he said. "Also, we basically have another deputy out in the county (so) the sheriff's department has a stronger presence."
Morelli said the contract spells out the environmental officer duties, and also stipulates that the enforcement officer authority doesn't extend to private property.
JB Green Team Executive Director Anita Petrella said the enforcement officer "is full-time for us. We're not allowed on private property."
"I was hoping for an all-in-one," Morelli admitted.
Timmons pointed out litter is a countywide problem.
"I hope we can make a dent in it," he said. "Good people who maintain their property shouldn't have to live next to filth."
He said there are some "very bad spots" in Jefferson County.
"I always notice one on Wilson Avenue," he said. "It's an issue. There are some offenders and locations that need dealt with."
Acting on a recommendation from Assistant Prosecutor Shawn Blake, commissioners authorized Jobs and Family Services administrators to renew their request for architectural and engineering proposals for McCollough Children's Home renovations.
Because the renovations are going to be funded with American Rescue Plan funds, Blake said they'd need to follow federal procurement standards -- which means securing more than the one bid submitted in response to the initial RFP in December.
"I don't know that we have any other option," Morelli said.
Maple agreed but was bothered by the verbiage of the procurement standards.
"What if we only get one again?" he said. "I guess we cross that bridge when we get to it."
Commissioners also approved a Job and Family Service's request to purchase a new drop box so individuals and families served by the agency could deposit paperwork around-the-clock.
The staff currently wheels a box out to serve clients from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.
The new box will be permanently anchored into the concrete outside the office, he said.
Commissioners also:
≤ Reappointed Ted Kostecki, chief of the Jefferson County Probation Department, to the Eastern Ohio Correction Center's Facility Governing Board. His term was officially up in October.
EOCC Executive Director Phillip Nunes apologized for the delay, telling commissioners he "should have come to you then to renew his appointment."
Kostecki chairs the board and "is an amazing asset to the agency through his leadership," Nunes said.
Nunes also told commissioners renovations are going well, with the roof replacement and flooring completed. He said they're planning an open house in June for public officials to see the facility, adding one component of EOCC's strategic plan "is to be really good in external cmmunications."
≤ Authorized the county's Data Processing Committee to advertise for bids for a new phone system. Commissioners had tabled action on the proposal during their May 4 meeting at Timmons' request.
"I was a little concerned about the transparency of the process, but I think it's going to be OK, we went over everything," Timmons said Thursday.
Maple said it's in the "county's best interest to see if there's any way can save on a phone system and also have a phone system that's a little more modern."
≤ Agreed that Blake should be asked to review the county's elevator maintenance contract to ensure they can use another vendor without being in breach.
Maintenance Supervisor Patrick Boyles told commissioners he had two price quotes for repairs to an elevator at the Tower building that's currently out of service -- the most expensive, for just under $34,000, tendered by the Charleston company they have the service contract with. Boyles said another company told him $24,000 "was on the high end" of what the repair would cost.
"I don't see anything from the (vendor) that would prevent us from doing that," Boyles said, "but I would rather (the prosecutor look at it)."
≤ Were told by Boyles that repairs to the jail's coping will total around $12,410, but all but $2,500 of that will be covered by insurance.
"Fort Steuben Construction came out on a Saturday and came back on (the following) Monday to secure it so there was no further damage," he added.
≤ Authorized Boyles to submit plans for paving the parking lot across from the Tower building and demolishing two adjacent buildings and creating a green space to Steubenville's building department for review.
Commissioners applauded the engineering department for its work on the plans.
"I'd like to get it moving," Morelli said. "I hope we can get it done this year."
Maple said lawyers for the county and the Jefferson County Land Bank are "close to finishing" the documents needed for them to get the buildings torn down.
≤ Learned Boyles had submitted an insurance claim to cover the cost of repairs from a water leak on the fourth floor of the Justice Center that caused a short in the jail.
Emergency repairs were done by Mid-Ohio Valley Integrated System, Fort Steuben and TS Electric, Boyles said. Costs totaled $13,635.29.
≤ Asked Boyles' to figure out what his staff will need to have to start mowing Pico Park in Steubenville.
Timmons said nearby residents have told him, "It's been mowed once and not real well and they're starting to see snakes around the equipment."
There's been confusion over whether the park was the county's responsibility or if it belonged to the City of Steubenville. City Manager Jim Mavromatis was at the meeting and returned after the meeting to say city employees could fill the breach but by then plans were in the works for Boyles to haul a new riding mower they'd purchased for use at the jail to Pico as well as Glenn Robbins Park.
≤ After a closed-door meeting, approved a 3 percent pay raise for non-bargaining unit Job and Family Services employees.
Commissioners also met in executive session to discuss "legal security issues" with the Board of Elections.