Exterior construction temporarily pauses at the new Monroe County Ohio State University Extension Office as contractors await the sheet metal needed for the building’s exterior. Once completed, the 6,400-square-foot facility located at the county fairgrounds will include numerous offices and meeting rooms.

WOODSFIELD — Exterior construction of the new Monroe County Ohio State University Extension Office has been temporarily paused as the metal material needed for the facility’s outer walls and roof are said to be on backorder.

OSU Extension Office associate Mary Jo Westfall said the project may be completed later than originally anticipated. The $898,475 effort has a completion date set for the end of September; however, that date may be pushed if the materials remain unavailable.

“We’re waiting on sheet metal — it’s going to have a metal exterior and metal roof. The brand that was specified in the architect’s plans is on backorder right now,” she said.

Westfall said PSC & Build LLC of Cleveland, the project’s contractor, is working to find an alternative source for the materials. She said she is unsure if that will be possible or not as of yet.

“We’ll see what happens,” she added.

As for the interior, she said the drywall cannot be hung until the exterior work is complete. While some work is on hold, others such as the plumbing and electrical work continues.

“We’ll give them (PSC & Build) additional time if they feel they need it,” she said.

Another issue with the project is the sewer lines to the building. Westfall said the lines currently end near the new Ohio Department of Transportation Administrative building next door to the fairgrounds and need to be extended. She said they are discussing the problem with the village official while working on the design work for the new project.

Westfall said she does not expect to be able to move into the 6,400-square-foot facility by Sept. 30. As of now, she said she is unsure when they will be able to do so.

The project has been in the works since 2018 and is fully funded through the Extension Levy Fund. Once completed, the facility will include numerous extension offices, meeting rooms and storage space. Westfall said she is excited for the new facility as it will be a benefit to the community. She said she’s received positive feedback so far regarding the new facility and looks forward to its completion.

“People are really seeming to like it. I’ve heard nothing but positives about it, so I hope they will like it,” she added.