WOODSFIELD - Work near the Knowlton Covered Bridge, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, is proposed as one of the Washington Township/Graysville projects announced Monday during the Monroe County commissioners' meeting.
Eight projects in that area were chosen during public meetings as possibilities for Neighborhood Revitalization Grant funding. These will be sent to the Ohio Department of Development for consideration.
Previously, two public hearings had been held in Graysville about the projects with 114 attending the first one and 123 at the second. Citizen participation is emphasized in this program.
Article Photos
T-L File Photos/MIKE PALMER
A PROJECT at the Knowlton Covered Bridge, the second longest covered bridge in Ohio, is proposed for Neighborhood Revitalization Grant funding in Monroe County. Constructed in 1887, the three-span bridge near Rinard Mills is on the National Register of Historic Places. The proposed project would involve a concrete area at the Knowlton Covered Bridge Park.
A concrete 100 by 80 area is proposed for the Knowlton Covered Bridge Park with the cost figured at $60,000.
Constructed in 1887, the bridge is 192 feet long and is the second longest covered bridge in Ohio. Located off Ohio 26, north of Rinard Mills, the span was placed on the National Register in 1980, and the adjacent park opened in 1967.
The concrete area near the bridge is one of eight projects proposed for Neighborhood Revitalization Grant funding.
Also on the list and the costs are a generator for the firehouse, $19,000; 16 sets of brushfire gear for the volunteer fire department, $7,000; 48 culvert replacements on various township roads, $25,700; concrete main parking lot and driveway at the firehouse and community center, $71,500; road signs for all township roads, name and number, $1,500; repaving of Long Run Road in the village of Graysville, $105,900; and installation of 135 feet of curbing in Graysville, $9,400.
The proposed projects total $300,000, and this is the maximum amount that can be granted to an entity approved by the the Ohio Department of Development. The application to that department is due at the end of June.
In case the Neighborhood Revitalization Grant is not funded, the formula project for Washington Township will be the generator for the firehouse. If the grant is approved and there are leftover funds after the projects are completed, residents indicated they would like to have plaster repair at the community center with estimate for this work being $9,300.
Commissioners in March selected the Washington Township/Graysville area for funding. Other entities which had vied for the investment area status were Bethel Township, Franklin Township including the village of Stafford, Green Township, the village of Jerusalem, Perry Township and Summit Township including the village of Lewisville.
In other matters Monday, commissioners took action on a Community Development Block Grant project and made decisions on several slip repair projects.
Mary Jo Westfall, Extension office associate, presented a contract with Benchmark Construction, Sardis, for the Laings Community Center drainage project. The company's bid for this CDBG project was $21,200.
County Engineer Lonnie Tustin recommended acceptance of the lowest bids for the slip repair projects. Ohio-West Virginia Excavating was the low bidder on all those projects.
The projects along with bids and the engineer's estimates are:
A resolution presented by Tustin was approved by commissioners, and it authorizes the engineer's department to participate in the Ohio Cooperative Purchasing Program.
Tustin also presented a permit, which was granted by commissioners, and it gives approval to Paul E. Beaver, Sardis, to install a waterline across Monroe 84, known as the John Lengacher Road, between Green Township 8 and Green Township 479A.
At 9 a.m., commissioners viewed Jackson Township 549 as a petition to alter that road had been received. Approximately 10 people attended a public hearing in the afternoon about the proposed alteration, and at least two of them spoke as they objected to the change. Some drilling company representatives spoke in favor of the alteration.
Commissioners approved a motion to table this matter until more information is received from the state highway department and others.
Heather Cecil, representing the Monroe County Chapter for Autism, asked commissioners if any office space was available for the group. After discussing the matter, commissioners called Jeanette Harter of the Monroe County Department of Job and Family Services. They learned that department might have some space available so Cecil was to talk to Harter about this matter.
Greg Jadwin, membership sales manager for Air Evac and Squad, asked if the commissioners would be interested in taking out this medical program for all employees. If they aren't interested, he asked if information about the program could be given to commissioners so the information could be included in the employees' paychecks.
No action was taken about the program, and commissioners took it under consideration.
