ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Guests quizzed the Belmont County Commissioners Josh Meyer, J.P. Dutton and Jerry Echemann about infrastructure projects, services and budget spending Wednesday. Ongoing problems in Powhatan Point, Martins Ferry and York Township were among items discussed.

Raymond Canter of Barnes Road thanked the county for providing water and the crews for their work on repairing numerous waterline breaks which have resulted in loss of water pressure.

“To me, they’ve gone beyond,” he said. He suggested changing the placement of an air bleeder to remove a pocket of air in a waterline obstructing water flow.

“My neighbor has not had water for 18 days now, and my water won’t even go upstairs to let you get a shower. That’s how bad the pressure is … I think it would buy you guys a lot of time with getting water over there and getting the air out.”

Canter said about 15 households are impacted. Meyer agreed there have been multiple waterline breaks.

“They’re having a difficult time getting a handle on this,” he said, adding the next step is the use of ultrasonic equipment to find leaks, but the current rainfall makes the task difficult. More updates are expected.

Meyer commended the Colerain, Sunset Heights, Yorkville and Tiltonsville fire departments for providing water supplies to residents.

“We’re buying time basically on this old water system,” Meyer said. “Hopefully down the road and in the future as these projects get started, it will alleviate a lot of these issues.”

Dutton added he would visit and view the site.

According to the Belmont County Water and Sewer District, pressure should be restored by Friday afternoon.

Melda Gallaher, president of the Powhatan Point Senior Center Association, asked if there was any update on the possibility of assisting seniors in establishing a new location. The current site, which the association owns, faces danger of flooding. The association has suggested moving to another site on Clark Street, with the county providing rent payments.

Meyer said the commissioners would hold a meeting with Senior Services Director Gary Armitage today to review matters including the suitability of the Clark Street location.

“I know (Armitage) has met with the property owner to discuss some things. We were going to get back with you folks and discuss that,” he said.

Jim Morrison, speaking on behalf of several households on Otto Road off Mount Victory Road in York Township, updated the commissioners on their efforts to gain water service.

“We have unsafe water. We have (gas and oil) wells all around us. We have no county water. We live on a dead-end one-lane dirt road,” he said.

Morrison said they received an estimate for an engineering study from Bel-O-Mar Regional Council. He said the cost to each of the seven households would be $4,500 to $5,500. He asked if the county could assist with this expense.

“This is planning based on a $200,000 project. We would have to come up with $2,860 just to put it into an engineering study. Just to go out and do the study,” Morrison said.

He asked if the commissioners might consider a town hall meeting to further discuss the issue. Meyer said the commissioners would take the matter under consideration and continue to work with Bel-O-Mar.

Richard Hord of Martins Ferry inquired about the county budget, asking how the expected savings of 2.5 percent would be accomplished without layoffs or loss of services. Dutton said it would be a matter of increasing efficiency. The commissioners added the county will continue to think long-term in paying down debt and improving infrastructure.

“Services will continue as they are,” Meyer said.

In response to more questions from Hord, the commissioners said the issue of jail overcrowding remains a problem, with 21 inmates currently housed in Jefferson County at a daily cost of $55 per person to alleviate the numbers. Meyer said options include an efficiency study and possibly expanding the jail.

Pease Township Trustee Michael Bianconi suggested expanding the available time for public comment or placing public comment at the beginning of the meeting. Meyer said there was sufficient time set aside during the meetings and the procedure would remain the same.