Meyer

BELLAIRE — Belmont County Commissioner Josh Meyer hopes to build on the experience he has gained during two terms in office and win the nomination for a third term when voters go to the polls on Tuesday.

Meyer faces a challenge from Vince Gianangeli in the Republican race for the seat. Two seats on the board are up for grabs, and no Democrat filed in either race. The Times Leader asked Meyer and the other candidates seeking seats on the board of commissioners to answer the following questions:

What do you see as the biggest challenge for Belmont County over the next four years?

MEYER: The continuing upgrades to the water/sewer system. We’ve been able to make major upgrades to the system via the USDA $72 million loan/grant that we were awarded in 2018, and those upgrades include a new water plant, waterline replacements and sewer system improvements. We have multiple projects lined up in the near future, and we continue to work with our sanitary sewer director and staff to look at ways that we can continue to improve and upgrade the system which could allow for expansion sometime down the road.

If elected/re-elected, what is your top priority for Belmont County and how will you address it?

MEYER: The top priority is the budget, and it is something that we as a board address on a constant basis. We work closely with our fiscal staff, as well as our department heads and elected officials, to maintain a healthy budget which allows us to provide services and expand services to the residents of Belmont County. We have taken the (American Rescue Plan Act) money of approximately $13 million that we received and invested it via collaboration with the County Treasurer. This will yield us approximately an additional $500,000 that can be used on future projects/services in the county.

Why should residents vote for you?

MEYER: So that we can continue the work that we’ve started and that we would carry on if re-elected. We have a very solid board that works well together. While we are individually elected officials that bring different strengths to the board, we collaborate well together and that is important in being able to get things done for the county.