STEUBENVILLE — With the expiration date for remaining ARPA funds fast approaching, the Jefferson County commissioners said Thursday it’s time to get an accounting of how much they still have to spend.

They’ll do that in a work session after Wednesday’s meeting.

“We want to spend every dime of it, but we have to know exactly how much is available,” Commissioner Eric Timmons said, adding what they ultimately do with it “depends on how much is left.”

All ARPA funds must be encumbered by Dec. 31, but Auditor E.J. Conn said the projects themselves don’t have to be done for a year after that.

During this week’s meeting commissioners were told there could be around $500,000 still to be spent on qualifying projects, though that number can go up or down.

What those projects will be remains to be seen.

“The contracts need to be signed by the end of this year,” Commissioner Tony Morelli said. “I have some ideas — I want to use it for brick-and-mortar projects, if possible. There are other options also.”

During the meeting, commissioners cut into their remaining funds slightly — increasing the ARPA allocation for their parking lot project to $763,635. They’d originally set the bar at $700,000, but the cost to demolish two long-vacant businesses on the property was higher than they’d originally budgeted for.

Job and Family Services Director Michele Santin asked commissioners if she could use ARPA money leftover from the McCollough Children’s Home roof replacement to repair a pavilion there as well.

Commissioners originally appropriated about $1 million in ARPA funding for the roof replacement and some other upgrades, but the bids came in well below budget. While some of the leftover money already has been used for fire safety updates, Santin figures there’s enough to cover the cost of a new roof and structural repairs to the shelter.

Since there’s money left over from their original allocation, Assistant Auditor Mike Warren suggested just changing the scope of the resolution to include the shelter work, and commissioners asked Santin to bring them three price quotes for the additional work.

They also approved the Sheriff Fred Abdalla Jr.’s request to purchase a new cruiser out of departmental funds and took under consideration his request for two more to accommodate the department’s vehicular needs due to the expansion of the school resource officer network.

Abdalla said his department is under contract to supply three more resource officers to county schools this year — two more in Buckeye Local and the third in the Edison Local school district. They’ll both now have three resource officers assigned to schools in their district.

Abdalla acknowledged commissioners had been “very, very accommodating in helping me acquire cruisers to replenish a depleted fleet” during the past two years, pointing out they spent more than $40,000 less on vehicle repairs and maintenance last year and he’s “hoping the figure will come in (even) lower this year.”

The sheriff said the three cruisers would cost roughly $240,000, but he has the funds in his budget — about $78,000 — to cover the price of one of them.

He also reported the department’s transport van broke down during the past week “and will need to be replaced at some point,” but he’s planning to use funds generated through their commissary to pay for that.

Water and Sewer District Director Mike Eroshevich presented his annual report, telling commissioners that “only sound fiscal management has allowed costs, fees and user rates to remain as low as they have for decades.”

“Unfortunately, with the rising costs of goods and services over the years it was imperative that the board increase rates to water and sewer customers,” Eroshevich said in his report. “Increased water rates were put into place in 2023. The water department has now stabilized and is in good standing, but the sewer department is at a crossroad. Due to OEPA regulations and findings and orders placed onto the department from the regulating agencies, the department has spent more than $30 million in the last decade to construct new systems, and to update and refurbish old ones.”

He said the department is under orders to upgrade the Barbers Hollow, Mellwood, Maplewood and Century Hills wastewater treatment plants during the next eight years in order to “bring the effluent water quality into compliance” with public health and environmental mandates — improvements he figures could top $20 million.

With only 3,500 sewage customers, “additional rate increases are probable to help offset costs that are not funded through grants,” he said.

Eroshevich said in the past four years alone the district has received more than $10 million in grant and principal forgiveness funding.

“We’re worried about our sewer fund, but the water department right now is paying its bills and putting a little aside (for future projects),” he said, telling commissioners that without the rate hike, “We wouldn’t have any employees and the lights would be out.”

Commissioners also signed off on the notice to proceed with the Toronto transmission line booster station variable frequency drive project as well as the contract for the work, which has been awarded to Fort Steuben Maintenance. The ARPA-funded project has a $54,954 price tag.

They also voted to join the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce.

Chamber Executive Director Kate Sedgmer described the added value of a membership, which in addition to networking and educational programming includes free participation in the Jefferson County Safety Council.

The chamber, which recently assumed responsibility for the safety council, waived the participation fee for its members. Non-members will be billed $200 annually, she said. Attending at least 10 safety council meetings a year nets employers a workers’ compensation rebate.

Also Thursday:

• Morelli plugged Wintersville’s Thunder in the Ville celebration, to be held today and Saturday at the Jefferson County Airpark. “I recommend people get out and support that event,” he said. “There will be things for kids — a bounce house, games and Commissioner Timmons will be in the dunk tank — that’s worth the trip there. Volunteers have put a lot into this the past three days.”

• Commissioners referred a petition to vacate part of Market Street (state Route 213) in Knoxville to the engineer’s office for a recommendation, and retained Dennis O’Tooley from the firm of O’Toole, McLaughlin, Dooley & Pecora to represent the county in lease negotiations with the Social Security Administration.

Due to the Fourth of July holiday, the next meeting will be Wednesday beginning at 9 a.m.