ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Belmont County hired a firm to digitize certain public records on Tuesday.

The regular Belmont County Board of Commissioners meeting was moved from 10 a.m. Wednesday to 9 a.m. Tuesday due to recently elected Commissioner Vince Gianangeli attending the County Commissioners Association of Ohio training for new county commissioners across the state of Ohio.

“Our association does a phenomenal job, honestly, with everything that it does — our annual meeting, weekly updates and daily updates. They do a tremendous job. So I’m sure it’s going to be a good conference, and then I happen to head into Washington, D.C., for some energy meetings, and then some D.C. visits as well, starting later today. So it’s the only day we kind of get the gang together here, get this meeting in,” Commissioner J.P. Dutton said.

He then made a motion to accept a quote from Kofile to digitize Volumes No. 23-29 for the Belmont County Clerk of Courts for $27,738.

Dutton added that the cost will be covered by American Rescue Plan Act funds.

“We made some motions late in the year for the remaining balance of our ARPA funds. Some of that was internal type procedures with the clerk of courts, the recorder and also the auditor,” Dutton said. “Digitizing a lot of documents will provide better access for the general public moving forward, so it’s another good project from the county clerk’s office.”

Dutton then moved to approve the trade-in of two old tractors and one old mower for the amount of $14,250 as part of a purchase from AG-Pro companies. The county is buying one John Deere 316GR Skid Steer in the amount of $43,619 — for a total cost of $29,369 when the trade-in is factored in — for the Belmont County Building and Grounds Department.

He added that the purchase was based on the recommendation of Building and Grounds Facilities Director Scott Larkin.

“I really have to commend Facilities Director Scott Larkin. We had gotten out of schedule in replacement of equipment, and he has done a phenomenal job of getting back on track and staying below budget,” Dutton said. “I can’t say enough. We’re on schedule now and really infused a lot of much better equipment at the building and grounds department.”

Commissioner Jerry Echemann made a motion to approve and authorize Dutton to sign the Ohio’s Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program Agreement with Area Agency on Aging Region 9 Inc. on behalf of Belmont County Senior Services. He added that the agreement will become effective May 1 through Nov. 30 or when all U.S. Department of Agriculture funds are expended, whichever comes first.

Dutton then praised the program and said it continues to be a phenomenal program and essential to the seniors of Belmont County. The program provides seniors with vouchers to use at area farmers markets.

“It’s great for our seniors and is great for our farmers markets, too, frankly,” Dutton said.