T-L Photo/ROBERT A. DEFRANK Belmont County Commissioners Josh Meyer and J.P. Dutton Wednesday announce preparation for the coming census.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Belmont County is preparing for the upcoming 2020 census in April.

On Wednesday, Commissioners J.P. Dutton, Josh Meyer and Jerry Echemann appointed the Rev. William Webster of Grace Presbyterian Church in Martins Ferry as chairman for the Belmont County Complete County Committee for 2020. The committee’s first meeting will be held at 4 p.m. Jan. 22 at the church. Anyone interested in learning how to participate and ensure everyone is counted may attend.

The commissioners pointed out a complete and accurate count is necessary for an equitable share of financial assistance and representation.

“I’m sure we’ll discuss it more as we get into the spring. We really appreciate Rev. Webster volunteering to chair that temporary committee,” Dutton said.

“This the first time I’ll be heading up the census for Belmont County,” Webster said afterward, adding that he is meeting with the mayor Martins Ferry. “I’m trying to organize different groups and different people in every community so that everyone in our community gets counted. There’s a lot at stake in the census. Federal and state funding is a big issue. … There’s nine questions and it takes about eight minutes, but it’ll affect our community for the next 10 years.”

An annual population estimate from the federal governmentindicated that, in 2019, Belmont County’s population has decreased by an average annual rate of change of 0.05 percent. In 2017, Belmont County had a population of 67,956. The latest population estimates show Belmont County at 67,505 as of July 1, 2018, a decrease of 451 people from the year prior.

Almost every township, village, and city in Belmont County decreased in population, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

“That’s a huge concern for me. Particularly the river communities,” Webster said. “There’s over $600 billion at stake, and I want to make sure that Belmont County gets our share.”

He said the committee will be reaching out to schools, health care groups and senior groups. Webster added a significant percentage of Bellaire residents have not been responding to census forms.

“I’m told Bellaire has missed something like 27 percent of the people last time, that did not complete the census,” he said. “If they did, Bellaire would have probably not been a village, but been a city.”

He said the committee will also reach out to the more rural areas.

In other matters, Jill Hunkler of Barnesville, who has long expressed concern about possible hazards of natural gas and oil fracking, invited the commissioners to a presentation at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 24 at Ohio University Eastern. She said Justin Nobel, science journalist with Rolling Stone Magazine, will speak about radioactivity risks posed by the oil and gas industry. Environmental scientist Julie Weatherington-Rice will also be on hand.

She also expressed concern about a possible injection well the New Jersey-based Omni Energy Group LLC is interested in placing at the intersection of U.S. 40 and Ohio 331. The company has submitted an application with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. In answer to another guest’s question, Dutton said he has heard no further updates from ODNR and the commissioners have requested a public meeting before any determination is made.

Additionally, the commissioners approved proposal from ERB Electric to install security upgrades at the courthouse for $27,940 and to install a phone and voicemail system for $16,680.

Belmont County Engineer Terry Lively also reported slip repair on Blaine-Chermont Road in Bridgeport is beginning and the road was being closed so work might be done.

“That’s long-awaited. We’ve been delayed by utility relocations,” Lively said. “It’s probably going to be … three months. … It’s a long-overdue project. It will be closed during construction.”

More information on the census can be found at the U.S. Census Bureau website, https://www.2020census.gov.

Webster can be reached at the church offices at 740-633-2155.