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STEUBENVILLE -- The Jefferson County commissioners Thursday agreed to help the engineering department pay for a new radio system that will improve communication among their garages and workers in the field.
Commissioners agreed to pick up half the cost of the department's switch to a Multi-Agency Radio Communication System.
Chief Deputy Engineer Clay Merrin said the new system, expected to cost around $213,000, will significantly improve their radio service.
He said their current two-way radio system, which uses vehicle-mounted radios, handheld radios and base stations, is outdated and yields spotty coverage. The cost to update it was estimated at $202,000, plus they'd have had to pay a $25,000 yearly service fee.
The MARCS system will cost around $213,000, but there would be no ongoing service or maintenance fees and they'd be able to communicate directly with 911 dispatchers and the sheriff's department.
"Not only would this change greatly improve service for our department, but it would allow interoperability communications with various first responder agencies during emergencies," Merrin wrote.
Commissioners also renewed their lease for the Dillonvale county court space at 170 Smithfield St. Rent will stay the same, but the county will now cover the court's utility bills.
Bids also were opened for the engineering department's guardrail project. The engineer's estimate was $962,915.50, and all three bids came in lower: MP Dory of Columbus, $849,562.50; Lake Erie Construction of Norwalk, $821,720; and PK Construction of Pomeroy, $804,577.50.
The bid documents were referred to the engineering department for a recommendation.
Commissioners also:
• Signed off on efforts to rehabilitate an historic bridge on township Road 289 using federal funds, allowing the engineering department to ask the government for permission to advertise the project for bids. Total cost would be $1,520,579, with the Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson Metropolitan Planning Commission providing about $237,000 of the cost.
• Will pick up the tab for the dog warden and his deputy to attend chemical capture training, with a total cost of $1,740. Estimated cost of the dart guns and additional equipment will be $3,100. Commissioner Dave Maple dissented, suggesting it would be more prudent to first try to work out an agreement with the city of Steubenville, which has a licensed chemical capture officer.
• Held the first of two required public meetings on the county's 2024 Community Development Block Grant funding. It adjourned with no public input.
• Reappointed five members of the E-911 board of directors: Edward Laman, representing police; Dan Householder, township trustees; Dave Gaffney, mayors; Robert Herceg, EMS; and Dave Sullivan, fire.
• Accepted the appointment of Phil Rook to the Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson Metropolitan Planning Commission board as a community at-large member.
• Agreed to advertise for bids for mowing services along county highways. The engineer's estimate is $50,000.
• Approved an addendum to a contract with Washington County, Pa., for up to five additional juvenile detention beds, as available, at a rate of $200 per day, plus an $85 per day education fee.
• Signed off on the Department of Jobs and Family Services' request to purchase body cameras ($50,000), security cameras ($15,000) and a website design ($7,500), all of it using ARPA funds. Commissioners had earmarked the funding for JFS last year.
• Approved Sheriff Fred Abdalla Jr.'s request to purchase a 2024 Ford Explorer with interceptor package, with a total cost of $46,288.