Greene commissioners place property agreement on agenda
The Greene County Commissioners took action Wednesday to move forward with a deed agreement for a piece of property where a new animal shelter will be constructed. The commissioners voted to place on today’s agenda a motion to accept a general warranty deed between the county and George and Gloria A. Keener. The Keeners are swapping a 50-foot wide, 390-foot long right-of-way that they currently own with approximately 1.3 acres the county owns that adjoins their property. Chief Clerk Gene Lee said the swap will allow the Keeners to construct a parking lot beside their property. The property containing the right-of-way will be the site of a new home for the Humane Society of Greene County.
The property is located across the road from the rear entrance to the Greene County Fairgrounds.
The commissioners also voted regarding another property issue. A motion was approved to place on today’s agenda a listing agreement with Behm Auction Service to sell the former Laskosky property in Richhill Township next to Ryerson Station State Park. The commissioners earlier said that state agencies and private parties have expressed interest in the site. The county initially had planned to turn the property into an ATV trail.
The commissioners approved motions regarding two county covered bridges. The commissioners voted to place on today’s agenda a motion to approve technical and price proposals for two engineering agreements for the bridges. The costs are $11,466 and $11,446 for the Wayne and Center township structures.
Two change orders that will mean a lower cost of approximately $2,600 were also approved. The commissioners voted to place on today’s agenda a motion to approve change orders with Widmer Engineering for County Bridge No. 109. The first change order is a cost increase of $9,769.53 for rock protection and the second change order is a cost decrease of $12,403.31.
At the prison board meeting following the agenda meeting, two full-time correction’s officers and five casual corrections officers were recommended for hire for the Greene County Prison.
Upon the recommendation of Warden Harry Dale Gillispie, Jodi Walters of Waynesburg and William Krider of Spraggs were selected to fill two vacancies on the afternoon shift. Both were working as casual corrections’ officers and Gillispie said they had each been on the job about six months. Also, the board voted to recommend the hiring of George Lewis, George Smith, Robin Lantz, Chris Henderson and Daniel Maleta as casual corrections’ officers. The official action hiring the employees will be held at today’s salary board meeting.
Gillispie reported that the new roof for the prison has not yet been replaced. Lee said it hasn’t been ordered because the colors have to be selected. Once the colors are selected, which should occur today, the roof will arrive in three to four weeks, Lee said. Gillispie said the air conditioning unit has not yet arrived, but noted that he is not in a hurry for it now.
After a year and a half, Gillispie reported that the prison received its $110,999 check from the state Department of Corrections for reimbursement of the most recent expansion project. Gillispie reported that at a recent meeting of the state Prison Warden Association, he was working to make contacts to bring in additional renters for cells at the prison. As of Wednesday, there were 91 total prisoners, including weekend inmates, housed at the prison.