Jul 13, 2016 3 min read

WAYNESBURG – Contracts are expected to be awarded during today’s Greene County commissioners meeting to replace two county bridges, one of which has been closed for about five years.

The commissioners at their Wednesday morning workshop meeting reviewed the contract to replace county bridge No. 78 in Richhill Township. The bridge, which is 57 feet long, carries Walker Hill Road over Owens Run.

Constructed in 1911, the bridge was closed about five years ago because of corroded beams, chief clerk Jeff Marshall said. Replacement of the bridge has been planned but faced delays because of issues involving the relocation of a natural gas line, he said.

The low bid for the project of $694,966 was submitted by Frank Gavlik and Sons Inc. Construction is expected to begin in the spring, Marshall said.

Commissioners also are expected to award a contract for the replacement of county bridge No. 55, which carries Shough Run Road over Bloody Run in Gilmore Township.

The 31-foot-long bridge was constructed in 1973 and has a restricted weight limit, Marshall said. The low bid of $591,062 was submitted by Thomas Construction. Construction on this bridge also will begin in the spring, Marshall said.

The county’s costs of the two bridge projects will still be covered under Act 26, an act that has covered the county’s match for local bridge projects and that expired last year.

Commissioners will consider rejecting the single bid the county received for replacing county bridge No. 102 in Aleppo Township. The bridge carries Strope Road over a small stream.

Only one bid had been received for the project, Marshall said. The bid was for $667,000, which is much higher than the $450,000 project estimate, he said. The county will re-bid the project hoping to get additional bidders, Marshall said.

Commissioners also are expected to approve financial statements for the county’s 2015 audit conducted by Maher Duessel. The audit, which will be posted on the county’s website, shows the county ending the year with a $624,841 deficit. The audit was completed, however, before the county received an additional $641,000 in late taxes that resulted in the county actually ending the year “a few thousand dollars” in the black, Marshall said.

Commissioners also are expected to approve an agreement for a $250,000 grant from the state Department of Environmental Protection to assist the Greene Arc recycling program. The money will be used to replace recycling trailers and to purchase sorting equipment.

Commissioners also will discuss approving a $2,565 grant to the Carmichaels VFW to help the VFW purchase a new freezer. The money is part of a county grant program used to assist veterans’ organizations.

Commissioners are expected to accept the resignation of Mike Onosku from the Local Emergency Planning Commission board and Samuel Crowe from the tourism board, and appoint their replacements.