Next phase estimated to cost $20K

 

BURLINGTON — Resurrecting the Burlington Jail project was front and center as the county commissioners held their regular Thursday meeting in conjunction with the Concerned Citizens of Burlington.

The jail restoration began as the county’s Ohio Bicentennial Project in 2003, but has languished for several years.

During the public portion of the meeting the status of the project was put on the table.

Commissioner Bill Pratt said there should be a bid from a contractor to do the second floor in the next few weeks. He estimated that work should cost approximately $20,000 and right now the Burlington group has about $6,000 that could go toward that figure.

“We are trying to move the project forward,” Pratt said. “We want to have a fundraiser.”

Commissioner Freddie Hayes said Rolo Construction had agreed to do some work on the exterior at no cost and that he would organize a spaghetti dinner fundraiser for the project. Those kinds of dinners have brought in $15,000 toward fair board projects, Hayes said.

“We know how to put them on,” he said. “Once we get a job estimate, we will go forward with it.”

The jail was the second built in Burlington, the Lawrence County seat from 1816 to 1851 before the county seat was moved to Ironton. The limestone jail is the only structure remaining on the onetime courthouse site on Burlington-Macedonia Road. It was built in 1846 after the first jail, a log building, was destroyed in a fire set by an inmate.

Also at the meeting County Treasurer Stephen Burcham reported that currently the county had $10 million in cash with $4 million of that committed to county engineer bridge replacement and road repair projects. That leaves $5.5 million for the county’s investment pool.

Renewing the county’s most recent certificate of deposit to mature drew interest rates from four county banks ranging from .58 percent to 1.4 percent for a five-year period. Three local banks did not submit a bid for the renewal.

“Interest rates are struggling,” Burcham said.

He rolled over that money into a 27-month CD at 1 percent.

“Which is better than what some of the banks are offering for five years,” he said.

In other business the commissioners:

• Approved a tie down lease agreement for Mark Messner at the Lawrence County Airpark;

• Approved advertising for a public hearing and viewing to vacate Township Road 293 N;

• Approved the bid award for material to Shelly Company for the county engineer.