A SIGN OF DEDICATION — Jefferson County commissioners and the president of the Combat Support Group of Steubenville show off a sign dedicating a bridge in Gould’s to the memory of Jerry Lee Jackson, a young Viet Nam veteran who was killed in action. The bridge was designated as the county’s first Gold Star Memorial Bridge to honor Jackson, a 1965 graduate of Wintersville High School who was KIA on Nov. 3, 1967. At the unveiling were, from left, Commissioner Tony Morelli, CSG’s Frank Featner, Commissioner Eric Timmons and Commissioner Jake Kleineke. -- Linda Harris

STEUBENVILLE — A $300,000 grant for generators that can be deployed in rural areas will bring an added benefit — a Starlink connection.

The Jefferson County Commissioners recently signed an agreement allowing the county’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency to accept a $300,000 grant from the Ohio Emergency Management Agency for generators, which include Starlink access.

Commissioners said the Starlink technology will expand broadband access to remote areas of the county without “miles and miles” of cable.

“We’ve been talking about trying to get internet throughout the county,” Commissioner Eric Timmons said. “These things are like a game changer for everybody.”

Jefferson County EMA officials say a similar system was tested in Allen Township in Union County and, once operational, “they (were able to) put broadband into 90 houses and 10 small businesses, so that’s what we’ve got to look forward to coming here. We’re not getting just one Starlink, we’re getting multiples, because every generator has to have a Starlink.”

The local leaders had anticipated just a $200,000 grant from OEMA.

Commissioners also delayed paying a Johnson Controls invoice for a week, saying they want to be sure damages done to the Edison High School field house caused by hundreds of gallons of water spilling onto the floor are addressed.

PMI, the firm Johnson Controls contracted with to do the actual meter replacements, had replaced the water meter at the field house but once installation was complete and service restored the backflow preventer started to leak.

Neither PMI or Johnson Controls are certified to work on backflows, so a third firm–Koorsen Fire and Security–was called in. Koorsen typically completes inspections on all of Edison’s backflow preventers.

Koorsen crews arrived the next day to rebuild and clean the backflow preventer and reinstalled it. Water service was restored but after the contractors left the water department was notified the “meter blew off” at the field house.

“Action was taken as soon as possible to stop the leak,” officials said. “Unfortunately, 500 gallons of water went through the building, including the basketball court. Insurance coordination is underway to ensure the facility is restored appropriately.”

Commissioners said the price tag for fixing the damage, including labor, is nearly $380,000, adding that they’d “like something in writing, somebody should take responsibility because it’s not the school’s fault.”

Water Department Director Jonathan Sgalla, though, said his staff and Johnson Controls are “working collaboratively to ensure the situation is fully addressed in a timely and responsible manner.”

The invoice, for $532,406, is for materials, installations, administrative costs and construction management done in conjunction with the county’s meter installation project.

Also on the agenda:

• Commissioners were updated on the Cherry Avenue property, which they’d hoped would have been sold by now.

A prospective buyer, the nearby Holy Family Parish, had been identified, but progress stalled during the past year with no explanation as to why. Commissioner Tony Morelli said he’d received a notice from the parish priest that Bishop Edward M. Lohse, apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Steubenville, “won’t make the call because it’s a lot of money” and would rather wait for a permanent bishop to be named, though that’s apparently in limbo until the status of a possible merger between the Diocese of Steubenville and the Diocese of Columbus is resolved..

He said the administrator, however, is fine with the parish taking on maintenance of the park and playground, including updated equipment and updating the fencing to make it safer for children and families.

The property’s condition continues to be a thorn in the side of nearby residents.

Timmons said it would be an opportunity to shed the county of park expenses, “but I would want to confirm what they are going to do, not just (rely on) an e-mail saying they would maintain it.”

Morelli said as far as he’s concerned, “I don’t want to wait for another bishop, I’m ready to move on,” while Commissioner Jake Kleineke pointed out that the parish assuming responsibility for the park “doesn’t (excuse) us from maintaining the building that’s there.”

• JB Green Team Executive Director Anita Petrella updated commissioners on their foam processing program, a first in Ohio. The program, begun in April, allows the Green team to recycle Styrofoam “right in our building.”

Petrella said they’ve also been testing an electronics recycling program at several sites in their service area.

• Commissioners agreed to seek bids for gasoline, diesel fuel, aggregates, bituminous and asphalt concrete products for this year.