Fiscal court to add rural waterline overrun — county share $34,810.55

The Ohio County Fiscal Court voted to add a cost overrun for a 6-inch rural waterline to the county’s waterline list; the county’s share was reported as $34,810.55.

During the meeting, Magistrate Michael McKinney (first reference used per transcript naming) and other members discussed a grant-funded waterline project whose bids came in significantly higher than anticipated. Court members said the four water districts involved agreed to split the increased cost, and the county’s portion was $34,810.55. The court’s action at the meeting was to place the item on the waterline list, not to approve final payment; officials said a separate vote would be required to approve the expenditure.

Why it matters: Adding the overrun to the waterline list signals the county’s intent to participate in covering a budget shortfall for a public infrastructure project that will upgrade a distribution line, serve Spencer Lane and Stanley, and include a fire hydrant.

Details reported at the meeting included: - The project increases the line to a 6-inch main and includes a fire hydrant; officials said time and inflation across a roughly three-year timeline drove much of the overrun. - The county’s reported share: $34,810.55. - Officials said the upgraded line will serve Spencer Lane, Stanley and a new park area, and the project was engineered by the water district’s hired engineer.

The court’s procedural step at the meeting was to add the overrun to the list of proposed waterline projects. A subsequent meeting will include a vote to approve the county’s payment. Court members asked staff and the water district for oversight clarity and confirmation of how many customers will be served, but the count of served households or connections was not specified at the meeting.