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STEUBENVILLE--Plans to extend broadband coverage to Ross Township were derailed Thursday when the Jefferson County commissioners learned an application for a $2.5 million grant had been rejected.
The Appalachian Regional Commission nixed the local Broadband Task Force application for funding through its Partnership for Opportunity and Economic Revitalization Initiative grant program, freeing up $559,000 in American Rescue Plan funding commissioners had earmarked for the local match.
"Now that that (the application) did not go through, we'll repurpose that money back into the pot," Commissioner Dave Maple said.
The task force had proposed building 36 miles of last-mile fiber to serve 265 households and 20 businesses in Ross Township, which had been characterized as "the least-served township in the county."
Internet speeds in that area are extremely slow.
Total cost of the extension is projected at $3.55 million, with the Internet service provider expected to cover $490,000 of the cost.
Supporters had insisted the project aligned with the county's Broadband Network Plan to "extend last mile service to unserved areas with a population density capable of maintaining long-term financial sustainability, avoiding existing state and federal awards and not overlap existing ISP territories."
The ARC, however, said it received 181 applications for projects totaling more than $169 million--much more than the available funding.
"It's disappointing, especially as (they) talked to the state and it sounded very promising," Commissioner Tony Morelli said. "The problem always is there are more asks than there is cash to pay for them, but we're not going to give up. We need broadband in our county -- I've been talking about it for 20 years. It's very disappointing to me that in 2023, 70 percent of our residents don't have good high-speed Internet."
With the $559,000 returning to the uncommitted ARPA pot, commissioners now have north of $1 million to spend. The funds must be committed by the end of 2024 and spent by the end of 2026.
Commissioners also were told three local businesses--S&S Softwash, owned by Houston Sexton; Signs Limited, owned by Ed Rice; and Apex Landfill--had donated time and services to community projects.
Maintenance Supervisor Patrick Boyles told commissioners Sexton was waiting for him at the door to the Tower building after reading a story about his efforts to restart the fountain and said he wanted to volunteer his time to power wash the fountain and volunteered his time to power wash it.
"I was impressed he was offering to do it," Boyles said. "He did it in like an hour it came out beautiful -- it saved me time."
Rice donated the time and materials to make 11 signs that will be placed at the base of military equipment on display at Veteran's Park within Friendship Park. Barry Bardone, adjutant wih the Jefferson County Veterans Association, had requested help, telling commissioners parents were letting children climb the displays.
"I think it was very thoughtful and generous of Ed to donate the materials and his time in making the much-needed signage," Boyles said, pointing out Rice "volunteered his time and equipment to do it for free."
And, Morelli said someone at Apex had realized the garbage barrels at Friendship Park have "the name of a company not here anymore ... and they look pretty bad."
"Apex wants to give us new barrels," he said.
Commissioners gave Boyles the go-ahead to have Sexton power wash the courthouse steps for $300.
Boyles also told commissioners repairs to an elevator at the Tower building had cost them $22,258. He said TK Elevator had originally quoted a price of $34,000, but another company had told them $24,000 "was on the high end" of what the repair should cost.
"I called them back and got them to reduce their amount, to sharpen their pencils," Boyles said. "The job's done, the motor's back on and it's working fine."
The county has a service contract with TKE, and Maple said he was "disheartened we had to go to that extent to get a good price."
"We already pay a monthly fee for them to be our elevator maintenance contractor," he said. "You'd think we'd get a good price."
Commissioners also:
• Awarded the Jefferson County Road 26 emergency slip repair project to Alan Stone Co. Inc., for $915,285. Stone's was the lowest of four bids submitted for the project, which had been estimated to cost $1,464,250.
• Agreed to advertise for pavement markings -- 139.32 miles of center line markings, 24.64 miles of edge line, 2.75 miles of lane line and 265 feet of transverse and diagonal line and 10 lane arrows. The engineer's estimate is $138,785.
• Signed an agreement with the Ohio Department of Transportation for guardrail replacement on county Roads 10 and 56. The estimated cost is $600,000, all of it covered by the federal government.
• Authorized Sheriff Fred Abdalla Jr. to purchase three new cruisers. Funds will be transferred from an account in the department's budget to cover the nearly $142,267 cost.
• Authorized Water and Sewer District Director Mike Eroshevich to advertise for an account clerk to replace a retiring employee.
• Were notified Wayne Township trustees want to vacate a section of township Road 199 that begins at county Road 22A "and which has never been improved or used by the public as a street and has been abandoned and not used for a period of 21 years."