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STEUBENVILLE --Jefferson County commissioners on Thursday again discussed new uses for the former children services building and applied for more money for the Amsterdam sewer project.
Commissioners last week took a walk-through of the former children services building off John Scott Highway. The building also houses the children's home, which has six children living there.
Commissioners and juvenile court officials want to use the children services building, currently not occupied, to expand services to troubled youth in the county, but they will have to go to court to see if the use complies with the terms of the McCollough Trust, which has been in place for the children's home for about 100 years.
Commissioner David Maple asked DS Architecture of Kent, the county's engineering and architectural consultant, to inspect the building to see what improvements are necessary in terms of structural issues, plumbing and heating, ventilation and air conditioning.
Commissioner Thomas Graham said regardless of whether juvenile court uses the building in the future, the building needs looked at in terms of repairs and updates.
"Judge (Joseph) Corabi and his staff have a lot of great ideas on how to use the building to provide a lot more opportunities to even more children," he said.
Commissioner Tom Gentile said the building is in an ideal location, as it is located in the center of the county.
In other matters, commissioners agreed to apply to the Ohio Public Works Commission for funding for the Amsterdam sewer project. The county is seeking $300,000 in grant money and $325,000 in a loan for the sewer project.
About 400 homes will be serviced with the sewer system, with about one-fourth in Carroll County. The sewer system is needed because of faulty septic tanks, said Michael Eroshevich, county water and sewer department director. Raw sewage is being dumped into Yellow Creek.
Eroshevich said about 60 percent of the $9.2 million project is being funded in the form of grants.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers gave the county a $1.7 million grant, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture is giving the county $3 million each in grants and loans.
Thomas Hartwig, associate vice president of Arcadis, the county's water and sewer engineering firm, said the project may be ready for bid in the spring, with construction to start in late summer. The project may be completed in the summer of 2019.
Commissioners also agreed to purchase 21.383 acres of land near the Amsterdam park to be the location of the sewer treatment plant.
The county will pay $128,298 to Donald and Dorothy Teichman of state Route 43, Amsterdam, who own the property.
Hartwig said the county will obtain a perpetual utility and access easement from Amsterdam at the end of Shannon Street as another means of entering the property purchased for the sewer treatment plant.
In other business, commissioners:
• Discussed a water pressure issue in the Sunshine Park area. The area had about 80 psi water pressure in the area when the county was buying water from Steubenville. The county switched to Mingo Junction water and built a pumping station, which reduced pressure to about 40 psi to 50 psi. Eroshevich said residents are complaining about the decrease in water pressure.
The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency requires 25 psi, he noted.
Hartwig said an in-line booster pump is being studied to increase pressure, and he will be ready to give the commissioners a cost estimate next week.
Graham noted the commissioners will make a decision on the project once the cost estimate is received.
Maple said he is concerned the county may be setting a precedent on promising certain water pressure settings.
• Were informed the state health department has set a maximum cost amount of $141,757 to pay for treatment and services of children with medical handicaps in 2018. The county so far this year has spent $20,000, according to the county auditor's office.
The county has about $600,000 available in a former levy for children with medical handicaps and for people with tuberculosis removed from the ballot more than 10 years ago. The county health department spends about $100,000 a year on both programs.
• Opened bids for gasoline and diesel fuel for the engineer's department. County Engineer James Branagan said he accepts the bids and then calls for the lowest price when a delivery is needed.
(Law can be contacted at mlaw@heraldstaronline.com.)