ST. CLAIRSVILLE - Reports on ongoing economic development led the commissioners meeting Tuesday.
The commissioners motioned to approve and sign the fourth pay application for Fields Excavating, Inc., in the amount of $292,845.45 for the first phase of the Neffs, West Neffs and St. Joe Gravity Sewer Project.
Commissioner Matt Coffland noted the project is more than halfway complete and remains on schedule, with cuts across the main drags and 149 completed and patching finished on the main road.
Article Photos
Work continues in the installation of
a sanitary sewer
system in Neffs. Pictured are Commissioner Matt Coffland and Ed Baumgardner.
T-L Photo/ ROBERT A. DEFRANK
Brian Street of Street Engineering said work began in March and the system may be up and running by November.
"We're right on schedule," he said, adding that they prioritized completing work on St. Joe before school starts. He said once they are finished laying the lines, they will begin work on constructing the pump house.
The sewer system will see a total of 270 hookups.
Street also thanked the residents of Neffs for their accommodation during construction with its accompanying dust and noise.
"People have been fabulous," he said.
He also complimented the contractor, who worked with them during several tricky stages of the project. Street noted that in some areas they must work deeper than 20 feet. He said normally a sewer system is among the first laid in a community. They have also been cautious not to disturb gas, water and phone lines.
Neffs has been working toward obtaining sewer services for more than 20 years. Total project cost runs to $2,809,805.36. Last year, the entirety of the funding was secured. The county put up $600,000. Issue 2 funds included $1 million in loans and grants.
The Neffs system will flow east into the East Ohio Regional Wastewater Authority by the 470 bridge in Bellaire.
In other matters, commissioners motioned to appoint Glenda Hollandsworth as First Aid Representative to the Belmont County Local Emergency Planning Committee to fill the expired term of Russell W. Landers, effective June 19. The appointment is automatically renewable Aug. 15, 2013 upon the recommendation of the Belmont County LEPC Chair and Local Emergency Planning Committee.
Commissioners also motioned to approve the signing and submittal of the LPA Federal Local-Let Project Agreement for the removal and replacement of a major bridge between Barton and Blaine on County Highway 10, with the Ohio Department of Transportation in the amount of $1,196,623, based on the recommendation of the county engineer. ODOT will provide 80 percent of eligible costs, up to a maximum of $1,082,000. MVGT funds will provide 20 percent. The project is expected to begin in 2014.
Commissioners motioned to enter into agreement with M*E Companies for design services for the removal and replacement of traffic signals at the intersection of Mall and Banfield Roads based on the recommendation of the county engineer. The contract is in the amount of $47,109 and will be 100 percent funded by the Federal Highway Administration through ODOT. Construction is expected to begin 2013.
Commissioner Charles R. Probst, Jr. was authorized to enter into the Ohio Public Works Local Transportation Improvement Program Project Agreement for the replacement of a bridge on Sandy Hill Road in the amount of $399,600. The bridge is located immediately southeast of Ohio 149 in Neffs.
DeFrank can be reached at rdefrank@timesleaderonline.com
