Belmont County commissioners approve contracts, hires, $104,730 oil lease and $698,110 chip-seal bid

The Belmont County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a package of contracts, purchases, personnel actions and grants during a regular meeting April 15 in St. Clairsville.

The board voted to pay certified bills totaling $711,410.70 and approved multiple interfund transfers, including a $150,000 transfer to a USDA water bond payment fund and a $36,599.83 transfer to a water and sewer capital improvement fund. Commission President Jerry Echemann and Commissioners Vince Gianangeli and J. P. Dutton voted yes on each motion.

In procurement and infrastructure actions, commissioners approved a $569,797 contract and notice to proceed with Border Patrol, LLC for the Pennwood Lift Station and force main project, with funding identified as ARPA and District Capital Improvement Funds (N14). They also awarded the county engineer’s Project 26-2 2026 chip-seal program to SC Construction and Materials, LLC for $698,110.29, below the engineer’s estimate of $759,290.75.

“Another project from the list is getting done. Over $80 million of state and federal funds have gone towards water and sewer projects over the last few years and the infrastructure is in a much better spot,” Commissioner J. P. Dutton said, characterizing recent investments in local utilities.

The board approved a one-year services agreement with Artesian of Pioneer, Inc., for SCADA provider services at $6,150 per month and a $23,775 service order with National Equipment Co., Inc., to replace the walk-in cooler floor at Senior Services of Belmont County. Commissioners also authorized purchase of a 2026 Chevrolet Silverado K1500 from Whiteside of St. Clairsville for $45,705 as a replacement meal-delivery vehicle for Senior Services.

On land and resource matters, the board approved an oil and gas lease with Ascent Resources - Utica, LLC for 13.964 acres in Richland Township at $7,500 per net leasehold acre, with a 20% royalty for a five-year term; the total payment listed was $104,730.00.

The board adopted a resolution authorizing the Belmont County Engineer to participate in the Ohio Department of Transportation’s 2026 road-salt contract and noted that any rescission requests must be received by ODOT by May 1, 2026. Commissioners also approved a Political Subdivision Addendum with U.S. Bank on behalf of Senior Services to enable fleet fuel cards.

Commissioners approved the Ohio Department of Youth Services Subsidy Grant-Juvenile Court funding application update for fiscal year 2027 in the amount of $339,118.34 to support programs including C-CAP and Community Service Restitution.

Personnel actions included hiring Baylee Ann Hayes as a part-time 911 dispatcher effective April 20, 2026; hiring Gage Harris as a full-time Children Services Case Manager effective May 4, 2026; and hiring Krista Patterson as a full-time billing clerk for Water and Sewer effective April 20, 2026. After an executive session, the board accepted the resignation of Howard Thornton, full-time housekeeping/maintenance, effective April 24, 2026, and approved a two-day paid working suspension for Brooke Grimes, assistant dog warden, for April 17–18, 2026.

The board adopted a proclamation recognizing National Public Safety Telecommunicator Week and noted county 911 staffing levels and 2025 activity: 93,265 phone calls received and 58,756 dispatches.

All motions presented in the meeting were approved unanimously unless otherwise noted. The board recessed for executive session under Ohio Revised Code 121.22(G)(1) to discuss personnel matters and adjourned the meeting at 12:39 p.m. The minutes were read, approved and signed April 22, 2026.