DISCUSSION — Jefferson County Commissioners, from left, Eric Timmons, Tony Morelli and Jake Kleineke discuss items during Thursday’s meeting. -- Linda Harris

STEUBENVILLE — Jefferson County Commissioners made it clear Thursday they won’t be approving any big-ticket expenditures until they have their final budget numbers.

While they aren’t ready to talk specifics, commissioners did say that what they’ve seen so far in their budget meetings is concerning — including a massive increase in health care costs that could force the county to look for as much as $1.5 million in spending cuts.

During their weekly meeting, commissioners told Engineer Eric Hilty that at this point, he can’t count on them being able to give him the $200,000 he’d hoped to add to his down payment on a new storage building until they know for sure how much, if any, extra money will be available once the final budget is in.

“I know how bad we need it and I truly do want it for you guys,” Commissioner Jake Kleineke said. “But let’s see where we’re at — we have to button it down right now, that’s all.”

The engineering department is already under contract with BlueScope Construction Inc. for the new, 50-foot-by-150-foot steel building, which comes with a $1.23 million price tag. It will boast a concrete floor, eight storage bays, natural gas heat and electric service and enable the county to keep its expensive truck fleet under roof. There’d also be space for other equipment as well as road signs that are currently stored wherever space can be found in their primary building–a 1980s-era building that Hilty has said is already showing its age. Hilty was given permission to work with the auditor on the internal financing plan he needs to pay for the new storage building.

“We’re putting, from last year’s budget and this year’s, $500,000 down,” Hilty said. “So we have $750,000 that we intend to borrow for five years, with or without the help of the commission.”

Commissioners made it clear that much as they like the project, they can’t commit any general fund money until they finalize their spending plan.

‘I’m not saying I don’t want to do it,” Commissioner Tony Morelli said. “It’s just a bad week to OK it, I can tell you that for sure. I’m one of three (votes), but I think we all want to fund it.”

Commissioner Eric Timmons said he also likes the idea of getting their expensive truck fleet under roof, “we talked last year about how much it would save our vehicles. It’s needed,” he said. “But with the budget, I don’t think it’s smart to make a decision until we know what the final budget number is.”

Morelli said a letter “will be going out to department heads about the budget constraints we have” and told Hilty that for now, at least, “It won’t kill your budget if you borrow another $200,000 internally.”

“We’ll make due,” Hilty replied. “We’re looking at the need and we’re going to pursue it, regardless. We were hoping for a little help but understand the financial constraints you’re dealing with right now, so we’ll make it happen.”

Timmons said they’ll be able to give him “a firm answer” once the final numbers are in, but that could be weeks from now. The county’s deadline to approve a permanent spending plan is April 1.

“There has to be a very deliberate and cautious approach to spending because costs have increased across the board,” Auditor E.J. Conn said after the meeting. “Unfortunately, health care cost increases had a major impact on this year’s budget–it definitely is not the only factor, but it does happen to be one of the major factors. We are not unique in this, however, as many entities across the state and nation have seen similar increases due to ongoing inflation in medical and insurance trends. In addition, general fund departmental requests came in much higher than in recent years.”

Conn said they’re “working toward a solution that supports the long-term fiscal stability of the county.”

Commissioners, meanwhile, gave Maintenance Supervisor Patrick Boyles permission to proceed with a critical plan to make a high-voltage panel in a courthouse restroom inaccessible to users. The work has a $5,200 price tag, but commissioners say it is a public safety issue.

“I’ll make the motion to do this but anything else we’re going to have to take a really hard look at,” Morelli said.

Commissioners temporarily tabled action on proposed renovations at Toronto county court while the auditor’s office verifies how much money Judge Lisa Ferguson has in her special projects account. The work, which includes adding a small powder room in what had been a closet as well and upgrades to the judges bench, jury box and witness stand, electrical work and doors, is expected to cost in excess of $70,000, Boyles said.

Also Thursday, Resource Network Coordinator Beth Rupert-Warren updated commissioners on the program, which was launched last year: During the past six months they’ve had more than 13,000 page hits.

Rupert-Warren said representatives of the Columbiana County Community Action Council are in town interviewing job applicants for positions in the homeless shelter they’ll be operating on Sixth Street in Steubenville. CCCAC is an established provider with a proven track record and access to funding for shelter operation. Eventually, CCCAC hopes to hand the operation off to a local provider.

The Urban Mission previously operated the Sixth Street shelter and several others, but was forced to close them in October due to reductions in state funding. Since then, community groups have been working to provide stop-gap solutions to address the needs of the area’s substantial unhoused population.

“You know, we have a lot going on trying to develop resources for the homeless,” she said. “Actually, (CCCAC) is here in Jefferson County doing interviews because they are going to be opening up one of the shelter buildings here, hopefully in the near future, so they’re actually interviewing now for those positions.”

She also said one of the “big things we’re working on is sustainability of this service.”

“We’ve had a lot of positive communication here throughout the county, and see that there appears to be a need for a service like (the Resource Network), but you know the question is how to sustain it, keep it on going. So that’s something county agencies are working on right now,” she said.

“…This is the whole county coming together and doing this.”

Rupert-Warren said a community partner meeting focusing on transportation needs is set for 10 a.m. March 25 in the Wintersville Methodist Church’s Center of Hope.

Commissioners also:

• Approved the JBGreen Team’s agreement with the sheriff’s department for litter control services. Commissioners said they’d heard “nothing but good things” about Deputy Ben Swoyer’s work investigating and preventing littering and unlawful dumping.

• Adopted a resolution giving preliminary approval to Ohio Department of Transportation’s proposed landslide repair and drainage improvement along the approach embankment to the county Road 39 bridge over U.S. Route 22. ODOT is picking up the entire cost of the work.

• Agreed to advertise for bids for the engineer’s 2026 tree removal project, which entails clearing trees and branches from rights-of-way along four county roads. The estimated cost is $91,300.

• Forwarded a proposed lease agreement between the Jefferson County Regional Airport Authority and longtime tenant Eric Bates to the prosecutor’s office for review. The document would, if approved, continue a business land-use agreement that’s been in place since 1991.

• Approved subscriptions for malware protection and critical data backup and recovery software, which Conn deemed “vital for countywide security and data protection.” Total cost to the county will be $33,185.

• Approved the Drug Task Force’s request to sell 11 vehicles forfeited to them “during the course of various narcotics investigations” at auction on March 14 at 11 a.m. in the Hollywood Plaza lot. To be sold: A 1997 Jeep Wrangler, a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado, a 2013 Camaro, a 2017 Ford Edge, a 2015 Mercedes-Benz GL, a 2004 Audi A4, a 2018 Audi A6, a 2015 GMC Yukon, a 2014 Cadillac CTS, a 2018 Vanderhall Venice motorcycle, and a 2014 Carry-on cargo trailer. The task force will use the proceeds to fund future drug investigations or other approved expenditures.

•Accepted the resignation of a maintenance worker and agreed to advertise for a replacement.

• Agreed to release Cleveland Express and its insurance company from all claims stemming from the Nov. 24 damage a truck did to a county-owned shelter at Glen Robbins park Nov. 24. The insurer covered damages to the structure, just under $42,933.

• Designated Kleineke as their voting representative to the County Commissioners Association of Ohio. Timmons will serve as his alternate

• Opened bids for bituminous and asphalt concrete products, 87 octane diesel fuel and ultra low sulfur diesel fuel, and aggregates for the engineer.