ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Issues of infrastructure and the process of taking down dilapidated structures are being wrapped up in 2023, with more projects expected in 2024.

On Wednesday the Belmont County Board of Commissioners again submitted a notice of intent to the Ohio Department of Development identifying the Belmont County Land Reutilization Corp. — commonly called the Belmont County Land Bank – as the lead entity for the demolition and site revitalization program and the Brownfield Remediation Program.

Afterward, Belmont County Treasurer Kathy Kelich, who also serves as chairwoman of the land bank, reported it has taken down 27 dilapidated structures so far this year, closing out the expenditure of $500,000 from the state with some additional projects expected before the end of 2023.

Kelich said the land bank expects to receive another $500,000 for use in 2024.

“These are essentially the same funds we received from the state last year,” she said. “We completed projects from those funds from last year, and this is going to be a renewal.”

Kelich said this money is expected to cover 25-30 projects in 2024, depending on the size of the projects and whether asbestos abatement is possible or if it must be taken down and transported to a site approved by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. She said inflation has meant an increase in costs, but not a significant one.

She said most of the 2023 projects were in communities along the Ohio River due to the large number of dilapidated structures in those areas.

“I’m very proud of the fact that we were able to obtain some properties in the Barton/Colerain area. Some of those went to the Barton … Fire Department … to give them some more space. We have expanded to outlying areas that we normally have not done. We did one in Barnesville,” she said, adding that another razed property was in Mead Township outside Shadyside and two more in Flushing.

“We are reaching out farther than what we were before. For next year, we expect to work with Bellaire school in demolition of four properties for them, as well as Great Stone Viaduct, who we’ve worked with in the past,” she said, adding that the Great Stone Viaduct Historical Education Society is interested in space to expand property for parking around the walking trail along the viaduct.

Kelich said she expects a project in Bethesda before the end of 2023. Another property on South Marietta Street in St. Clairsville is being looked at, as well as another property to be used by the Great Stone Viaduct Historical Education Society on Hamilton Street. Another property is on Ross Street in Brookside to help create parking space for the village’s heavy equipment.

“I’m always looking to reach out to every part of this county, because all of it needs attention, all of it needs to be addressed,” she said.

Pultney Township Trustee Frank Shaffer, president of the Belmont County Township Association, said the land bank’s planned demolition of a property on School Street in Neffs is also welcome news.

“That’ll help clean up that area. It needs cleaned up,” Shaffer said. “It’s an older property. … There’s no claim for the property, and there’s back-taxes, so it needs to be torn down. It is in pretty rough shape.”

Kelich added that officials from area communities as well as individuals have recommended properties for the land bank’s consideration.

“The land bank looks at properties that have been tax delinquent, dilapidated and that are uninhabited in order to proceed with any demolition,” she said.

Kelich said the state has taken note of the dilapidated structures across Ohio.

“They definitely recognize that every area has a need for a land bank and for revitalization, so this is a way not to put it on the taxpayers’ back in each individual county by the state handing some money out,” she said.

In other matters, Belmont County Engineer Terry Lively reported an $830,000 paving project on Ramsey Ridge Road is complete and striping will be finished soon.

“That’s a big deal for us. That’s last year’s (Ohio Public Works Commission) project,” he said, adding the work began a year ago with culvert replacements.

Another paving project on Belmont County Road 2, or Deep Run Road, was also completed recently at a cost of $218,400.

“We’re continuing to work on slip repair projects,” he said, citing slips on Hospital Road near Bellaire and Boston Road and Douglas Road in the Barnesville area.

He said in late October or early November, the county will also rebid the Blaine-Barton bridge superstructure replacement project. In June, bids had come in about $700,000 higher than the engineer’s estimate.

Lively also said the county is well stocked on materials in preparation for winter.

“We’ve been fortunate the last couple winters have been pretty mild,” he noted.

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