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Commissioners approve bridge plans, vehicle purchase, intergovernmental MOUs and administrative contracts
Summary
The board approved plans and funding framework for the Hune Covered Bridge rehabilitation, authorized the county engineer to purchase a replacement pickup with trade-in, and approved a set of MOUs and contracts including Building Department services for the City of Belpre and a 60-month Quadient lease for the Clerk of Courts.
At its Jan. 15 meeting the Washington County Board of Commissioners approved several infrastructure, procurement and intergovernmental items intended to maintain county operations and advance capital projects.
Bridge project: The board approved plans and the engineer’s estimate of $1,681,576.26 for the Hune Covered Bridge rehabilitation (WAS-T-921-0005). County Engineer Roger Wright said the bridge will remain closed to traffic during work. Funding sources cited in the minutes were the Transportation Alternative Program (listed as 95% federal funds) and Buckeye Hills Rural Transportation Planning Organization (listed as 100% federal funds). The county will request federal authorization and set a bid opening after final ODOT approval.
Vehicle procurement: Commissioners authorized the County Engineer to purchase a 2025 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Double Cab from Mark Porter Auto Group for $43,139, with a trade-in that reduced the final county expense to $12,139. The purchase will be paid from Motor Vehicle Gas Tax funds; VINs for the new and trade-in vehicles were recorded in the minutes.
Building and inspection services: The board approved two agreements with the City of Belpre for the county Building Department (SEOBD) to provide residential code services and specified plumbing inspection services. SEOBD will administer and enforce the Residential Code of Ohio and prescribed plumbing provisions in Belpre and will retain authorized permit and inspection fees. Belpre Mayor Susan Abdella said the agreements improve safety in her community.
Clerk of Courts and administrative contracts: The board approved a Subordination, Non-Disturbance and Attornment Agreement and an Estoppel Certificate to protect the Clerk of Courts Title Office’s leased occupancy at Frontier Plaza/Frontier Shopping Center property, and approved a 60-month Quadient lease for the Clerk of Courts to automate Certified Return Receipts at $428.89 per month, reducing per-piece costs by $1.58 according to Clerk Alicia Cannon.
Other routine actions included approving a $300,000 transfer from the Clerk of Courts Title Office to a county general account, authorizing disposal of four obsolete AED units at the jail, and approving seven Then & Now certificates from various departments.
Why it matters: the bridge project represents a multimillion-dollar capital improvement subject to federal authorization and bidding; vehicle and equipment purchases and intergovernmental MOUs affect service delivery and departmental capacity.
What happens next: project funding will be finalized at bid and after federal authorization; the engineer’s office will proceed with procurement and scheduled inspections; county staff will complete lease and subordination paperwork as recorded in the minutes.
