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STEUBENVILLE -- After months of gathering information and field testing, the Friendship Park board is ready to move forward with its adaptive kayak launch.
At the board's request, the Jefferson County Commissioners agreed Thursday to cover the nearly $75,000 it will cost to install a BoardSafe dock system at the park, provided it meets the spending requirements for American Rescue Plan funding.
Park Board President Roger Hilty said BoardSafe's product emphasizes safety for those with physical challenges, and features things like easy-to-replace composite decking, pontoons that can be replaced at any point with a long-lasting aluminum structure and a unique system that allows kayakers in wheelchairs to take their kayak down the ramp with them.
"I think this would be a great purchase for us," Hilty said. "I know there's a large contingency waiting for this thing, they heard it's coming down the pike."
He said Jennifer Sims, a Wayne Township resident who sold the board on the need for the kayak launch, was one of several people who traveled to recreation sites in a handful of states at their own expense to see the various decking systems in use.
"I feel like this would bring a lot of opportunity to the lake for the disabled, those who are physically impaired," Sims said. "I really believe it opens lot of options at the lake and we could look at other (ways) to make (the park) more accessible."
Commissioner Tony Morelli called the lake "a hidden gem in Jefferson County, I think we all (feel that way)."
"I see comments where people say there's nothing to do in this county," Commissioner Eric Timmons added. "This is just another thing that proves there is stuff to do here."
Hilty told commissioners it will take between four and six weeks to fabricate the deck, plus another two weeks for shipping, and figures it will be up and running by spring.
"This is going to open up opportunities," Morelli said. "I think it's going to grow fast, the usage is going to grow fast."
Commissioner Dave Maple encouraged Hilty to consider ancillary needs they might have while the county has ARPA funds to spend.
"What else do you need?" he said. "Is there good access to this thing, is there signage so people know where to park? We've got some ARPA projects that aren't going to happen, so if there's other things we can use ARPA funds for them or even recreational funds."
Commissioners also gave Water and Sewer District Director Mike Eroshevich the go-ahead for a request for proposals for new water meters. Once the proposals are in, Eroshevich said they'd set up a committee to evaluate them, then invite the top two or three contenders in for a presentation "and make the selection from there."
He said it could cost around $3 million to purchase and install the new system, which will replace current meter reading equipment.
"It will give us real-time data, give customers the ability to log-in and check their usage," he added. "Right now it takes four to five days to read meters and about 1,000 meters are being read manually or estimated due to transponders having failed."
He said the transponder batteries, which relay usage information to the meter reading equipment, are dying, so they have to be read manually.
"We need accurate billing information (but) a lot are being estimated at this point," Eroshevich said.
Commissioners also signed a letter of intent to lease space in the Tower building lobby to American Heroes Medical Services and Ohio Valley Title, renewed the lease for Freebird Dragway at Friendship Park and approved the purchase of a new truck for the dog warden.
They also authorized Cedar One Realty's Joe Luckino, their leasing agent, to respond to the Social Security Administration's request for proposals for additional space, pointing out the request apparently has been posted on a government website and had gone unnoticed.
Also discussed was Luckino's proposal to take on management responsibilities for the Tower building, with commissioners pointing out the draft he'd submitted included services that aren't applicable to county-owned buildings and tenants.