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STEUBENVILLE -- The Jefferson County Health District is looking for county help coming up with the final $50,000 needed for its new Wellness on Wheels project.
At Thursday’s meeting of the county commissioners, Health Commissioner Andrew Henry said they’d secured an $85,000 grant from the J.C. Williams Trust in August for the mobile medical unit, and also allocated about $40,000 in COVID-19 funding.
Henry told commissioners they need to plug the funding gap by August or return the grant money.
Wellness on Wheels would take medical services -- including lab testing, vaccines, wellness screenings and health promotion -- on the road, reaching Jefferson County residents who otherwise might not be able to access them.
While the grant was written for twice-a-week road service, Henry said they’ll likely only be on the road one day a week.
“With public health’s focus on decreasing health disparities, this is a golden opportunity for both parties to show a commitment to the health and wellbeing of Jefferson County,” he’d written in a letter requesting their assistance.
Henry told commissioners the $50,000 would get the health district “the well-equipped unit we’re looking at.”
Graham pointed out the grant application was done before Henry took over the job.
“They applied for $130,000 but were only awarded $85,000,” he said. “And they got the additional $40,000 through COVID grant money but that still leaves them shy of their goal.”
Maple said they need to find out how much of the C.A.R.E.S. Act funding is left, adding, “$50,000 is a big ask.”
“We want to get the best one out there for our citizens, that’s a given,” Morelli said. “If we have the CARES Act money, I’m ready to go for it now.”
Maple questioned how much the mobile unit is going to cost to operate the unit, and said they also need to be thinking about how they’ll cover its operation and upkeep once the initial fund pool runs out.
“(But) rural communities, people don’t always get the service,” he said, pointing out the mobile unit would erase that disparity. “I like it.”
Henry said the program is intended to “run for years after the grant is secured,” adding a lot of the department’s funding comes from the state and grant sources.
Commissioners also signed off on a $286,949 change order for the Amsterdam Sewer Project that will allow crews to repair more of the damage that’s been done by heavy truck traffic on roads in the project area.
Water and Sewer District Director Mike Eroshevich said USDA, Ohio EPA and Arcadis, the project engineer, had all signed off on the change, which he said will add more premium fill “so we get better overlay and product.”
He said USDA had approved the extra expense because of the damage done to roads during the sewage project.
“The roads are in very poor shape,” he said. “I think walking out of Amsterdam with this overlay on, the roads are going to have a really nice look, really nice roads, and I think it will leave a good taste in the mouths of everybody involved.”
Eroshevich said they’d originally been approved for $114,000 in trench repairs, “however this adds $170,000 to that.”
An Arcadis representative said in some cases, sewer lines couldn’t be placed where the design had them placed so they had to be moved into the roadway, “so the additional cost couldn’t have been anticipated.”
“Like Mike said, this is all damage from construction,” she added. “USDA is willing to cover the cost. They are satisfied it’s an eligible cost.”
Commissioner Tom Graham said in the long run, “it will be a good thing in the village to have the roads upgraded properly,” though Commissioner Dave Maple said county residents need to understand the county isn’t upgrading roads, “this money is going to roads damaged during the project.”
Amsterdam Mayor Jim Phillips called the $14 million project “a huge win for the county environmentally and economically,” adding that their one concern -- road conditions after the sewer line work is done -- are now being addressed.
“I think this is vital,” Phillips said. “This project is going to serve as the benchmark for other communities in the county to get on board and, hopefully, do the same for the county environmentally.”
Maple said the project “adds value to the village, but also gives us a nice polished project and sets a good example,” and asked Eroshevich if there are plans afoot to address similar problems in other parts of the county.
“I have not heard that officially,” Eroshevich replied. “There are other communities out there after this one is done, I suspect they’re going to get a phone call (from environmental regulators).”
Maple said they appreciate the village’s cooperation and patience.
“You’re going to have bumps and bruises, but I think most people are excited about property values (increasing) and maybe getting more commerce in the village,” Phillips said.
“It may take time for residents to see it, but I think it’s going to be a huge win for Amsterdam,” Commissioner Tony Morelli added.
Eroshevich the system should be ready for the roughly 400 customers to connect in July.
Commissioners, meanwhile, also approved payment of $42,750 to Buckeye Field Maintenance for the Barbers Hollow grit removal replacement project, which is adding a new removal system, and a $28,500 task order for bid and construction phase services for the Barbare’s Hollow wastewater treatment plant garage and UV disinfection project.
The UV disinfectant system will replace the current gas system, Eroshevich said. “The gas is hard to get hold of, not many people want to handle it anymore.”
In other business, commissioners:
• Awarded contracts for the Jefferson County Road 30 slip repairs to Ohio-West Virginia Excavating Co., $494,194, and for the 2021 tree removal project to Valley Tree Service, $65,520.
• Agreed to add probate court to the indigent county fee schedule, provided the hourly fee rate is the same as what the county already has on the books for other.
Probate Court Joe Colabella said the change is in response to an Ohio supreme court decision requiring them to appoint counsel for indigent parents facing termination of their parental rights.
“It’s mandatory,” he told commissioners, adding probate court has to be recognized on the county indigent fee schedule before it can be reimbursed
He said they’re currently eligible for 80 percent reimbursement, but that should go up to at least 90 percent in July.
“We’ve been advocating that for a long time, so that’s good,” Graham said. “They’re simply asking that we put probate on the current schedule.”
Colabella also asked council to put $10,000 aside for the indigent fees, though commissioners say they’ll need to consult with the auditor to determine where the money can be moved from.
“We need a quick review of where to take the money from,” Maple said, adding there’s not a lot to play with. “If you remember when we put the budget together, it was real tight.”
• Designated May as Mental Health Month and Foster Parent Month.
• Signed off on a memorandum of understanding so the law library can receive a $1,279 grant from the statewide consortium of county law library resources board. The library has received the grant each year since 2012.
• Awarded $500 to Adena American Legion Post 525 to assist with Memorial Day Expenses, and $100 each to Richmond Community Historical Society and East Springfield Community Center.