Jefferson County commissioners mull extending infrastructure
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STEUBENVILLE -- With several major construction projects winding down, the Jefferson County commissioners said Thursday it might be time to think about extending water and sewer service to better serve residents.
Water and Sewer District Director Mike Eroshevich said the Ridgeland, Reeds Mill, Smithfield sewer and Barber's Hollow UV Disinfection projects are all very close to the finish line.
"It's great to have them behind us, all of them were badly needed," Eroshevich said. "(But) it's good to be talking about extensions. We have many petitions on the books where people want water -- I would love to start knocking them out."
To help commissioners understand what they're facing, Andrew Dawson from Arcadis, the county's engineering consultant, ran a cost analysis for a possible waterline extension requested nearly five years ago on county Road 56. Dawson figured the proposed extension could cost nearly $1.7 million and serve around 20 households.
"Back in 2000, for whatever reason, they ran the line but they stopped short, so there's 20 or 21 additional homes along the line that aren't connected," Eroshevich said, adding, "If that's something you're interested in we could look at perhaps doing it next year."
"There are still a bunch of projects out there, there are a lot of sewer projects we have to keep going on and finish," Commissioner Dave Maple said later. "But today was a good discussion about the cost of water line extensions and how we have to start (to look) at them. There are a lot of requests out there, there are probably a lot of people who don't remember requesting water because some of the petitions are pretty old -- we haven't had the resources, the time and the rest of the maintenance of the system to get into serious extension projects. But I think we're getting to doing that."
Maple said he has a binder filled with requests for extensions and said Dawson's cost analysis "is a really good tool for me to start wrapping my head around the costs."
Commissioner Eric Timmons said it's about building out infrastructure.
"We want people to move to this county," he said. "A lot of people work from home now so you have to entice them to come -- they're going to be looking for good infrastructure, good roads, good schools. This just adds to that."
Commissioner Tony Morelli pointed out they're finally in a position where they can "start looking at doing some of these things."
"The math never works out, it costs you $2 million and you get 20 customers, but it's still a service," Morelli said. "We have a county water and sewer department and I think it's our job to try and find funding to extend (the lines) to as many customers as we can."
Commissioners, meanwhile, said Fort Steuben Maintenance bid nearly $1.96 million for rehabilitating the Area J and Bloomingdale water tanks. No other companies submitted bids.
"The tanks are very needed," Eroshevich said. "The J Tank has had a few leaks over the last few years -- it will be good to not have to worry about it during the winter as it becomes very dangerous with ice buildup."
Commissioners also instructed Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District Project Manager Aaron Dodds to bring them a written request from his board and they'll give him the $7,500 he needs to retain the services of an internationally known landscape consultant, photograph and author, Rick Darke, to work with them on the Piney Fork, Quaker Ridge and Hellbender Preserve aspects of JSWCD's Heart of Appalachia grant application.
Darke will observe, asset and photo-document the existing vegetation and cultural-historical elements in the properties with a goal of "creating a dynamic landscape focused on regionally indigenous plant species that would support a broad range of floral and fauna diversity and serve as an inspirational and educational site for the visiting public."
"We reached out to him to see if he would be interested in helping us come up with some plans," Dodds told commissioners. "He is actually extremely excited about it."
Darke is known for his "profound artwork using landscape, native sustainable materials," Dodds said. He'll be coming to Jefferson County in mid-August.
"He's very excited about Quaker Ridge, Piney Fork and the Hellbender Preserve," Dodds said. "He just did a project that got 3 million visitors just because his name was attached to it."
Dodds pointed out they'd be able to proceed even if they don't get the Appalachian Community Grant they're vying for.
"Personally, I'm for it, it doesn't seem like a lot of money," Morelli said, adding, "Even if we don't get the Appalcachian Grant, his name will still be on Hellbender, Quaker Ridge and Piney Fork. Those are three areas we've been trying to promote and get finished, but lacked funding. It's not like if we don't get an Appalachian grant we'd be out $7,500. It's a good investment for the county."
Timmons agreed, said $7,500 is a small price to pay to "get a gentleman like that to take a look at it, with his track record."
"I think it's worth it," he said. "It's great. It gives me a little confidence."
Maple said the stated use is "right in line with what I think our oil and gas money would be good use for."