DISCUSSION — The Jefferson County commissioner learned Thursday that a $225,000 donation will allow for the construction of a new show and sale arena at the fairgrounds. -- Linda Harris

STEUBENVILLE — The Jefferson County commissioners were told Thursday a community benefactor is donating nearly a quarter of a million dollars for a new sale and show arena at the fairgrounds.

Fair board treasurer Debbie Hukill said the donor “wants to remain anonymous for now.”

“We are so grateful for (the donation),” she said after the meeting. “Project numbers have grown and bigger crowds need more room.”

Board President Ray Hildebrand said the new arena is much needed, “and the nice part is it is not going to cost the county or the fair board a dime.”

He said the actual donation is $225,000.

“We think we can get it done for that — we’ll do a little bit of the work ourselves. And, we have (a company) that will take the old building down and clean it up,” he added.

Hildebrand said the existing arena dates to the 1980s, and while past boards have added onto it during the years, they still have outgrown it.

“It was a good building, it’s just not big enough,” he said. “And when someone comes and offers to build new one, and a company wants to come in and take the old one down, it’s a win-win for everybody.”

He said one of the biggest complaints about the old building was how hot it would get inside it, which Hukill described as “horrendous.”

“The biggest thing was the height of it, you can’t get heat out–it’s almost unbearable at times,” Hildebrand said, explaining the new arena will be “a lot higher and longer, and it will have a lot more ventilation.”

Construction is set to begin in the spring.

Hildebrand said the design will be reminiscent of their new small animal barn, which was paid for entirely with grant funds. It tripled the size of the old structure but, like the new sales arena, he said it ended up “costing taxpayers nothing.”

The new sales arena will be 60 feet by 120 feet by 16 feet high, “so it will be a large building,” he said. “And the nice part in winter is we rent spaces for campers and boats (inside buildings and barns.) So, people are paying to use a building that normally sits empty in winter.”

Crews will start taking the old arena down “right after the first of the year.” As soon as it’s down, “they’re going to start on the new one.”

Hildebrand said the donors are “very nice people, a very nice family, and they’re very supportive of the fair.” He said he promised not to reveal their identity until fair time, when they’ll announce it.

“They’re tickled to death to be part of it and we’re tickled to have them,” he said.

Commissioners also:

• Approved a bulk purchase agreement with Mingo Junction, paying $3 per 1,000 gallons of potable water beginning April 1. Rates will increase 25 cents on April 1, 2027, and 25 cents more on April 1, 2028.

• Signed off on a new fee structure: After hour service calls, weekends and holidays, $125; account activation fee with meter set, $325; tampering fee, $550; unauthorized use of a fire hydrant, $750; authorized use of a fire hydrant, $250; turn on/off fee, remains $50; meter test fee, $250; and insufficient funds fee, remains $40.

New water and sewer district Director Jonathan Sgalla recommended the updates, saying the fees haven’t been adjusted since 2022.

“Moving forward, the district proposes conducting annual fee reviews to proactively address rising costs and avoid the need for larger, infrequent adjustments,” he said.

• Agreed to submit a letter of support for the Grand Theater’s upcoming applications for grant funding. Lead volunteer Scott Dressel said he’s working on applications for a $2 million grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission. The ARC grant would require a $600,000 local match, so Dressel said he’s also applying for an Ohio Capital Bill Grant, which requires support from state lawmakers, as well as some other grant opportunities.

• Scheduled a public hearing on the regional planning commission’s application for Community Development Block Grant funding for 10 a.m. Feb. 19.

• Accepted the resignation of wastewater plant operator Wayne R. Ruckman, who thanked commissioners “for the opportunity (he) had here … as (he) entered the twilight of (his) career.” Sgalla said they knew when Ruckman was hired that it wasn’t a long-term solution.

• Reappointed Judy Henthorn to a three-year term on the Friendship Park board.