The Pike County Commissioners met in regular session and met with county engineer Denny Salisbury to determine what to do with money received from the state.
According to Salisbury, last fall Pike County turned in an application for Issue 2 money.
“We turned in a grant application, which didn’t get approved. We turned in a loan application for $1,550,000, which was rejected,” Salisbury said.
Salisbury explained that Ross County received $1.6 million of loan money approved for Cooks Hill Road, but about two weeks ago Ross County gave up that money, meaning they will not take the loan.
“The next project in line is our project,” Salisbury said.
Salisbury said there are a number of projects that could be completed with the money that Ross County is giving back.
PROJECTS
A bridge on Chenoweth Fork Road (in downtown Elm Grove at the intersection of Laurel Ridge Road and Chenoweth Fork Road)
According to Salisbury, the way the Chenoweth Fork Road project is set up is to rebuild the intersection because you can’t see back west to see if there is any oncoming traffic.
“It’s a tough project, because you have to rebuild the intersection,” Salisbury said.
A bridge on Leeth Creek Road
Salisbury said that even though he would like to relocate the bridge Leeth Creek Road, it did just get a new deck and could last another 30 years or more, so that project could be left alone.
A Stockdale project that has real estate issues that are yet to be resolved.
The Stockdale project seems to have “limited interest,” so Salisbury said that project could be dropped.
A box culvert on Sugar Run Road
Salisbury believes theSugar Run Road project would be a relatively easy task of just putting in a box culvert.
A slip repair on Denver Road
Salisbury the only problem is backlash from residents that they didn’t fix other parts of Denver Road, because there are millions of dollars slip repairs on Denver Road.
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All of these projects would be paid by a 30-year, zero-interest loan that must be used for infrastructure.
“These are long-term (loans). This is flat out a gift from the state of Ohio,” Salisbury said.
Commissioner Jeff Chattin was worried about adding more debt with everything else the county has going on, and there is no guarantee that Pike County will have an engineer to manage the projects.
Commissioner Tony Montgomery also has concerns about who will manage the projects.
“If you weren’t retiring, it would be a no brainer. But that is what it is,” Montgomery told Salisbury. “We could say no and see what happens. But when you tell me zero-percent interest, I’m going to find somewhere to spend that money. That’s free money.”
Commissioner Jerry Miller asked Salisbury what he would do given the circumstances. Salisbury said he would go after funding on three of the projects, not do anything until the first of the year, and let the new engineer decide whether he wants to pursue the projects or give the money back.
Chattin said for him it all comes down to cash flow.
“How many payments can you bear down there (at the engineer’s office) without starting to affect future operations?”
Salisbury informed the panel that has already happened.
“That’s why I’m reluctant to take on any more,” Chattin said. Chattin cited a USDA loan, dump truck chassis and beds, as expenses the engineer’s office will incur.
“There is no good answer guys,” Salisbury told the commissioners. “It just is what it is. It’s not the best financing scheme. It’s not as good as having grant money.”
The panel decided to decline the loan unless it could be held until after the first of the year.
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