ST. CLAIRSVILLE - Belmont County is moving forward with a plan to help Mountaineer Products Inc. complete its planned relocation of MPR Supply Chain Solutions to property in Bellaire.

Belmont County Commissioners on Wednesday approved a motion to sign a letter of commitment to Mountaineer Products and approving a loan in the amount of $200,000 from the county's Revolving Loan Fund for the purpose of acquiring the Bellaire real estate formerly occupied by A&B Kia on North Guernsey Street.

Mountaineer Products plans to move its transloading operations to the Bellaire site along the Ohio River. The business takes coils produced in Texas and delivered to the area via river barge, then stores and distributes them to customers in the Northeast. The coils are used to make everything from staples to wire mesh and concrete reinforcement for consumers everywhere from New Hampshire to Canada.

What officials from the county and the company have eyed in this collaboration has been the creation of jobs.

Dave Humphreys of Mountaineer Products said so far the company has 15 employees set to move to the Bellaire site, with many more hoped for the future. There will also be additional related jobs because of the venture, including over-the-road trucking jobs for shipping the coils.

"We're trying to create more jobs in Belmont County and are trying to make this a better place," said Humphreys. "We've been very, very pleased with the leadership in Bellaire, the development officials and the county commissioners. We're all trying to create a lot of opportunities for the citizens of Belmont County."

Humphreys thanked the commissioners, Belmont County Port Authority Director Larry Merry, Community Improvement Corporation-Department of Development Director Sue Douglass and others involved with helping to make this venture possible.

"We appreciate all you do for Belmont County," Commissioner Chuck Probst told Humphreys. "The board will do everything we can to help you with your new venture and provide jobs for our community. Today's action with providing assistance through our Revolving Loan Fund is the first step toward achieving this."

Commissioner Matt Coffland said the venture by Mountaineer Products is a perfect example of utilizing the assets Belmont County has along the river - which are water, highway and rail accessibility.

"This is part of our commitment to re-investing in the riverfront," said Commissioner Ginny Favede. "Your project will harness that and put Belmont County on the forefront of this effort."

In other action Wednesday, commissioners heard from Barb Godwin and Wally Chlon of MOS of Bellaire who raised issue with the recent award of a contract for copy machines for county offices.

Godwin said she did not believe the equipment that was acquired by the county through the contract did not match the specifications on which MOS and the other businesses submitted bids.

Officials said they are familiar with concerns and are exploring the matters with the prosecutor's office and the company that was awarded the contract, Hughes Xerographics. Commissioners said they awarded the contract based upon the recommendation of Department of Administrative Services, which determined that presented the best offer to meet the county's needs was Hughes.

In other action, the board:

- set the date, time and location for the next town hall meeting, which will be held in Shadyside on Monday, April 26, at 6 p.m. in council chambers at the municipal building. The public is invited to attend.

- changed the starting time for the next regular commissioners meeting set for next Wednesday, April 21, one hour ahead. The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. instead of 10 a.m.

- met with Dale W. Hartle, president of the Ohio Regional Development Corporation, to discuss funding available through the Neighborhood Stabilization Program.

Ayres can be reached at eayres@timesleaderonlnie.com.