Bids considered for guardrail project

BY CORNELIA GRACE Harrison News-Herald Reporter

CADIZ—Last week, Commissioner Amy Norris called the January 25 meeting to order. There were no new bids on a truck from the office of the engineer. During that meeting, the commissioners performed regular business, like approving purchase orders and vouchers for the County Home, the Board of Developmental Disabilities, and the Department of Job and Family Services. They announced bids opening up for demolition contracts. There are about 24 structures throughout Jewett, Bowerston, and Germano areas that are set to be demolished. The demolition costs will be covered by grants. They also announced bids opening for providing healthcare to inmates at the jail.

Over the last month of meetings, the commissioners have renewed contracts for housing inmates in surrounding county jails. Monroe County houses prisoners for $75 per day, and Noble County houses prisoners for $65 per day. Harrison County also has deals with Jefferson County and occasionally uses Tuscarawas as well. While Harrison has its own jail, it houses very few people. The county has been working on building a new facility to house prisoners for the last few years.

The meeting for February 1 began with the opening of sealed bids for two projects. The first, for guardrails, had four bids to open, ranging in cost from $125,000 to $144,000. The commissioners will table the bids for now so they can consider all their options and make the best decision for the county. The second project was for pavement marking and only had one bid, which was more than 10% over the estimated cost of the project. County Engineer Doug Bachman recommended the bid be rejected and the estimate redone.

The commissioners voted to follow the recommendation and will re-advertise for new bids.

Two agreements were made with the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office, one for the jail housing costs. The other was made to cover the scope of work and cost estimate for the ALTA survey for the jail. This is a land survey required by the USDA and part of the process of building a new jail in Harrison County.

The commissioners announced that the county would be vacating two roads in German Township. Maintenance of roads generally falls to local municipalities through Ohio’s “home rule” status. When a road is no longer necessary or useful to a township or county, they have to officially vacate that road. The process begins with a petition to vacate, which is sent to the county commissioners. The commissioners must hold a public hearing within 45 days of the petition being filed.

Sections of Township Road 156 and State Route 160 are dead ends, and the ownership of the land will fall to the surrounding landowners. There are no residents living on those portions of the road, and no public utilities are serviced in those areas. The section of 156 is impassable as it is and would be costprohibitive to reopen. The portion of 160 does not benefit the traveling public in any way and is already at a non-maintained status. The commissioners will set a public hearing date and then vote on whether to vacate these roads.