A variety of issues were discussed by the Washington County Board of Commissioners at its Thursday morning meeting.
¯ A travel request was approved by the commission for Rick Dostal, building official with the Southeast Ohio Building Department.
Dostal submitted a request for $3,800 to travel to Englewood, Colo., in July to prepare him for phases 2 and 3 of the state mandated chief building official exams. While there, he will also take tests 2 and 3. He traveled to Colorado earlier to take and pass his first test.
“As you are aware, this is a requirement for the (Chief Building Official) certification with (International Code Council) as mandated by (Ohio Board of Building Standards),” Dostal stated in his request.
Dostal also advised the building department is a little over $18,000 ahead of where it was last year, even though fees have been lowered.
Commissioner Charlie Schilling said the travel request wasn’t in the annual budget, but after not renewing Chris Wilson’s appointment in January, any building official hired would have to get certification as a chief building official.
“And the fact that we’re $18,000 ahead of where we were at last year clearly covers this and I think we’re going to see that trend continue of that number going up and up and up,” he said.
¯ The Washington County Sheriff’s Office requested permission to sell a 2014 Ford Explorer to the Dog & Kennel Fund. The Explorer is a former K-9 unit and has been used by Deputy Dog Warden Hannah Tornes as the Dog & Kennel vehicle since the 2017 Chevy Tahoe was totaled earlier this month, stated the request.
¯ Flite Freimann, director of Washington County Department of Job and Family Services, said a carnival will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 17 at the Washington County Home.
“It’s a recruiting event for foster families,” he said.
Along with food and games, a dunk tank will be set up featuring Freimann and Commissioner Jamie Booth.
¯ Three bids were received for emergency landslip repairs on Burnett Road (County Road 6). It was awarded to Bob Lane’s Welding with a bid of $46,459. Engineer’s estimate was $59,214.75.
¯ Three bids were also received for emergency landslip repairs on Leith Run Road (County Road 21) and on Huck Road (County Road 79). It was awarded to Larry Lang Excavating with a bid of $99,440. Engineer’s estimate was $134,398.
¯ Jesse Roush, executive director of the Southeastern Ohio Port Authority, had reported earlier that one natural gas supplier had been identified, along with a possible supplier, for the Muskingum River Industrial Park in Waterford
“We picked up another potential gas supplier for the Muskingum River facility (Thursday morning). That brings us up to six. Three weeks ago, we had one,” he said. “We’re trending in the right direction. With a combination of those six, maybe we can come up with a solution.”