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Belmont County Commissioners Preparing To Use Pandemic Funds

Belmont County will have some valuable funding resources to work with in tackling major projects in the near future.

On Wednesday the board of commissioners decided the county will work with Bricker and Eckler LLP to assist with administering American Rescue Plan Act funding. Commissioner J.P. Dutton said the company has provided valuable legal guidance on other construction projects, such as the county water and sewer upgrades made possible by funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, as well as exploring the construction of a new, larger health department building as well as a new records storage building.

“They have another part of their firm that is specializing right now in American Rescue Act funds and providing guidance to counties and locals in terms of what they can and cannot use those funds for,” Dutton said. “As we have questions between now and the end of our use of the American Rescue Act funds, it will be easy for Bricker and Eckler to provide the answers.”

Dutton said the county has $13.1 million of ARPA money.

“We’ve used zero funds at this point,” he said. “We’ve actually gained some additional funds, because it’s been sitting in an account that’s an interest-bearing account, so we’re going to see six-figure gains on those funds. We do have priorities that we’re setting in place for the use of those funds.”

He said ARPA funds will help some projects.

“We will use some recovery act funds for the building of the new health department building. We are in active conversations with Kelly Porter, director of the sanitary sewer district, to use a portion of those funds on either sewer or water activities, future projects, or both, and then we’re actively having some conversations about possibilities as it pertains to broadband,” Dutton said.

Dutton also gave an update on the process of taking down the former habilitation center.

“They are actually currently demolishing the building on Hammond Road, the former hab center,” Dutton said, adding work began Monday. “It’s falling pretty quickly.”

He said there is a 45-day window to complete demolition.

“We’re probably looking at sometime in May, but they’re making significant progress right now,” Dutton said.

In other matters, the county is making plans for Appalachian Community Grant Program funding, infusing $500 million into Ohio’s 32 Appalachian counties. There may be an announcement next week about which projects are approved for planning and development funds.

“We do have an update and we’re being told that the state controlling board, which makes the final determination of those funds, will be meeting next week on those planning grant dollars. We as Belmont County with the Port Authority being the administrative agent applied for $250,000 of planning dollars,” he said, adding the commissioners are considering almost 30 possible projects.

“Obviously not all of them will end up being funded at the end of the day. Those funding decisions are ultimately, at the end of the day, decided by officials at the state level, but we do think he has some good projects, and we’re looking forward to really getting into these with a little more detail, hopefully with the planning dollars.”

In other matters, the commissioners renewed a contract between the Belmont County Child Support Enforcement Agency and the prosecutor for legal services from Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2023 for a maximum of $78,868.37, with a 66 percent federal share.

The county also renewed a contract between the agency and the common pleas court magistrate for administration of the support enforcement program, also Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2023, for a maximum amount of $262,717.54, also with a 66 percent federal share.

Dutton commended Department of Job and Family Services Director Jeff Felton’s work in seeking out reimbursements and funding sources.

“Since Jeff Felton has been director of the Department of Job and Family Services, he’s brought real knowledge as pertains to funding, but particularly this aspect of federal funding,” Dutton said. “He is very much on top of this and making sure that we’re receiving federal reimbursement we’re eligible for, and it makes a big difference.”

The commissioners also approved the purchase of a 2022 Jeep Renegade from Thomas Garage Inc. for $29,720 for Senior Services of Belmont County for general use at the administrative office, since the current vehicle is nearing the end of its useful life.

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