Paint freshens county highway buildings

Fresh paint will soon spruce up two pole barns and the main building at the Wayne County Highway Department’s facility along U.S. 40.

The buildings’ fresh look is among projects Mike Sharp, the highway superintendent, plans with $300,000 of American Rescue Plan Act money his department was allocated in February. Sharp updated Wayne County’s commissioners on his wish list’s progress during their Aug. 28 meeting.

Perseponko Painting quoted $29,720 for the painting project, and commissioners approved awarding Perseponko the contract. Another $2,000 was approved to purchase wood to replace some missing boards on the pole barn that was erected during the 1960s.

Sharp said one pole barn has not been painted since being installed in 1993 and the other buildings have not been painted since 1999.

Sharp also has estimated he’ll spend $70,000 on a new calcium chloride tank, and $5,450 was spent on an air-conditioning unit when the main building’s AC failed earlier this summer.

The largest project, however, is adding a wash bay to the complex that’s big enough to accommodate a tractor-trailer and fit scaffolding to reach tall highway vehicles. Sharp has received an estimate of $307,794.41 for a steel structure west of the complex’s main building; however, he is exploring other options and locations to reduce the cost.

Mobile home

A worsening situation at Garden City Trailer Court resulted in commissioners affirming an order requiring removal of a mobile home and trash from a lot.

The mobile home had previously been found unsafe after being installed with no permits or inspections, according to Steve Sorah, the county’s building commissioner. Previous zoning orders to remove the mobile home have been ignored, and the county health department has ordered the owner to cover a pile of tires because of mosquito concerns.

Sorah said the next step is to file in court to force compliance of the removal orders.

Animal welfare

Commissioners approved 2-0 the contract with local veterinarian Stacy Kostiuk to provide animal welfare consulting services and begin to implement suggestions from national expert Sara Pizano’s study. 

The $30,000 contract is for four months, with Richmond paying half the cost. Commissioner Jeff Plasterer indicated Kostiuk was satisfied with the contract, which will also need Richmond’s approval.

A discussion about Commissioner Mary Anne Butters’ draft proposal of tactics to approach the county’s animal welfare problem was delayed because Commissioner Brad Dwenger was absent.

Other business

• Commissioners voted 2-0 to enable the sheriff’s department to donate a four-wheeler the department no longer uses to Richmond High School’s marching band. The band can use it to pull equipment.
• A $909 insurance bill will be paid from American Rescue Plan Act dollars after a 2-0 commissioners vote. The bill reconciles the insurance cost for county vehicles after purchasing new vehicles and putting other vehicles out of service.