CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — Ross County’s Justice Committee voted Aug. 10 to move forward with the first phase of a restoration project for the county courthouse, approving the plans and specifications needed to begin construction.
The committee, which includes the county commissioners, the county prosecutor, the clerk of courts, the probate judge and a common pleas judge, met during the commissioners’ regular session. Probate Judge J. Jeffrey Benson made the motion to accept the plans and specifications and move forward with the project, and a common pleas judge seconded it. The prosecutor, the clerk of courts and the commissioners each voted yes, and the motion carried, according to meeting minutes.
The vote follows commissioners’ approval in July of $350,000 for painting the courthouse clock tower and installing a new weathervane, part of a broader series of work on the historic building.
In other business at the Aug. 10 meeting, commissioners awarded a pavement marking contract to Aero-Mark at a price of $226,999.23. Bids for the project were opened in the county engineer’s office July 23, according to the minutes.
Commissioners also approved a preaward for an Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant totaling $32,714.36 to fund two evidence-based crime-reduction models, including a hot-spot policing strategy that focuses resources on high-crime areas and on repeat violent and drug offenders, the minutes said.
The information contained in this story was obtained from the Ross County Board of Commissioners.
