Resolution signed for demo job on former health building
On Monday, April 8, Holmes County took one step closer to demolishing a well-known yet abandoned building.
The Holmes County Board of Commissioners met for the weekly public meeting, and the commissioners signed a resolution approving the notice of award and contract for the building demolition and site revitalization plan.
The board received notice of award of $116,000 to Martin Construction to raze the former Holmes County health building located next to Pomerene Hospital through the Building Demolition and Site Revitalization work in the scope of work for Holmes County DSRP Package D.
Arnie Oliver, Holmes County planning commissioner, said now that the resolution has been approved by the board of commissioners, he will have Holmes County prosecutor Matt Muzik verify it and sign it.
“They are hoping to start tree work on the project (April 9),” Oliver said. “After that, they have to notify the Ohio EPA, and it will probably be another 10 days before there will be a response and they can begin the demo work.”
Oliver said originally the construction company was going to bury all of the rubble from the demolition project on the premises, but instead it has been determined the material from the building will be crushed and transported elsewhere for disposal.
“The photographs say a lot about why this needed to be done,” commissioner Dave Hall said. “You can see some of the I-beams rusting. It was time.”
Also on the agenda was the passing of a resolution accepting the 2024 participation agreement with County Risk Sharing Authority.
According to Misty Burns, Holmes County director of human resources, it is a three-year agreement to participate with CORSA insurance.
“We get wonderful rates from them for the county, and the way they are able to keep our rates at a reasonable level is by having this commitment,” Burns said. “So when they go to reinsure, they know they aren’t going to have people jumping in and out.”
Following the passing of this resolution, Burns said it will now move forward to Muzik for his approval.
The commissioners passed a resolution accepting the County Commissioners Association of Ohio Workers’ Compensation Group Rating Agreement and Employer Statement for Group Rating Plan, something the county has been part of for many years.
According to Burns, signing the agreement will create savings for the county to the tune of $18,933.
“This is the group rating program we’ve participated in for several years now,” Burns said.
The agreement has been looked over and agreed upon by Muzik.
According to Burns, the county could face penalties for accruing a high experience rate, and the county could potentially be told it no longer qualifies for the group rating program or could see a rise in financial requirement to remain a member.
The current plan has Holmes County united with five other surrounding counties, which creates the opportunity for group savings.
Burns said the past years have actually been a positive for the county through the program.
“The last several years, we have not paid in anything additional and will actually be receiving a credit from them,” Burns said. “It’s been very successful for the counties that have participated in the program.”
A resolution was passed authorizing participation in the Ohio Department of Transportation Road Salt contract awarded for 2024, an annual commitment that allows the county to work with ODOT in salt distribution.
Another resolution was passed acknowledging the filing of a resolution for vacating portions of public roadways in Ripley Township.
The portion of the road in question is described as Township Road 505 beginning at the centerline of Township Road 503 North, open .45 miles with the remainder vacated to the intersection with Township Road 506.
A viewing of the roadway was slated to take place Monday, May 13 at 8 a.m. with the hearing scheduled to take place later that morning at 9:30 a.m. at the commissioner’s office in the Old Jail Building in Millersburg.
The resolution also was adopted by Ripley Township trustees Kevin Miller, Dale Sprang and Jason Schuch.