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STEUBENVILLE — The Jefferson County commissioners said Thursday they’re getting a lot of positive feedback now that two unoccupied buildings opposite the Tower building have been demolished to make way for extra parking and a green space.
Commissioners approved payment of the $165,856 invoice from the Jefferson County Land Bank for demolition of the buildings, located at 501-505 Market St.
Total cost of the demolition was around $198,700, but the land bank, which administered the demolition, covered $30,000. As part of the deal, the land bank signed the parcels over to the county.
“To me it’s a home run,” said Commissioner Dave Maple, who also serves on the land bank. “An opportunity for someone who couldn’t fix it to donate it and clean up a little more of downtown. It looks really, really good and we’re only in Phase 1.”
Going forward, commissioners plan to pave the parking area and develop a themed green space. They’re seeking funding through the Appalachian Community Grant program, but if that falls through, as a backup, they’ve set aside American Rescue Plan funds to pay for it.
Several people at the meeting commented on how nice the corner looks.
“I’ve had a lot of positive feedback,” Commissioner Tony Morelli agreed.
Commissioners also:
∫ At Common Pleas Judge Michelle Miller’s request, transferred $3,000 out of a witness expense account to cover costs incurred hosting the Ohio Supreme Court’s off-site visit to Buckeye Local High School on Oct. 25.
Commissioners Eric Timmons and Morelli were able to attend the event, which they said was well done.
“The thing I liked most was that everybody from out of the area was talking about how nice it was here in Jefferson County, how nice a drive it was,” Timmons said.
“It was well received,” Miller said, pointing out the visit was intended to spur student interest in careers in the legal profession and “make justice more accessible.”
Miller said she’s starting a program, Mondays with Judge Miller, that will bring a handful of students from each school to her courtroom on her docket day. They’ll be briefed on the hearings slated for that day and then will observe the justice system at work.
• Miller also advised commissioners that it’s time to talk about increasing rates for court-appointed attorney fees. She said there are a handful of attorneys locally who represent indigent clients regularly, but there are times when we “really have to comb the state to find people.”
Commissioner Dave Maple suggested she send them a letter requesting the change and said it might be worth meeting with someone from the state public defender’s office to see if that could be an option.
“We don’t have a public defender’s office, we have attorneys who graciously agree to do this,” Miller said.
• Approved a temporary price increase with the village of Wintersville for water and sewer services. That agreement, negotiated by Morelli, allows for a $1 increase per 1,000 gallons for water and a $2 increase per 1,000 gallons treated for sewage.
“Verbally we came to this temporary agreement,” Morelli said. “This is just the paperwork to certify it.”
• Agreed to provide Schindler Elevator Corp. the required 90-day notice of intent to terminate their contract for elevator maintenance at the justice center, which dates to 1998. Maintenance Supervisor Patrick Boyles told commissioners the current contract has an automatic two-year renewal and the price increases every year.
“We’re now paying more than $1,700 a month for elevator service,” he said. “That works out to $455 an elevator — that’s way above the going rate.”
Boyles told commissioners he had a quote for a total maintenance agreement through Integrity Elevator LLC for about $1,000 a month.
He told commissioners Integrity is a small start-up, but it already has four employees and “he’s really good.” He said the owner has “15-20 years’ experience. I have full confidence in him.”
Commissioners agreed to issue the 90-day notice to Schindler, and instructed Boyles to pursue the total coverage agreement with Integrity.
• Agreed to pay Occasion Nation $8,500 for the courthouse lighting display during the Steubenville Nutcracker Village. That’s $500 more than last year, but they have added an additional show.
Boyles said this year there will be 11 shows – starting with Steubenville Lights Up the Night on Nov. 21, then continuing Nov. 24 and 25 and Dec. 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22 and 23.
“Last year we had one day when the weather was bad and there were high winds,” he said. “So they canceled that one day but added one (later). If we have bad weather, they’ll (certainly make it up).”
• Approved a request from the Steubenville Cultural Trust to place nutcrackers in front of the courthouse as part of this year’s celebration.
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