CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — Ross County commissioners awarded a $2.42 million contract for the second phase of paving, milling and striping work on county and township roads, one of several funding decisions made during the board’s July 20 meeting, according to meeting minutes.
Commissioners voted unanimously to award the contract to Fillmore Construction on the recommendation of County Engineer Charlie Ortman. The award follows the first phase of the paving project, a $767,322.97 contract the board approved earlier this month.
The board also approved Amendment 1 to a Village of Frankfort grant agreement, increasing the project’s award by $120,000 to add a Springfield Street sidewalk and a shared-use path connecting to the village library, according to the county. The additional funding comes through the Ohio Department of Development.
In other business, commissioners heard from Ross County Senior Center Board President David Byers and Assistant Director Janet Elliott, along with officials from Bainbridge, Huntington, Paxton Township, Twin Township and Chillicothe, about whether to ask voters in November to continue funding for senior services. The center’s current 0.5% levy is collected through 2027, and officials discussed whether to pursue a property tax or income tax levy. No decision was made; the center must bring a resolution to commissioners before the matter can move forward.
Sheriff David Lavender told commissioners the Chillicothe Police Department had canceled a Spectrum Cable account that had been provided to the jail at no cost, cutting off cable television for inmates without either agency realizing the account also covered that service. Lavender said his office is working to reinstate the service and will be responsible for the bill going forward.
In routine business, the board approved bills totaling $6,068,845.86, appropriated $10,000 from Fair Share funds for the Ross County US Major Crimes Task Force, approved a $574,502.59 disbursement from the Ohio Public Works Commission covering 71% completion of a county and township road project, and approved several routine fund transfers and asset-disposal requests, according to the minutes. Commissioners Jack Everson, James Lowe and David Glass were present for the meeting.
The information contained in this story was obtained from the Ross County Board of Commissioners.
