ROME TOWNSHIP – County commissioners will use $25,000 in state funding for a water line extension.

Friday, September 08, 2000

ROME TOWNSHIP – County commissioners will use $25,000 in state funding for a water line extension.

The county was notified of the availability of the funds and forwarded the notice to its grant writer at the Ironton-Lawrence County Community Action Organization, commissioners said Thursday while meeting at the Lawrence County Fairgrounds.

Ralph Kline, CAO community development director, said water companies, in conjunction with the county, will receive the funds from a grant that was part of Rep. Jon Carey’s House Bill 640 that targets rural water development.

The county’s next step is to come up with a plan to utilize the grant monies, Kline said.

Commissioners indicated Thursday the money will assist a water line extension in the Perkins Ridge Road area.

That area and others like it petition the county for water assistance and the county takes the requests on a first-come-first-served basis, commission president Bruce Trent said.

"There is a great need in the county to try to meet that rural water need as funds become available," Trent said.

The estimated cost for the Perkins Branch Road area is $25,000-$30,000, so the county will likely have to seek extra funds somewhere, he said.

"But I don’t think we will let that stop the project."

In other action Thursday, the commission:

– Contracted with CT Consultants of Dayton and Huntington, W.Va., to design and to do limited construction supervision of a storm sewer project in Burlington’s Washington Street area.

The project is phase two of an overall project that diverts storm water and is funded by community development block grant dollars.

– Referred a request for a double yellow line on Ohio 7 in front of Chesapeake schools to the county engineer’s office. Commissioner George Patterson brought the request and asked the engineer to find out what is necessary to reduce the speed limit on that section of roadway.

– Approved a proclamation making Sept. 16 St. Joe School Day in the county in honor of the Catholic school system’s 75th anniversary.

– Approved a proclamation recognizing October as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month in the county.

– Transferred county funds to pay a $4,605 Cross Management bill relating to the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department.