Funds to come from governor’s investment in Appalachian counties

SOUTH POINT — “Things are moving along,” Mayor Jeff Gaskin said of the Village of South Point’s plans for riverfront renovations.

The village received $1.2 million in funding from Gov. Mike DeWine’s investment in the state’s Appalachian counties earlier this year.

The funds are federal dollars from the American Rescue Plan Act, a COVID-19 relief package passed by Congressional Democrats and signed into law by President Joe Biden in 2021.

The Appalachian region covers 39 percent of Ohio and includes Adams, Ashtabula, Athens, Belmont, Brown, Carroll, Clermont, Columbiana, Coshocton, Gallia, Guernsey, Harrison, Highland, Hocking, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lawrence, Mahoning, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Perry, Pike, Ross, Scioto, Trumbull, Tuscarawas, Vinton and Washington counties.

DeWine and the Ohio legislature prioritized the state’s Appalachian counties in using those funds, with communities polling together for projects across southeastern Ohio.

For South Point, the village plans to invest in their riverfront park. 

Gaskin said this would include a boat ramp and a sea wall along the river.

“I want half of what Ashland says,” he said of their plans.

In addition, the riverbank will be made handicapped-accessible and a new shelter will be constructed.

He said such a wall would enable larger boats to dock and launch in South Point.

Altogether, Lawrence County received $12.7 million in funds, with projects also set for Ironton and Rome Township.

In other business, the mayor said the village was appreciative that voters passed a revision in the fire levy in November.

Gaskin said it was necessary to update the 30-year-old levy, as costs have gone up.

He said a fire truck hat cost $200,000 in 1990 now runs about $800,000 to $1 million in cost.

While Gaskin said, while  this increases fire taxes, it is still lower in cost than the village having to pay more fire insurance.

Gaskin also said Phase III of the village’s water line replacement project is nearly finished.

He said what remains to be completed are “cosmetic” items, such as planting grass and driveway work.

The project covers the area from North Kenova Road to the train bridge, as well as surrounding neighborhoods.

Gaskin said the village is finished with a new well for their water system, which was mandated by the Ohio Department of Environmental Protection.

That $800,000 project was paid for by the agency.