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Architect selected for the Harrison County jail project

CADIZ — Harrison County commissioners selected an architect to perform the design work for proposed jail project.

The Harrison County Board of Commissioners signed a resolution to hire Wachtel & McAnally Architects/Planners Inc. of Newark, Ohio, to design the new jail. The agreement states the company will be paid 8 percent of the cost of construction, along with $30,000 for modeling services, $15,000 for telecommunication and data design, and $18,000 for commissioning basic building additions. It also states that the company will not exceed $14,500 for reimbursable expenses.

Commissioners Paul Coffland, Don Bethel and Dale Norris unanimously approved the document during Wednesday’s meeting. Coffland said after reviewing proposals from four design companies, Wachtel & McAnally was determined the most qualified for the job.

The proposed 60- to 80-bed jail will be built at the former SSG George J. Conaway U.S. Army Reserve Center property along East Market Street, Cadiz. The estimated $15 million project includes renovations to the current reserve center building, which will house the sheriff’s offices, and the construction of a new jail facility that will be built behind the center.

In other matters, Engineer Doug Bachman said the county is still awaiting approval of the contractor from the Ohio Department of Transportation for the Conotton Creek Trail resurfacing project.

He said there is no official start date until it is approved.

Last month, commissioners approved Bachman’s recommendation that Shelly & Sands of Rayland perform the work for $655,524, the lowest of four bids received. However, ODOT, the entity providing the project funding, must also approve the bid prior to proceeding with the work, which consists of paving 11.4 miles of the trail. The popular trail connects Jewett, Scio, Conotton and Bowerston.

Some residents have raised concerns about the trail’s potential closure while the paving is underway, Coffland said. Bachman assured that the trail would remain partially open while the work is completed. He said the resurfacing will be performed in two stages with half of the trail closed for paving while the other half remains open, and vice versa.

Officials previously said the project would begin sometime in the summer and will be completed in September.

Bachman also said a guardrail replacement and installation project, including replacement and installation of more than 12,500 feet of guardrail on three county roadways, will begin next week.

Beginning Monday, crews will begin work along Harrison 2, 17 and 39. Bachman said he urges drivers to be cautious when driving on those roadways.

Bachman added that crews will also begin spraying weed killer along all guardrails in the county next week.

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