Harrison News Herald 03-16-19

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SATURDAY, MARCH 16, 2019

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Sheriff gets approval for next gen. 911 system THIS IS A NECESSARY UPGRADE...IT ALLOWS US TO INCREASE SERVICE AND SAVE MONEY

Doug Crabtree, Har. Co. Engineer’s Office

By JD LONG

jim@harrisonnewsherald.com

CADIZ – Harrison County Sheriff Joe Myers appeared before the county commissioners at Wednesday’s meeting seeking approval for an agreement that makes the Next Generation 911 in Harrison County one step closer to reality. Myers called their current recording equipment “obsolete” with the new Polycom phone on the market, and ready to be installed.

“That will come out of the 911 funds so we recommend that equipment be purchased,” Myers explained. Doug Crabtree from the county engineer’s office said this is going to allow them to expand their phone service with calls being re-routed “much better” and will also allow phone and radio traffic to be recorded. “This is a necessary upgrade,” Crabtree told the board. The system itself is called “Eventide,” which will be installed by Stephen Campbell Associates with a cost announced at, $13,569. Myers said the Next Generation 911 is expected to go up live on March 26. The commissioners did approve of the agreement. Myers further explained that after conferring with General Dynamics it was recommended that a T-1 line be installed and he said it’s in the works to

Grant money up for grabs in Scio By JD LONG

jim@harrisonnewsherald.com

SCIO – It was decision time in Scio as Village Solicitor Jason Tubaugh laid out four scenarios that dealt with their waterline projects. First though, he informed council that the village is no longer eligible for the CDBG (Community Development Block Grant ) money, which is based on Low to Moderate Income (LMI) pertaining to a certain percentage of a community’s population (52 percent). “And the reason is the Low to Moderate Income summary data has changed…our LMI survey expires at the end of the year so it has to be redone for 2020,” Tubaugh explained. He told council that back in 2013

make that happen. “When they come in and put that new T-1 line it, it will give us 22 avenues to transfer calls in and out of the sheriff’s office to work with the Polycom phones,” he told the board. He added that they were told they do have a T-1 line in but “they don’t know what it goes to and neither do we.” He said he was told there is going to be a savings with the new T-1 line in working with the new Polycom phones, which he said would cost $440 per month by transferring data over to the new system. “We’re hoping to save money on the back side and from what they (Frontier Communications) talked to me…it should be $145 savings a month by going this way from what are stuff can be transferred over to that,” Myers said. “It allows us to increase service and save money,” Crabtree added.

Crabtree also relayed a request from County Engineer Doug Bachman for an advance of $403,942 for work FEMA has completed while “we are currently awaiting funds for.” “These projects were viewed and approved by FEMA and now are working the way through the process of funding and getting the monies down to the State FEMA and then to the County,” Crabtree said reading from a prepared statement. The money involves five projects with four being slip repairs: Harrison 2 ($47,655-BBR Drilling); Harrison 39 ($56.553-BBR Drilling); Harrison 24 ($133,854-Dennison Bridge) and Harrison 17 ($96,010-Alan Stone). The remaining project was for the Harrison 61 bridge wing wall repair for $69,890 and also done by BBR Drilling.

See 911 PG. 3

This simple phone is anything but as Sheriff Joe Myers announced at the commissioner’s meeting Wednesday, as the new Polycom phone. Next Generation 911 is going live March 26 and the new phone will allow for better communications and recording plus the transferring of calls.

Bringin’ Home The Bling!

the village was over 52 percent but were in the low 40s when the state did the survey. “So, doing it yourself actually behooves the village, I know it’s a lot of work and effort…but since gas and oil has kind of pretty much died out as far as transient workers, the people that live here are the ones that need to be surveyed,” he explained. Regarding other grant possibilities in aiding their major waterline projects, a fairly lengthy discussion ensued with Tubaugh explaining four possibilities, or options the village could take. He said they are currently through round one and if they continue on course their loan share stands at $87,000 with a local share

See SCIO PG. 3

Cadiz Council discusses future of Mannik Smith By JD LONG

jim@harrisonnewsherald.com CADIZ – The village of Cadiz, who first retained Mannik Smith back in 2015 for an initial contract of $80,000 for various road projects, discussed what to do about the future with the engineering firm at last Thursday’s council meeting. Council member Terry Capers reported on their finance committee meeting and what was discussed was whether to retain the engineering firm, Mannik Smith Group (MSG) for the village of Cadiz. A retainer for “general

engineering services” was the exact topic Capers titled it. “And basically what this is, is it’s not a you use it or lose it kind of deal, you use it if you need it,” he explained. He added that if the village does not use the retainer they wouldn’t lose it. Treasurer Amy Ossman stated that they wouldn’t be paying MSG, which Village Administrator Ted Andrzejewski called a good question after it was asked if they would be reimbursed. “The builder would put in a deposit [and] we would use that deposit

See DISCUSSES PG. 3

HC cheering competition squad nets second at state The Harrison Central cheering competition squad competed on March 10 in Columbus during the 2019 State Cheering Competition and walked away with a second place finish, a first in school history. Full story on pg. 6

New Athens swears in new member, moves to raise water tap-in fees By JD LONG

jim@harrisonnewsherald.com

NEW ATHENS – Along with swearing in new council member Roger Digman, the New Athens village council proceeded through the first reading for raising their water tap-in fees. Those fees will see an increase to $1,500 for in-town residents and an increase to $2,000 for customers who live outside the village limit. These fees

HARRISON

NEWS-HERALD One section, 10 Pages Vol. 51, No. 44

are for a three-quarter inch line and any additional costs that rise above these fees will be the responsibility of the resident, such as a larger line or other materials for example. From what council gathered when searching through the old ordinance was that the current tap-in fee is $600 inside the village and $780 for anyone wanting to hook up that lived outside the village limit. But after the third reading that will be no more. Village Solicitor Travis Collins was

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concerned over the wording and wanted the exact parameters of the line before writing the ordinance. What added to some of the confusion was a resident who is putting in a 2-inch line but it was agreed that that is a separate situation. Council member Mark Arnold said this resident would be responsible for any cost above installing a three-quarter inch line. They also talked of a 1-inch line but council member Matt Litman said he knew of no one who had anything but

OBITUARIES Eric Watt Jewett, Ohio Linda Kimmel Bake Steubenville, Ohio Lanny Michael Walker Cadiz, Ohio

a three-quarter inch line inside the village. When Collins asked who was buying the meter he was told the village would own the meter whether it’s in town or outside the village, according to Arnold. “The $2,000 says, ‘here’s your right to hook on,’ if he wants a 2-inch meter and that meter costs $4,000 yep, that’s what it costs, sorry, that’s his choice,” Arnold stated. Council opened the meeting discussing the crossover to radio

meters, which is already happening in several other communities throughout the county. Village Administrator Tosha Giesey reminded council that two representatives from the engineering firm, ADR & Associates were supposed to appear and talk about funding and other issues but they did not show. Village employee Matt Litman Jr. said it’s a matter of time before the current

See NEW ATHENS PG. 2

Question of the week

Last week’s question

Next week’s question

Do you prefer reading physical books or digital books?

Would you be in favor of legalizing marijuana if it could be taxed & regulated?

PHYSICAL 78% (7 VOTES) DIGITAL 22% (2 VOTES)

Dena Gilchrist Stonewood, W.Va.

facebook.com/harrisonnewsherald

YES • NO

Vote@HarrisonNewsHerald.com newsroom@harrisonnewsherald.com


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Harrison News Herald 03-16-19 by Harrison News-Herald Archive - Issuu