INFRASTRUCTURE DISCUSSED — Jefferson County Water and Sewer District Director Mike Eroshevich, standing, Thursday updated the Jefferson County Commissioners about ongoing efforts to repair and improve water and wastewater treatment systems in much of the county. He also is exploring ways to secure grants for future projects. -- Warren Scott

STEUBENVILLE — Mike Eroshevich, director of the Jefferson County Water and Sewer District, said the county has been able to secure more than $20 million in loans for local water projects, but geographic divisions have prevented it from obtaining much-needed grants to help pay for them.

He’s hopeful that could change and is expected to meet with the Jefferson County Commissioners for a work session following next Thursday’s meeting to discuss that.

Prior to Thursday’s meeting, Eroshevich said the villages of Amsterdam and Bergholz alone would qualify for funding available for water system upgrades in disadvantaged communities.

But he said because they are considered part of a larger service area, dubbed Area M, projects for the two communities have been ineligible for such grants.

Eroshevich he’s since learned of service area near Dayton that includes about 400,000 customers that appears to have succeeded in netting such funds.

He added he’s also exploring whether leaders of the villages could apply for the grants.

The villages have been served by the county for more than 30 years after officials there were unable to maintain the aging systems on their own.

While the villages themselves have a few hundred residents or more, Area M extends from Irondale to Wintersville and includes all of state Route 213.

Eroshevich said about $10 million is needed to pursue such projects as the inspection of, and anticipated upgrades for, the Amsterdam reservoir; replacement of about two miles of main line from a pump station serving Bergholz; and replacement of water lines that are 50 or 60 years old.

He said with help from the Ohio Mideastern Government Association and others, he will be applying for grants from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Ohio Public Works Commission, Army Corps of Engineers, Appalachian Regional Commission and possibly, the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The commissioners recently received many complaints about sewer rate hikes implemented to support more than $32 million in improvements to the sewer system, many of them made to comply with state environmental regulations.

But Eroshevich said rate increases alone aren’t a solution to the problem.

He said if the county raised the monthly water rate by a dollar, it would generate about $96,000 per year, an amount that would cover no more than one water pump.

Eroshevich said costs for equipment and materials have risen dramatically in the last few years.

Citing examples, he said the cost for a pickup truck is more than double what it was in pre-COVID years, while the cost for pumps has more than tripled in that time.

In other business, County Engineer Eric Hilty provided an update on road projects.

Hilty said work to chip and seal roads in Wells, Smithfield and Mount Pleasant townships is nearly complete, while spot paving along State Park-Mooretown Road is done.

He said crews have milled a section of Ross Ridge-Alikanna Road and will be patching three dip areas along Industrial Park Road.

Also on the county’s road work schedule are bridge replacements at Piney Fork Road, Knox Township Road 289 and Springfield Township Road 472.

Crews also will be trimming trees along Bergholz-New Sommerset Road.

In related business, the commission accepted a bid of $132,479.50 from American Roadway Logistics of Norton, Ohio, for striping and other pavement markings.

The bid was the lowest of four received for the work last week and reviewed by Hilty.

Commissioner Jake Kleineke complained of tall grass and weeds growing along state roads and their medians, saying that creates a poor impression for interstate and other travelers passing through the county.

Hilty said at Kleineke’s request, he has conveyed such complaints to the county maintenance department of the Ohio Department of Transportation.

He said he was told the local department is awaiting equipment needed for the task and is behind on the work but will be addressing it soon.

Hilty agreed to reiterate the commissioner’s complaint.

Also on Thursday:

• Commissioners approved $8,228.93 in upgrades needed to allow the Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District to join the county’s phone system at the Tower building.

The move was made at the recommendation of the county’s information technology department, which noted the improvements will remain with the building should the agency ever leave.

• The commissioners applauded the efforts of volunteers behind the Jefferson County Fair last week.

“I thought it was great. I thought it was very well done,” said Commissioner Eric Timmons, who added it was well attended.

Kleineke agreed, saying there was no truth to social media comments that the fairgrounds were “dead.”

“By no means was it dead. There was a parade of cars coming in (to the fairgrounds) at 5 p.m., 6 p.m.,” he said.

• Commissioners called an executive session to discuss pending renewal of a three-year contract for staff at the county’s animal shelter.

• Commissioners set a special meeting for 10 a.m. Monday to discuss issues surrounding Eastern Gateway Community College.