WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE — The Fayette County Commissioners meeting on Monday included the opening of sealed bids for the county paving program for 2024 and the agricultural easement purchase program discussion of plans for farmland preservation in the county.
The Fayette County Engineer’s Office requested bids for the 2024 county paving program and the sealed bids were opened at 10 a.m. at the commissioners’ office. Two bids were received and both were monetarily under the engineer’s estimate of $929,093.50. The engineer’s office will now consider the bids from Fillmore Construction LLC of Leesburg, and Cox Paving LLC of Washington Court House, and will announce the results soon.
Dan Farber and Chet Murphy from the Fayette Soil & Water Conservation District presented drawings and plans to the commissioners regarding the preservation of certain farmlands in the county regarding the county application to the Ohio Department of Agriculture Local Agricultural Easement Purchase Program (LAEPP).
Agricultural easements are being sought for three properties: the Carson Trust-North property in Marion Township (107.05 acres) at 5474 Washington Waterloo Road, Spahr Farms LLC-1900 property in Jefferson Township (28.09 acres) at 14870 Pleasant View Road NW, and the Haymaker Trust property in Madison Township (286.56 acres) at 10512 Wissler Road for the purpose of keeping farmland preserved as farmland and the water drainage thereon.
The Ohio Department of Agriculture and the Fayette Soil & Water Conservation District will be co-holders of the easements to preserve the land.
The commissioners manage the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) local funds that were allotted to Ohio cities and towns to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic effects passed into law in March of 2021. Fayette County received a total of $5.5 million to be allocated no later than Dec. 31, 2024. Any funds not allocated by the end of the year must be returned to the Treasury of the United States. These funds are direct federal aid to local governments to help with various projects and programs.
An annual report of these funds must be reported to the State of Ohio, and Fayette County’s report is due at the end of March.
ARPA funds were given to accelerate the economic recovery, provide more job opportunities, and raise the GDP growth in Ohio areas. Funds were given for essential government services for the county, capital improvements and other services.
A few examples of those receiving a portion of the $5.5 million funding are: $250,000 for the Village of Bloomingburg for its water treatment facility urgent repairs and modifications, $26,865 for the Fayette County Community Action for contracted services, $250,000 to the Fayette County Agricultural Society, and the Fayette County Prevention Coalition: Treatment & Prevention Services in the schools received $90,000.
