Contributed PLACE TO ENJOY — The decking has been replaced on four historic bridges on the Piney Fork trail, the Jefferson County Commissioners heard Thursday.

STEUBENVILLE — The Jefferson County Commissioners were updated Thursday on progress being made at the preserves held by Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District.

Aaron Dodds, projects manager for the district, told commissioners things are happening at all four preserves — Piney Fork, Rush Run, Hellbender and Quaker Ridge.

He said the decking has been replaced on all four historic railroad bridges at Piney Fork Preserve and Trail so they now can accommodate bicycle and pedestrian traffic. The King Truss Co. of Cleveland installed the bridges in 1902.

“We replaced all the old spaced-out railroad ties with new treated timbers that people are actively sponsoring,” Dodds said, making them passable for bikes and strollers as well as walkers.

“Saving the bridges and allowing them to be a part of transitioning Piney Fork into a new era is so important to the projects, as these bridges were the critical connection to outside markets that allowed Piney Fork to grow to be the largest underground mine in the world. Now the bridges serve as beautiful and historically important structures that will allow visitors to access Piney Fork through the trail.”

He said as soon as asphalt season is complete, crushed limestone gravel will be laid on the old rail corridor.

“The limestone gravel was used with great success at the Hellbender Preserve and provides an easy-to-work and durable trail that will be cost-effective and easy to maintain well into the future,” he said after the meeting. “The trail will extend over four miles, from Piney Fork to the Hopedale area in Harrison County.”

Dodds said security infrastructure has been added to the trail and Piney Fork locations to protect the property and the trail.

“One of the major (complaints) has been about UTV, dirt bike and ATV traffic running rampant in the area and damaging private property,” he said. “In order to protect the investment, we added hard-to-detect security features that, hopefully, will deter violators or hold them accountable.”

Efforts to stabilize the old Roosevelt Inn in Piney Fork continue, he said.

“The Roosevelt Inn has been a staple of the community since 1932,” he said. “When the mines closed, Piney Fork collapsed and the Roosevelt Inn remained as one of the only artifacts of the time period. Through a private donation, JSWCD is sprucing up the building: Plans include transforming the old house into a museum telling the tale of Piney Fork and Short Creek, and preserving the bar so visitors can walk in and remember all the good times and rich stories (of the past.) The old dance hall is being transformed into a gathering place for people to once again hold small events there and for educational purposes.”

Dodds said efforts are underway at Rush Run Preserve “to remove decades worth of refuse from the land” through a Shine the Light on Dumpers grant award by the office of Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost. “This is the first step in developing this property.”

He said ODNR officials have visited the property “and hope to add it to a new bird watching trail.”

Hellbender Preserve, he said, “never ceases to not only amaze, but continue to tell its story.”

“It was recently learned that a large fossil of great importance was found on the property in the 1950s which is now housed at the Smithsonian,” he said. “JSWCD is now working with officials interested in doing another search for fossils on the property in the spring.”

He said visitors “continue to come to Hellbender Preserve every day, and the changing seasons are bringing a variety of changes and beautiful new views at the property.”

Work to enhance the trails at Quaker Ridge is ongoing, he said, adding that Franciscan University of Steubenville has been conducting research studies there.

“JSWCD has also been approached by Ascent Resources to lease the property,” Dodds said. “The property was acquired through Clean Ohio as the previous landowner who bequeathed the property wanted the land and its rich ecology protected in perpetuity. (But) JSWCD’s oil and gas attorney, Sean Jacobs of Emons, Wolpert and Jacobs — who Jefferson County also uses — has some concerns about how protected the property is because if the property is forced-pooled, there are concerns about a well being located on the Quaker Ridge piece. If Ascent were to place a well pad on the property, it would ruin this beautiful asset of Jefferson County. JSWCD is currently trying to work with Ohio Public Works to ensure the property and the water resources of Quaker Ridge can be properly protected.”

Commissioners were pleased with the progress that’s being made.

“I think it’s great, keep it coming,” Commissioner Tony Morelli said.

Commissioners, meanwhile, also were told that 54 of 94 suspected leak points identified during satellite scans of the county water system a few months ago have proven false.

Assistant Director Jonathan Sgalla said ME Simpson, a company that uses traditional “ground” technologies to locate leaks, “is currently out in the county system verifying the (results) of the satellite scans.”

“At this time we have checked 54 of the 94 suspected water leaks,” Sgalla said. “There have been no leaks found at any of the points.”

He said they’ll continue to inspect the points of interest pinpointed by the satellite scans, and if nothing is found their water loss consultant is “going to contract with ME Simpson to scan the entire county system at their expense.”

ME Simpson essentially connects to the system valves and hydrants with an acoustic listening device. If they get a positive finding, they’ll confirm their findings using a water detection correlator — an electronic device that uses two sensors placed on a pipe to pinpoint water leaks by comparing the sound signatures of escaping water. It can typically locate a leak within a couple of feet.

With the holidays approaching, commissioners moved their Thanksgiving week meeting to Nov. 26 and decided not to meet during Christmas week. The final meeting of the year will be at 9 a.m. Dec. 30.

The courthouse will be closed Dec. 25, Dec. 26 and New Year’s Day.