STEUBENVILLE — America 250 committee members told commissioners Thursday that activities are being planned throughout Jefferson County and that businesses and individuals want to donate funds to make the celebration more spectacular.

Steubenville Mayor Ralph Petrella, representing the event planning subcommittee, said people want to be involved.

“There is a ton of interest and excitement about the county-wide plan for America 250,” he said after the meeting. “People realize this is a once or twice in a lifetime event and they want to make it special. There are so many individuals and people coming together to make it all happen.”

Petrella and Committee Chair Aaron Dodds asked commissioners if the auditor’s office could set up an account for them that could be used as a depository for those funds. Auditor E.J. Conn, though, said he contacted the Ohio Auditor of State’s office and was told they “don’t recommend running donations through the county, they recommended running it through a nonprofit.”

Dodds said they’d have to decide whether to start a 501(c)(3) or use an account Wintersville uses for Thunder in the Ville.

The committee wants to schedule events throughout the county and Petrella said that’s sparked “a lot of excitement, there’s true collaborative thinking” among the various municipalities.

“It will start with fireworks (at) Thunder in the Ville,” he said. “Then end with more fireworks in Steubenville and Toronto on the Fourth of July, with events and exhibits each day in between throughout the county.”

Barry Bardone of the Jefferson County Veterans Association told commissioners they want to do some updates at Fort Friendship at Friendship Park in advance of America 250.

Some are cosmetic, either freshening up the existing sign at the entrance or getting an all new one. Other ideas included bronze plaques honoring the county’s Medal of Honor recipients that could be bolted to balustrades edging the parking area, “and if we can’t do that, (maybe) we can get something like that and place it…over by our Memorial Wall.”

Dodds, though, said there’s no way to get them done in time.

“Right now costs are through the roof with everything going on in the world and with America 250 coming up everyone’s trying to do that. So right now the lead time (is well over a year out).”

Petrella said they’ll also be meeting with Bardone to make plans for a cookout at Fort Friendship.

Conn said requests for recreation funds should be submitted no later than April 24. Only three or four have been submitted. He said there’s $286,000 in the account, but some of that will be reserved for the Jefferson County Fair and Friendship Park.

Commissioner Tony Morelli said Steubenville City Manager Mike Johnson told him the city is applying for a $250,000 Appalachian Regional Commission grant and “wanted to know if we want to sign on with them.” There would be no cost to the county.

“My opinion is we really have nothing to lose,” he said. “We’re just jumping on board with them.”

“I agree with you,” Commissioner Jake Kleineke said. “We’ve got to swing at every ball that comes at us.”

Commissioners also referred bids submitted for a new console furniture system for the 911 operations center to Director Rob Herrington for a recommendation. Herrington said the furniture, in use around the clock, was last replaced a couple of decades ago.

Herrington said the agency is picking up the tab for the items and said they plan to try to fix the old furniture up enough to sell.

They also scheduled a public hearing during their April 16 meeting on the county’s Community Housing Improvement Program application. Regional Planning Commission Director Betty Lou Tarr said the county intends to apply for $700,000, the maximum award, in partnership with the city of Toronto. The county would receive $400,000 and the city $300,000.

Commissioners also authorized the board to submit the application to the Ohio Department of Development.