BELMONT COUNTY, Ohio – An interchange at a busy Belmont County intersection is moving forward with approval of the Belmont County Commissioners.
At their regular Wednesday meeting, the commissioners approved a final resolution for funding of utility relocation work and to sign the contract with ODOT for the reconstruction of the Interstate 70 and State Route 149 interchange. The revised project cost is $195,476, which reduced from the original estimated project cost of $355,190. The cost will be paid from Capital Improvement Funds.
Commissioners also reviewed multiple financial motions, travel for county employees, personnel matters and contracts, including the following:
Financial Appropriations and Transfers:
- Transfer of funds for Delta Dental chargebacks for $45,562 & vision chargebacks for $14,127 for Feb. and March 2025
- Transfer of funds for the Mutual of Omaha Life insurance chargebacks for $5,469 for Jan., Feb and March 2025
- Transfer of funds for HSA chargebacks for $601 for March 2025
- Board acknowledged that it received and reviewed the Interest Report and Investment Portfolio for Feb. 2025 from the Belmont County Treasurer’s Office
- Travel Permissions:
The board granted travel permissions for multiple county employees and one commissioner for separate trips to various locations including Columbus, Ohio; Portland, Oregon (for a human resources manager) and Wintersville, Ohio on specified dates in 2025.
- Administrative Adjustments and Job Description Changes:
The meeting included several motions to update job descriptions and adjust pay scales for positions within Senior Services. Key changes involved shifting roles for the quality assurance administrator and fiscal administrator, as well as reclassifying the positions from lower to higher pay grades, all effective March 9, 2025. Commissioners said these changes were aimed at realigning responsibilities as part of an evolving management team.
- Board Appointments and Organizational Updates:
Appointments were made to the OMEGA (Ohio Mid-East Governments Administration) Membership and Omega Executive Board for 2025, with the inclusion of several county commissioners and association leaders. OMEGA’s website states its purpose: “OMEGA is a collaborative body of member governments that serves as a facilitator between state and federal government agencies and local entities to provide opportunities in economic and community development through networking, education, planning, research, and allocation of resources.” They serve ten Ohio counties: Belmont, Carroll, Columbiana, Coshocton, Guernsey, Harrison, Holmes, Jefferson, Muskingum, & Tuscarawas. - All three Belmont County commissioners are members and commissioners Jerry Echemann and J.P. Dutton are on the executive board. Other members include Frank Shaffer, Belmont County Township Association President; Larry Merry, Belmont County Port Authority Director; and Jackee Pugh, Belmont County Tourism Executive Director
- Contractual and Service Agreements:
The board reviewed and approved multiple service agreements and contracts. These included:- Approve quote from VISTA SG for $4,500 for relocation of the new scanning software onto a new computer at the Belmont County Records Center.
- A one-year renewal maintenance agreement for $7,195 for inspection services by Limbach for locks at the Belmont County Jail
- A letter of consent from Verizon Wireless regarding equipment modifications for its tower at 56042 Saffell Church Road in Alledonia
Commissioners later entered an executive session for personnel matters and approved the hire of Richard Maleski, part-time Operator of Record at Belmont County Water and Sewer District, effective March 9, 2025.
They also approved the hire of Chelsea Walls as full-time Deputy Clerk for the Belmont County Northern Division Court, effective March 9, 2025.
The Belmont County Board of Commissioners will have its next meeting on Wednesday, March 12 at 10 a.m. at the Belmont County Courthouse.
