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ST. CLAIRSVILLE -- The city is making progress toward water service upgrades, with bids for a connector to the Belmont County system to be opened by the end of the week and the first grant received for water line replacement.
During Monday's meeting, Safety and Service Director Jeremy Greenwood announced the city has been approved for a $250,000 grant from the Ohio Mid-Eastern Governments Association for upgrades to the city's water distribution system. The city is in the process of shifting from the aged water treatment plant to purchasing water from Belmont County, as the county itself pursues large-scale water and wastewater upgrades.
Greenwood has said upgrading the distribution system of antiquated waterlines throughout the city will be a long and involved process, but the $250,000 will be a valuable start.
"We're trying to raise money and figure out how we're going to pay for everything, because that's going to be like a $3.1 million project," he said. "We're trying to go out for as many grants as we can.
"We're going to take pretty much every pipe from Sugar Street east and replace all of them, or as many as we can," Greenwood said. "We're working with OMEGA and (the Rural Community Assistance Partnership) and all of them to see what's available and what's there."
He also expressed hope that an agreement can be reached for a federal infrastructure bill that might be of help to the project. He said the city is still awaiting half of more than $1 million in American Rescue Plan funding.
Greenwood said bids are due Friday for the East End connection on U.S. 40 at the edge of the city. He will make a recommendation to council on the lowest and best bid in an upcoming meeting.
"That's the east end project where we're going to connect out right in the median strip," he said.
Meanwhile, the county is upgrading the connector or Ohio 9.
"That existing connection will be our main connection once the county does their upgrades with Route 9, then they're going to be able to supply us from there, but the (Environmental Protection Agency) requires two connections," he said.
Also, Jason Duval has taken on the position of wastewater superintendent. He will be paid $65,000 yearly, a yearly savings of $10,000 from the prior use of a private contractor to run the system. Duval has a Level 2 Wastewater certification.
In other matters, Jacob DeBertrand of St. Clairsville was appointed city clerk, taking the place of Megan Shaw, who has taken on a job at the Belmont County Auditor's office. DeBertrand will take the position Aug. 1.
Council President Jim Velas welcomed DeBertrand and thanked Shaw.
"She's done a really outstanding job while she was here," he said.
Greenwood also presented a list of streets to be paved, starting in the next two-to-three weeks. Councilman Frank Sabatino suggested beginning with streets close to the St. Clairsville-Richland City School District.
The streets are Ohio 9, from U.S. 40 to Woodrow; Edinburgh Way, from Market Street to Kilsyth; Overlook Court from Gaywood to the cul do sac; Crescent/Center Street from North Sugar to Richland; Broad Street from South Sugar to the Dead End; Reservoir Road from the water plant to the street garage; Forest Lawn from U.S. 40 to Barton Road; McBeth Court from Lexington Drive to the cul do sac; High Street to the corporation limit.
A community stakeholder solution meeting is set for 7 p.m. today at the J.B. Martins Recreation Center to explore interest in renovating the South Park area where Neffs Street meets St. Clair as a community park. Residents will discuss what they would like and the city will eventually explore grant options.