T-L Photo/JOSIE BURKHART Belmont County commissioners adopt a proclamation to honor Older Americans Month as members of Belmont County Senior Services visit their Wednesday meeting. Pictured from left are Commissioner Vince Gianangeli, St. Clairsville Senior Center member LeAnn Cook, commission President J.P. Dutton, St. Clairsville Senior Center Coordinator Dorothy Burkhart and Executive Director of Senior Services of Belmont County Lisa Kazmirski.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Belmont County commissioners adopted a proclamation to honor older Americans as representatives of Belmont County Senior Services visited their Wednesday meeting.

Executive Director of Senior Services of Belmont County Lisa Kazmirski visited the commissioners’ meeting to share information on her department’s services, as Commissioners J.P. Dutton and Vince Gianangeli adopted a proclamation in honor of Older Americans Month. Commissioner Jerry Echemann was absent.

Kazmirski introduced St. Clairsville Senior Center Coordinator Dorothy Burkhart and member LeAnn Cook, who she considers the voice of the center.

“So I have asked them to join me,” Kazmirski said. “As you guys do that proclamation, we get a little credit for what they do every day.”

Burkhart talked about services the senior centers provide, including physical programs with exercise, evidence-based learning programs, hot meals served daily, fun activities, such as arts and crafts and bingo, grocery shopping, nutrition shopping and transportation.

“I appreciate you guys coming in. Thanks for all you do, and it’s wonderful to know that you know our seniors do have a place to go, and so they don’t have to sit around the house all day,” Gianangeli said.

The commissioners also approved senior center employees traveling to different locations.

Meanwhile, both Gianangeli and Dutton approved a motion to grant the final plat dedication for Annie Lane (Private Road), Mead Township, based upon the recommendation of county Engineer Terry Lively.

The commissioners approved more motions, including the hiring of Jack Koontz as a summer employee at the Belmont County Water and Sewer District, effective May 27.

Belmont County Tourism Executive Director Jackee Pugh will now serve as a member of the port authority board, effective immediately through April 25, 2029. Dutton said he’s happy to have Pugh join the port authority, since the port authority and tourism council work on some projects together, including the Underground Railroad Museum that is being relocated to Morristown Black Horse Inn.

“Belmont County Port Authority talked a lot about the tourism aspect of economic development,” Dutton said. “I think that is exactly what she will be bringing to the port authority board.”

The commissioners also plan to keep up with maintenance, as they approved the standard schedule equipment maintenance contract proposal from Leidos Security Detection & Automation Inc. in the amount of $9,000 for annual preventive maintenance of the X-ray scanner at the Belmont County Courthouse for July 1 through June 30, 2026.

The commissioners will head into a contract with Border Patrol LLC in the amount of $168,226 for the Sargus Juvenile Detention Center Girls Wing Restroom/Shower remodel project, based upon the recommendation of executive director D.J. Watson.

The commissioners will head into another contract with SC Construction & Materials LLC in the amount of $1,435,375.80 for the Belmont County Engineer’s project chip seal program, based upon Lively’s recommendation.

Lastly, Gianangeli and Dutton approved a motion to authorize board President Dutton to sign the Declaration of Authorized Signatory authorizing Belmont County Department of Job and Family Services Director Jeff Felton to sign the subgrant agreement forms by and between Washington Greene County Job Training Agency acting on behalf of the Southwest Corner Chief Local Elected Officials board. The grant is a multi-state workforce grant in the amount of $42,500, involving Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio.