Chesapeake facility in conceptual stages

Another affordable living facility for seniors may be on the horizon, as early plans for a complex in Chesapeake near the Chesapeake Community Center are in the works, according to Ralph Kline, assistant executive director of the Ironton-Lawrence County Community Action Organization (CAO).

Kline spoke about the possible project at the county commission meeting on Tuesday.

The facility would be located on State Route 7, just before the Chesapeake Community Center on the same side, and would contain roughly between 60-75 units. The CAO is also currently working with PIRHL Developers, of Cleveland, on the potential project; the same company that helped make the completion of Proctors Landing possible in Proctorville last year.

Kline said that there are more than 80 seniors on the waiting list for Proctors Landing right now, so the “demand for more affordable senior living is there.”

The deadline to submit the tax credit application is Feb. 15, which Kline said the CAO is in the process of getting everything together to submit.

Kline said the total cost would likely be around $12 million, but that the CAO would look for ways to assist with the cost, including trying to get Community Development Block Grant funding for the improvements to the road, sidewalks and riverfront at the facility.

Kline also informed the commission that the Chesapeake area is now considered urban, and not rural, so the pool of applicants for urban senior living will be “very competitive,” as the agency is competing with projects in the likes of Cleveland, Cincinnati and Columbus.

“There will probably be about eight to 10 projects in that pool of what we are going for,” Kline said. “And we anticipate that they will pick about three to go through with.”

He noted that it took three submissions for the Proctors Landing project to be approved, but that he hopes that’s not the case this time.

If the project is in fact approved, Kline said construction on the facility would likely begin in the spring of next year with the opening likely coming in the spring or summer of 2020.

Lawrence County Treasurer Stephen Burcham informed the commission that the first half tax bills did not get sent out from his office last week due to a software malfunction. However, they will be sent out Friday of this week. If you do not receive your first half tax bills by next Friday, please contact the treasurer’s office. The first half tax deadline is Friday, March 2.

Lawrence County Common Pleas Judge Andy Ballard also talked about the Bureau of Community Corrections, formerly the probation department, and how they completed their audit for 2017 with a 72 percent success rate.

Ballard said that number was the highest success rate out of all 88 counties in the state of Ohio, and attributed it to Chief Carl Bowen and his staff for doing a great job.

In other action, the commission:

• Renewed two floodplain permits.

• Approved the Dog Warden Report dated Dec. 30, 2017.

• Accepted the resignation of Dr. Kurt Hoffman as the Lawrence County Coroner and the Lawrence County Health Commissioner, effective Feb. 28, 2018.

• Approved the Change Order for the Lawrence County Airpark, in the amount of $4,533.00, making the total project now $20,695.20.

• Approved the December and YTD LCEMS Report from Lori Morris, Lawrence County EMS finance administrator.

• Accepted the resignation of Paramedic Chad Sanson, effective Dec. 20, 2017.

• Elevated David Zornes from full-time station supervisor to full-time senior supervisor, as requested by Robert Yates.

• Received and signed the Equitable Sharing Agreement and Certification Annual Report, as requested by David Marcum.

• Approved the appointment of Les Tinkerman to the Storm Water Task Force, as requested by Kim Carrico, Urban/Education specialist.

• Received and filed the correspondence from the Lawrence County Land Bank regarding Pully Nursing Home Asbestos Removal.

• Approved one transfer fund.

• Approved and signed the Administrative Contract between the Ironton-Lawrence County Community Action Organization (CAO) and Lawrence County for 2018, approved by Mack Anderson, civil prosecutor.

• Approved and signed the change order for the CAO on the fire hydrant project in Proctorville and the sidewalk plaques in Ironton, approved by Mack Anderson, civil prosecutor.

• Approved the Lawrence County Engineers Office and the General Truck Drivers and Helpers Union Local No. 92, pending the approval of the Lawrence County Prosecutor’s Office.

• Met in executive session with Gary Criswell regarding personnel; hire, fire, reprimand. No action was taken.

• Met in executive session with Lawrence County Sheriff Jeff Lawless regarding personnel; hire, fire, reprimand. No action was taken.