ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Progress on the exterior courthouse renovation was among projects discussed Wednesday by the Belmont County Board of Commissioners, with Commissioner Mark Thomas pointed out the tarp and scaffolding are being removed.

“You’ll notice that the tarp out front is coming down. The painting is completed,” he said, adding that caulking around the windows is also being completed. “With each day we’re getting closer and closer. We’re still looking at an Aug. 31 deadline for completing the entire project.”

In addition, the exterior of the former jail will be cleaned and the bars and fire escape painted.

“Our goal is to match the stone as much as we can to this existing cleaning of the stone here, to where in the end we have two beautiful buildings that will be here for a long, long time,” Thomas noted.

Talk also turned to the progress of oil and gas development and the state of the county roads. Martins Ferry resident Richard Hord inquired about expectations for further drilling activity. Commissioners replied that prospects are good, though fluctuations are a part of the industry.

“It’s a function of oil and gas markets. In terms of fluctuation … it’s all a function of price,” said Commissioner J.P. Dutton. “There was a lull last year because natural gas prices were extremely low. Producers here and producers across the country have really driven down their cost at the well head in terms of how much it costs them to produce natural gas and oil. It’s the cyclical nature.”

“In the long term, it’s very good,” Thomas said of the outlook, adding that he expects to see unprecedented growth in the next five years. “It’s going to be a major change. As with everything, there’s positives to it. There’s negative to it.”

Among impacts from the industry are infrastructure needs, Thomas added.

“Columbus, and I use that broadly, doesn’t seem to understand. Certain individuals, certain entities, don’t realize there is an Eastern Ohio. It’s like they think the state ends at Zanesville,” he said. “We have an issue with the severance tax not coming back here to help us pave roads.”

He said attempts to address these concerns at the state level have not seen results.

“All of the road deterioration is not limited to the shale industry … ,” Thomas said. “We were hoping to get some of the severance tax money out there, of which there’s $50-plus million.”

Thomas said it seems likely some of that tax money will go the state general fund to balance the budget.

“That’s just not right,” Thomas said. “That tax is coming from Eastern Ohio. It’s not coming from anywhere else in Ohio.”

Thomas said further public meetings may be scheduled to discuss funding options for road repairs, and the problem will also be discussed during regular commission meetings before a decision is reached.

“There’s a funding shortage with the engineer, and we have to figure it out. It may be on the backs of the taxpayers, and we have to figure out how we’re going to do it,” he noted.

Talk also turned to demolition of the courthouse annex building, the former County Home, off Ohio 331. Thomas said the adjacent County Home infirmary, the current sanitary sewer administration building, has been added to the package for demolition, once the administrative offices have been moved to a former Gulfport Energy building the county purchased at the Oakview site west of St. Clairsville. The bid package for the demolition is being put together, and commissioners have met with the county auditor to discuss funding.

“It’s not going to be cheap,” Thomas said, noting the goal is to take down the buildings this year. “It was a very well-built building, and those well-built buildings don’t want to come down.”

Dutton added that the buildings are beyond the point where repair and renovation was feasible. Officials have said the sanitary district building dates to 1870.

In other matters, the board approved a quote from Digital Data Communications, Inc. for $2,171.26 for the purchase of computer equipment for the Lansing Senior Center and a quote from MOS Office Systems for $599 for the purchase of a Canon Image multifunction office machine for the center, to replace equipment damaged by lighting on June 18.

The board is accepting applications to fill a position on the Belmont County Public Defender Commission. Applications will be accepted until June 30. Applications may be requested at the commissioners’ office.

The Mental Health and Recovery Board is also seeking applications for two positions on its board. The office can be reached at 740-695-9998.

The next regularly scheduled meeting will be held at 9 a.m. July 6 due to the July 4 holiday.