Harrison gets only one bid on treatment plant phase

CADIZ - Only one bid was received for the first phase of the proposed biodiesel wastewater treatment plant.

Submitted by Precision Pipeline Inc. of Lancaster, the lone bid was opened Wednesday morning by county Engineer Rob Sterling during the regular meeting of the Harrison County Commissioners.

Leaders tabled the $1,004,153.40 bid until next week's meeting to allow the engineer to review it. Sterling said 16 firms took out plans. He indicated he was surprised additional bids were not made.

The $6 million project will allow the county to produce biodiesel fuel for use as a fuel source for the county's government vehicles and will alleviate the burden on the wastewater system for Cadiz.

Plans call for the facility to allow the village to divert two-thirds of its wastewater to the site. Algae will be cultivated in a 10-acre pond to produce the biodiesel fuel.

The county is seeking funding for the project and recently approved a move to allow Sterling to apply for, accept and enter into an agreement with the Ohio Water Development Authority for a $3 million Water Pollution Control Loan. The funding would be used for the planning, design and construction of the wastewater facilities.

The county is also waiting on an additional $2.9 million through the federal stimulus plan. The county is also seeking funds through the Ohio Rural Communities Assistance Program and the Appalachian Regional Commission.

Ground could be broken in February, according to Sterling.

Construction is expected to take about one year and could create between 30 and 40 jobs. Sterling has said the plant would employ 15 people.

In other business, commissioners approved agreements among the county's sheriff's office and three Jefferson County law enforcement departments for housing of prisoners.

Sheriff Joe Myers said he had been in talks with the villages of Wintersville and Smithfield and with leaders in Cross Creek Township to provide space in the county jail for incarceration of prisoners.

The three agreed to compensate the county $55 per day per prisoner for the service.

Myers said funding issues in Jefferson County have led to closure of part of its jail and space is very limited.

Commissioners signed the agreements noting the villages and township would be responsible for transporting their prisons. The pact is also contingent upon available space in the local jail.