MEYER

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — A busy Belmont County Commission agenda Wednesday included entering an oil and gas lease with an Oklahoma-based company.

Commissioners voted to enter the lease with Ascent Resources-Utica, LLC, effective Wednesday for the amount of $6,500 per net leasehold acre for a piece of land measuring 26.976 acres in Pultney and Mead Township.

The lease has a five-year term with 20% royalties with a total payment amount of $175,346.

The commission also approved and signed the State of Ohio Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Grant Agreement with Ohio’s Department of Public Safety, Ohio Emergency Management Agency on behalf of the Belmont County Emergency Management Agency which became effective on Sept. 25 and will end on Jan. 15, 2026, for $60,000.

“The grant is a 75/25 split, the county’s 25% can be an in-kind match,” Commissioner Jerry Echemann said. “The grant will be used to update the Belmont County Hazard Mitigation Plan which needs to be done every five years.”

According to the United States Department of Justice, “in-kind” is the value of something received or provided that does not have a cost associated with it. For example, if an in-kind match is permitted by law (other than cash payments), then the value of donated services could be used to comply with the match requirement. Also, third-party in-kind contributions may count toward satisfying match requirements provided the grantee receiving the contributions expends them as allowable costs.

Commissioners also acknowledged receipt of donations to the Belmont County Emergency Management Agency for the Critical Incident Stress Management Fund.

The Trundo Albert Fire Equipment donated $500, and the Congregation of Bethel Presbyterian Church donated $500. Eastern Ohio Amateur Wireless Association donated $25, and $200 was received from an anonymous donor.

Commissioners approved and signed a workforce agreement with the Belmont County Department of Job and Family Services that began on November 12 and will continue through Nov. 11, 2025.

“The purpose of Workforce is to provide experience and training for recipients of SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits to move them to be self-sufficient through employment,” Echemann said.

He added that the individuals will be working as animal caretakers at the Belmont County Animal Shelter.

Echemann then made the motion to adopt the resolution that designated EMA Director Dave Ivan to apply with the State of Ohio office to obtain Federal financial assistance for the State of Ohio Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Grant Agreement.

Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, the next Belmont County Commissioners meeting will be on Tuesday, Nov. 26 at 9 a.m. instead of Wednesday, Nov. 27.

In addition to that change, the meeting scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 4 will now be on Tuesday, Dec. 3, at 9 a.m. The change of date is due to a scheduling conflict.