Quick action made difference, Jefferson County commissioners hear

STEUBENVILLE -- A clogged sewer at the Jefferson County Justice Center during the Memorial Day weekend could have been disastrous, the Jefferson County commissioners said this week.

Commissioners during Thursday's meeting credited Maintenance Supervisor Patrick Boyles and the workers who answered his call for help with "averting a major crisis."

Boyles said "somebody," presumably an inmate, "flushed a jumpsuit down the toilet."

"The good news is it was on the first floor," he said, pointing out the damage would otherwise have been more serious had it been on the upper level.

He said restoration crews removed the sewage and disinfected the affected areas in the sheriff's office, and they figure to begin rebuilding fixtures and furnishings that had to be removed from the facility as early as Monday.

"The good thing is we got the drain open pretty fast, so kudos to Jimmy Saltsman for sending (a plumber) right away. Even though he (wasn't on the job very long), we were able to show him where the (clog) was" and he removed it.

Commissioners also:

— Signed off on the state Route 151-county Road 119 water line relocation contract with James White Construction Co. of Weirton and issued notice to proceed. Water Supervisor Mike Eroshevich said getting the go-ahead Thursday was vital since the work must be done by the end of June, when the Ohio Department of Transportation plans to begin the road widening work that necessitated the line relocations.

— Approved county water and sewer district's participation in the Ohio WARN network, a statewide water and wastewater agency response network of "utilities helping utilities" in times of crisis. The organization currently has 130 members, including 40 non-utilities such as OEPA. Membership is voluntary and there is no cost, commissioners were told.

"We believe this will be extremely valuable, not only to our department but to our customers," Assistant Director Jonathan Sgalla said.

— Agreed to advertise for bids for Ohio Public Works Commission-funded resurfacing of county Road 23 and various roads in Ross, Springfield and Wayne townships. The engineer's estimate is $1,254,357.

— Accepted the certification of construction completion for work done at Eastern Ohio Correction Center's Wintersville facility.

— Reviewed two price quotes for new flooring for their office, instructing Boyles to have Hauser's Furniture and Carpeting do the work. Hauser's bid was $5,550, about $2,300 less than the other price quoted. Boyles said the pricing was for "the exact same material, the same floor."

Boyles also told commissioners he hopes to be able to be able to start the fountain in front of the Tower Building very soon.

— Learned John Rucki, owner of a vacant building in Amsterdam, is requesting a delay in connecting to the new sewer system "until an occupant or new owner can be found."

"It is possible, even likely, that the building will be demolished and a new structure could be built on a different part of the property," he told commissioners. "Connecting and then connecting again would be throwing money away."

He said he hasn't used water there "for many years."

"We have the legal obligation to say everyone has to be hooked up by a certain date, but enforceability has to be by the health district," Commissioner Dave Maple said. "If they're OK with it, I am, too."

Eroshevich reassured Rucki that water seen percolating out of the new sewers has nothing to do with the design of the system, calling it "growing pains" and explaining that operators are still learning the new system

— Referred a petition to vacate part of county Road 7-G at its intersection with county Road 44 to an alley in Pottery Addition, then from the alley back to county Road 7-G, to county Engineer Jim Branagan.

— Approved the Jefferson County Agricultural Society's request for $30,000 for the fairgrounds from the recreation fund, plus $19,000 to cover liability insurance.

— Approved Memorial Day expenses incurred by Brilliant American Legion Post 573 and Mingo Junction American Legion Post 351, each for $500.

Commissioners also held a work session following the meeting to discuss how best to distribute recreation funding.