T-L Photo/GAGE VOTA The Belmont County Board of Commissioners meet Wednesday and approve multiple motions. Shown, from left, are Commissioners Josh Meyer and J.P. Dutton.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Belmont County commissioners agreed to work with a Jefferson County entity to provide residents with unemployment services in the coming year.

Commissioner Jerry Echemann moved for the board to approve and sign a purchase of performances of service contract between the Belmont County Department of Job and Family Services and the Jefferson County Community Action Council Inc.

The CAC will be paid up to $80,000 for operating the reemployment services and eligibility assessment research program effective July 1, 2024, until June 30, 2025.

“I’ll note that certain people who are receiving unemployment compensation are required to meet with a worker and complete an assessment to develop a reemployment plan,” Echemann said.

He then called on Belmont County DJFS Director Jeff Felton to follow up on the motion.

Felton said that until two years ago, the state of Ohio provided the services to the county.

“As the fiscal agent for our area, Area 16, we entered into a contract with Jefferson County and the action council to provide those services to the board.

“The state has no interest in being back in that business. They seem to be taking their unemployment services out of the counties,” he added.

Meanwhile, several other motions were approved during the weekly commission meeting.

One of the motions was to grant the permission for Belmont County employees to travel — one commissioner to travel to Wheeling on July 18 and one commissioner to travel to Senecaville, Ohio, on July 19.

Echemann then moved to approve the hiring of Kennith Saul as a full time collections system operator of the Belmont County Water and Sewage District, effective July 14. He also moved to approve the hiring of George Starkey as a part-time medical driver for Belmont County Senior Services effective July 15. Both hires were made.

Echemann moved to approve the resignation of full-time case manager of Belmont County Department of Job and Family Services Thomas Patrone.

The board acknowledged the receipt of $5,892 in unspecified donations to the Belmont County Dog and Kennel Fund for the second quarter of 2024. They said $2,641 was donated in April, $1,244 was donated in May and $2,007 was donated in June.

Commissioners also approved the performance of some annual maintenance at the jail, located off Hammond Road west of St. Clairsville.

“I move to approve and sign the service agreement from Johnson Controls in the amount of $1,925 for the annual backflow test and inspection and the quarterly wet sprinkler test and inspection for the Belmont County Jail for the period of August 1, 2024 to July 31, 2025,”

Echemann said.

Commissioners Josh Meyer and J.P. Dutton joined him in voting to approve the motion.

Last week, the board of commissioners had opened bids for a major paving project spanning 17 miles across seven roads in Belmont County. On Wednesday, Echemann moved to award the bid to Shelly and Sands Inc. of Rayland based on the recommendation of Belmont County Engineer Terry Lively. Shelly and Sands Inc.’s bid was the lowest that was submitted and it was for $2,884,430. The motion was approved.