ST. CLAIRSVILLE — The Belmont County Board of Commissioners accepted and awarded bids for county projects Wednesday, adding to the Senior Services vehicle fleet and taking the first steps toward a slide repair on Blaine-Barton Road.

Commissioner J.P. Dutton also commented on the recent death of former Belmont village mayor Stan Sobel, who served a four-year term and did not seek re-election last fall. Commissioners and guests noted his dedication to the village, and Dutton mentioned the positive impact Sobel had on young people during his long teaching career at Union Local High School.

The commissioners awarded a bid to Thomas Garage Inc. for two all-wheel-drive, four-door sedans for $60,930, two four-wheel-drive hotshot vehicles with meal delivery package for $97,982, and one four-wheel-drive SUV for $28,477.

“This is the result of bids submitted two weeks ago,” Dutton said, adding there had been one other bidder. He said this expense had been accounted for when the commissioners decided they were able to let a 0.5-mill Senior Services levy expire next year rather than place it on the ballot for renewal. The department has been busy during the COVID-19 pandemic, with meal delivery demands at an all-time high along with needs for medical transportation.

The fleet of 10 vehicles continues to be a priority, with none older than 2018.

In another matter, the commissioners accepted bids for a slide repair project on Blaine-Barton Road.

Litman Excavating Inc. bid $148,516; BBR Drilling bid $143,340; Alan Stone Co. bid $142,662; Dennison Bridge bid $165,396; Suburban Maintenance & Construction Inc. bid $158,732.75; Ohio/West Virginia Excavating bid $118,247.50; Sheckler Excavating bid $156,862.13; and Shelly & Sands Inc. bid $150,381.

Assistant Engineer Daniel Boltz said the county is using funds from the Ohio Department of Transportation Oil and Shale program for the work.

“It’s a new program started, I believe, last year,” he said. “It’s main purpose is to fund roadway repairs that aren’t covered under (road use maintenance agreements).”

He said determining factors on whether the funds can be applied include the presence of gas and oil wells in the area and average daily traffic.

“So Belmont County, having the most wells in the state, we had applied for this funding source and we were able to get it,” he said. “We were funded for up to $145,000.”

He said the slide is about 2 miles from U.S. 40.

“It’s fairly new. It’s popped up since all the oil and gas activity,” Boltz said. “It sees some oil and gas traffic.”

A road closure of no more than 30 days is expected, beginning in the spring.

He said the engineer’s office will review the bids before making a recommendation to the commissioners.

Dutton attended the meeting with Commissioner Jerry Echemann. Commissioner Josh Meyer was in quarantine, having been exposed to someone positive with COVID-19, but he was able to participate in the meeting by phone.