Commissioners cover land issues

STEUBENVILLE - Jefferson County commissioners on Thursday discussed several matters involving land.

Easements for the Crestview-Belvedere sewer project, annexation requests in Wintersville, lease for the new animal shelter and selling the New Alexandria drug and alcohol treatment center were on the agenda.

Commissioners were informed by Jack Gilmore, county sanitary engineer, the cost of the permit to install the Crestview-Belvedere sewer system will be $15,100. Commissioners approved the payment to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. Gilmore noted construction isn't scheduled but he wants the permit to install in hand.

Commissioners also will allow MS Consultants, the county's consulting engineer, to perform the 175 permanent and 15 temporary easements for the project at a cost of $175,000.

County Commissioner Tom Gentile questioned Gilmore why local surveyors and attorneys couldn't do the work. He noted he asked Gilmore the question seven weeks ago, and Gilmore came to the meeting Thursday saying the work needs to be done as soon as possible.

"I'm tired of having to go through MS for everything," Gentile said.

Commissioners also rejected two requests for three parcels of property to be annexed into Wintersville on Fernwood Road and Amos Lane.

Commissioners rejected the requests because other properties would end up not being in Wintersville or Island Creek and Cross Creek townships and for other procedural errors.

Commissioners also received approval from the county prosecutor's office for the commissioners to lease land to themselves at the county airport for the new animal shelter at the request of the Federal Aviation Administration. The commissioners will have to pay money to lease the land if the county airport authority becomes self-sufficient and no longer receives county money as a subsidy.

Commissioners were asked by Pamela Petrilla, Jefferson County Prevention and Recovery Board director, to advertise the sale of the New Alexandria in-patient drug and alcohol treatment center.

The center was closed in January because of state budget cuts, and Petrilla noted the facility was appraised at $175,000.

Commissioners also agreed to provide $1,969 to the Jefferson County Veteran's Association for the construction of a pavilion at the Jefferson County Veterans Memorial Museum at Friendship Park.

Bill Smythe, Jefferson County Veteran's Association commander, said the 336th Army National Guard Engineering Battalion of Wheeling will construct the pavilion over a three-day period in July. Smythe said the veteran's association will need about $1,700 more in funds for concrete and electrical work.

Commissioners also heard from Smithfield Township Trustee Ron Malin about the township not receiving recreation money from the commissioners this year. Malin said the township gave up a chance at money last year so Friendship Park could receive $100,000 for a sewage treatment system. Commissioners said communities that didn't accept funding last year would get priority treatment this year.

County Commissioner Thomas Graham said Smithfield Township wanted $15,000 for a building at the township park but didn't submit details as required, and commissioners agreed next year to have a set of requirements that must be completed in order to be considered for funding.

In a related matter, commissioners agreed to give Bloomingdale $8,000 to upgrade the drainage at the village's ball fields.

Commissioners also:

Approved a three-year contract with seven ranking correctional officers (captains, lieutenants and sergeants) at the county sheriff's department. The correctional officers agreed to a wage freeze in the first year, with a reopener clause for March. The county also is in negotiations with sheriff's deputies for a new contract.

Approved the hiring of Thomas Cucarese of county Road 26, Wintersville, as the airport maintenance/operations supervisor at the county airport upon the recommendation of the county regional airport authority.

Signed letters of support at the request of the Amsterdam Volunteer Fire Department in its efforts to obtain grants to update ambulance equipment to advanced life support.

(Law can be contacted at mlaw@heraldstaronline.com.)