Ohio EPA funds may improve a township’s water service

STEUBENVILLE -- The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency is ready to deliver a large amount of money that will facilitate improved water service to Warren Township.

During Thursday's meeting of the Jefferson County commissioners, water and sewer Service Director Mike Eroshevich said the OEPA has offered a $1.75 million grant for the initial phase of design and construction for the proposed Warren Water Authority regionalization -- money commissioners say would be welcomed, should they decide to take on the troubled Warren water system.

Eroshevich said Jon Bernstein, chief of the OEPA's environmental and financial assistance division, "would like an answer, sooner than later, so they can appropriate the funds and get the grant agreement (moving)."

"It's good first news," Commissioner Tony Morelli said. " I don't know what happens once we get it connected, that's the thing."

Earlier this year Warren Township trustees approached commissioners, looking for relief after a long string of line leaks strained their dwindling fiscal resources.

Morelli said the grant, if commissioners opt to proceed, would be applied to the cost of "getting from our connection to Warren water," and cover new meters for the roughly 200 customers who would join the county system.

"To get there, ($1.75 million) is probably enough, but what happens when it gets there?" he asked.

Morelli and Commissioner Eric Timmons said they would prefer to wait until Commissioner Dave Maple, who was unable to attend this week's meeting, can be there to discuss the complexities of a potential system handover.

"I think it's good news we got the funding, but I still want to discuss it," Morelli said.

Commissioners also delayed issuing a request for quotes for an architect and engineer for the water department's meter replacement project until Maple could be there.

"Our meters are old throughout the county," Morelli said. "We need to replace them--we're losing a lot of water because (of them). I see it as wasting money because we're not billing for the actual amount of water that we are buying."

Timmons also released details of the employee health plan renewal, reporting no increase in the out-of-pocket share for employees, lower primary care co-pays and lower physician deductibles. They're also implementing around-the-clock access to physicians through telemedicine services.

Timmons, a member of the committee, said they were "excited to roll these out. I think they'll be good for all the employees."

Commissioners referred a request that they deed two parcels -- 200 and 206 Market St. in Brilliant -- to the Brilliant American Legion Post 573 to the prosecutor for review.

The Legion, a nonprofit, tax-exempt veteran organization, has been maintaining the properties "for more than 10 years," Post 573 Commander Deb Gilchrist said.

"I'd like to look at the property down there," Timmons said. "I'm kind of familiar with it but I just want to see (it)."

Morelli updated the group on the opioid settlement, reporting it will be "a billion-dollar settlement for the state of Ohio," and a big chunk will be going to counties.

"OneOhio is very close to setting up a grant (program) for projects in different regions," he said. "There are large amounts of money (that will be available) ... one region is planning a $6 million facility. The people from the state are saying it's not an impossible thing to do, there's enough money."

He's hoping to meet with Sheriff Fred Abdalla Jr., the Prevention-Recovery Board reps and other interested bodies to begin strategizing on how settlement funds can best be utilized in Jefferson County, noting allowable uses are for settlement funds include drug prevention, drug recovery and security.

"We've already got some funds, more than $300,000, for our local government share," he said. "But the 55 percent that will be in the OneOhio fund, or will be, because the payments are spread over a period of years ... it's a significant amount of money. What we want to do is collaborate -- find out what we need, what we can use, how can the dollars be used and get grants.

He said there are "lots of opportunities" on the horizon, "and we certainly want to take a shot at getting some of this money."

"It can be used for prevention, it can be used for security, it can be used for recovery.

Morelli said the county's broadband task force plans to seek commissioner approval to apply for another grant. The group applied for funding last year through the Appalachian Regional Commission, but was denied.