The Washington County Commission approved a proposal that United Construction Company Inc. to begin renovating the former WASCO building, pictured, for the Southeast Ohio Department of Buildings at a cost of $65,000 and adding a restroom to the building for the sanitation department at a cost of $74,000. Commissioner James Booth was the only negative vote. (Photo by Michelle Dillon)

MARIETTA — Washington County commissioners have approved a proposal for United Construction Company Inc . to begin renovating the former WASCO building for the Southeast Ohio Building Department and restrooms for the Sanitation Department.

During a commission meeting Thursday morning, commissioners voted 2-1 to approve the proposal to have United Construction — which is already renovating the former WASCO building for the Washington County Health Department — do the work. Commissioner James Booth was the only dissenting vote.

County Chief Building Inspector Rick Dostal gave commissioners an update on the cost of the project, saying during the meeting that work on the sanitation department’s restroom would cost just over $74,000 and the cost to begin building renovations for Southeast Ohio. The building department would be $65,000.

Booth requested the cost information during the commission’s Oct. 24 meeting, and the proposal — which was originally just for the Southeast Ohio Department of Buildings but was changed to include a restroom facility for the sanitation department at the request Booth’s – was filed until cost information was available.

Commissioners dropped the proposal at Thursday’s meeting and shared their thoughts on it.

“Last week I submitted this” said Commissioner Kevin Ritter. “Commissioner Booth asked for numbers … just to be clear, going forward with this, the advantage is that those people are already on site because we don’t have to wait in line for them to come back. We get a little discount on the price.”

Commissioner Charlie Schilling said he was glad Booth brought up the health department’s need for restrooms last week.

“It just makes sense from a safety point of view to be able to start that process, at least give the toilet, the laundry, the showers.” Schilling said.

Ritter said a funding source for the project has been identified, and county Fiscal Director Ben Cowdery said there is settlement money in the budget that the county doesn’t need this year.

Booth said the amount available is $140,000 and that would greatly affect the cost of the project and shared his reasons for opposing approval of the proposal.

“I would say the budget will be tighter than it was because of the lack of (American Rescue Plan Act) funding.” Booth said. “What do we risk if we wait until next year?”

He said everyone is waiting for the election results to see what happens, so construction projects are underway to see what happens with gas prices and construction costs.

He also said the county is spending more than anticipated on health department renovations at the WASCO building.

“My fear is that we continue to spend on the health department,” Booth said. “I have no problem with the health department being there, don’t get me wrong. I have no problem with the building department (being) there, it makes sense. We need safety for the sewer department…I think we have to prioritize.”

Booth asked that the proposal be tabled for one month.

Dostal said he’s concerned about rising costs if the county waits even a few weeks, and Schilling agreed.

He said the county has budgeted money right now that would facilitate the relocation of the building department and take care of the needs of the sanitary sewer department. He said he approved of the proposal.

Ritter said he agreed with Booth’s point that people are waiting to see how the election plays out.

“My fear is that if we put this off even for another week when the election is over, people will start lining up for contractors and things will cost more than six months down the road.” Ritter said.

He said he was in favor of approving the proposal.

Commissioners have not discussed when the work will begin.

Other topics addressed during the meeting:

* Approved additional appropriations of $22,500 for salaries, $327 for Medicare and $3,150 for OPERS for the Wireless 911 fund; $6.00 for calling cards and $5 for cable service for the sheriff’s fund; $60,000 for salaries-employees, $20,000 for OPERS, $5,000 for contract services, $1,500 for cell phones, $2,000 for mail, $5,000 for supplies, $70,000 for maintenance and repairs material lift station, $3,000 for equipment , maintenance and repairs $21 operations and maintenance-State Route 339 and $8,000 operations and maintenance-State Route 60 and $10,000 sewer fund operation and maintenance; and $16,700 for other expenses for the Washington County Court of Common Pleas Tax Credit Assistance Program grant fund.

* Approved transfers of $700 from contract services to phone for IT fund; $23,000 from Employer Health and $46,825 from Continuation of Civil Fund Repair Construction and Jail to be allocated as $52,000 for Employer Rated Health, $12,000 for Water and Sewer, $5.00 for Electric and $825 for garbage; $300 from employer health cell phones for sheriff fund; $4,550 from sheriff sales tax fund equipment to be allocated $600 for water and sewer, $350 for telephone and $3,600 for electric; $675 from health employer gas for dog and kennel fund; $76.43 from audit and $100 from contract services for the Emergency Management Agency fund to be allocated to electricity;

* Approved payment of invoices totaling $531,898.84; and $352.32 from wages, $25.48 from Medicare and $219.66 from OPERS for the COPS employment fund to be allocated to workers’ compensation.

* Approved resolution naming 1522 Newport Township Road as Joseph Baker Jr. Drive.

* Approved payment of an invoice of $369,348.32 to RDR Utility Services Group for Phase 2 of the Devola Sanitary Sewer Project.

Michelle Dillon can be reached at [email protected]