STEUBENVILLE — Local leaders are looking at the possibility of using federal funds to remediate the old dry cleaner property on South Commercial Avenue in Mingo Junction.

Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson Metropolitan Planning Commission Executive Director Michael Paprocki pitched the idea to commissioners Thursday and planned to meet with the Jefferson County Land Bank, which now owns it, to gauge their interest as well.

Paprocki told commissioners the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency this year has waived the local match requirement and raised the grant ceiling for its brownfield cleanup program to $4 million. He said they’d like to apply for $500,000 in grant funds to clean up the properties, which have significant environmental concerns.

“We think this is the best opportunity to do it, especially with the local match being waived on that,” he said.

He said the Ohio EPA has done air monitoring in the basements of buildings, “and in one of them they found high levels of environmental concerns.” He said the federal agency purchased equipment to clean the air in the basement.

“We’ve already had this thing elevated to U.S. EPA,” he said. “The land owner has to be applicant for project … so it makes sense the land bank would go after this project.”

He said BHJ is “being encouraged” to apply for a coalition grant, but it needs a coalition partner in Jefferson County and another in Brooke or Hancock county.

Commissioner Dave Maple said it’s a problem that needs fixed.

“Once we know about it, once we identify it, it’s in government hands,” he said. “We can’t just walk away from it, we have to try and fix it.”

Maple said what excites him is the money would be used to actually clean the property up and not just pay for another study.

“It would make the building actually ready to remediate,” he said. “So, it’s another time where we can pay someone to actively dig the dirt up, clean it up, and not just study it more.”

“It’s been talked about a long time,” Commissioner Tony Morelli said. “Chemicals used in the dry cleaning business in the past are some of the most hazardous to our health. What goes with that is they are some of the most expensive sites to do proper cleanup.”

Sheriff Fred Abdalla reassured commissioners he’s already looking at alternative revenue sources now that Harrison County has broken ground for its new, 60-bed, $20 million jail. With that much space Harrison County won’t need to house inmates in other counties, like Jefferson. Abdalla said the new Harrison County facility will eventually take a $250,000 bite out of his budget.

“We have to find that revenue elsewhere,” Commissioner Eric Timmons said. “We have to look creatively, regionally, just like the juvenile department has done. (But) it seems like a lot of people are looking for space, it’s always an issue.”

Maple said they’ll have to “wait and see how it impacts our budget next year.

“We understand why they had to make that decision, but it will definitely have an impact on us,” he said. “But I know the sheriff is out trying to fill those spots with other communities that need spots for (prisoners.)”

Morelli agreed, said they’ll have to “try and find ways to replace that revenue.”

“I have faith that both our sheriff and our juvenile departments are working right now on ways to do that,” he said. “There are great leaders in both departments.”

With the Jefferson County Port Authority pushing ahead with plans for a spec building at the Jefferson County Industrial Park, Maple said a business already expressed interest in the location.

“There’s definitely people looking for large buildings, but they have to be ready to move into,” he said. “They don’t want to have to wait for it to be built, they want it ready to move in. So, there is some risk, but the (money) is available and the property’s ready to go — the road is there, utilities are there — so it’s time to move forward and put a building up.”

Morelli said they need sites to attract new business to Jefferson County, “so a spec building is a good step in that direction.”

“We have to continue to try and secure other properties so when someone has an interest, we have some inventory,” Morelli said.

Morelli pointed out that while they’re currently making two lease payments for Wintersville County Court, that won’t be for much longer: Once the state signs off on plans for the judge’s box and jury room are approved crews will be able to finish construction of the new courtroom at 512 Main St., Wintersville.

He said owner Albert Carapellotti submitted the only response to their request for quotes. The deal they worked out is that Carapellotti would front the buildout and the county will pay $5,000 a month in rent for the next 10 years.

“Included in that price is the buildout of over a quarter-million dollars that we didn’t have to go out and borrow,” he said.

Also Thursday:

• Commissioners voiced their support Women in Action Against Cancer Coalition, proclaiming October as Breast Cancer Awareness month and Oct. 20 as Ohio Mammography Day.

“It’s hard to find anyone who hasn’t had a life experience with cancer or breast cancer, and the work this group has done first of all to be aware of it and to be aware of the resources out there,” Maple said. “It’s an important subject.”

WIAACC members pointed out there are 3.8 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S. today and said they’re “encouraged” that breast cancer deaths declined 11 percent from 2010 to 2019.

Morelli pointed out his mother has battled the disease for 30 years, “and the diagnosis 30 years ago was that she wouldn’t be here 30 years ago.”

• Debby Canter, Southeast Regional director for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library of Ohio, was on hand to familiarize commissioners with the program, which puts books in the hands of kids each month from birth through age 5.

Commissioner Eric Timmons pointed out his own daughter was enrolled and looks forward to deliveries each month, as does he. During the meeting he enrolled his months-old son in the program as well.

She told commissioners the program improves pre-school readiness.

“If a child is signed up at birth, they’ll get 60 books by the time they’re 5, and they get books that are age appropriate,” she said.

She said Ohio’s participation averages around 58 percent but Jefferson County is in the upper 60s, “well above average.”

• After a brief executive session, commissioners agreed to send paperwork related to the pipeline going in at the county airpark to Columbus-based Emens & Wolper in addition to the prosecutor’s office.

• The courthouse will be closed Monday in observance of Columbus Day.