Greene commissioners act on roof, pool projects
WAYNESBURG — Greene County commissioners on Thursday awarded contracts related to separate projects at two county-owned properties.
The commissioners approved a professional services contract to Eads Architects Inc. of Somerset in the amount of $24,500 for a project to implement repairs and replace the roof at the Ben Franklin Building in Waynesburg.
According to county Chief Clerk Jeff Marshall, Eads Architects will formulate the bid proposal, with bidding on the project expected to take place near the end of the year. Marshall said it is anticipated the roof repair project will begin next spring.
In July, the commissioners awarded a contract to TMR Roofing in the amount of $2,425 for remedial repairs to be made to the roof of the Ben Franklin Building until the roof replacement project could be undertaken.
The commissioners also awarded a $26,500 contract to Higgins Hauling of Waynesburg for concrete deck renovation at the Alpha Aquatics Water Park in Waynesburg. Higgins Hauling was the lowest bidder of the two received.
Marshall said the project is necessary because numerous concrete blocks in the walkway surrounding the pool are tilting.
“They will need to take up the concrete blocks on the walkway and determine the cause of the settling,” Marshall said, “Then they will make necessary repairs and replace the concrete.”
In other business, the commissioners proclaimed October as Chamber of Commerce Month.
The proclamation recognizes the Waynesburg Area Chamber of Commerce for its work providing services and programs to help its member businesses and organizations and enhance the economy and quality of life in Waynesburg and the surrounding area.
In addition to promoting business development, the chamber organizes numerous community events, from the Christmas parade in Waynesburg to the Fifth Grade Career Day at Waynesburg Central Elementary School. The chamber also presents several distinguished service awards every year, as well as an educational scholarship to a graduating Greene County high school senior.
The chamber’s seventh annual Greene County Business Expo was held on Thursday at the Pennsylvania National Guard Readiness Center in Waynesburg.
In other business, the commissioners reappointed Corbly Orndorff and Charles Day to the Farmland Preservation Board of Directors.
The county election board met immediately following the commissioners’ meeting on Thursday. Tina Kiger, county election office director, said preparations were on schedule for the upcoming municipal election on Nov. 5.
Kiger announced the last day to apply for an absentee ballot is Oct. 29. The last day the absentee ballots may be returned to the election office is Nov. 1. The office, located in the county office building at 93 E. High Street in Waynesburg, will be open both of those days until 5 p.m.
She also announced district election board classes will be held Monday and Tuesday. Members for district election boards in each of the voting precincts in the county are being reviewed.
“We are hoping we have full boards in each of the precincts,” Kiger said.
She also said a sample voting machine is currently being set up in the office for any county voter who wishes to come into the office for instruction and to practice on the voting machine.
Also following Thursday’s meeting, the county salary board:
n Approved the hiring of Kelli Koval as an associate in the department of economic development.
n Approved the promotion of Justin Stechly and Wilmer Smith to regular full-time corrections officers at the county prison.
n Approved the promotion of Tina Smith and Brian Bundy to regular part-time corrections officers.
n Accepted the resignation of Autumn Wozny as corrections officer.
n Accepted the resignation of Faith Morris as department clerk in the sheriff’s office.
n Accepted the retirement request of Patricia Boyd as magisterial assistant.
A Greene County prison board meeting was held following the commissioners’ agenda meeting on Wednesday. During the meeting, Warden Harry D. Gillispie reported the construction project of the new kitchen at the county prison is about two weeks behind schedule. Gillispie said he anticipated the work will be completed by mid-December.
In July, the commissioners awarded contracts totaling $592,430 for the prison’s new food preparation facility.
Food for the prison is currently prepared at the Corner Cupboard Food Bank.
Gillispie also reported the county prison is now housing female prisoners from the Washington County Jail. He explained that will be a temporary arrangement and stems from overcrowding issues at the Washington County Jail.