BARNESVILLE — Village leaders recently learned that a long-desired project to extend a waterline from Barnesville to nearby communities could be realized.

Pam Ewing, representing the Rural Community Assistance Partnership, or RCAP, addressed council during its Jan. 27 meeting, saying she recently was contacted by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency about a project that would bring Barnesville water to Hendrysburg, north of the village where Ohio 800 meets Interstate 70, and Fairview, which lies north and west of Barnesville on the Belmont/Guernsey County border along Interstate 70.

Also included in the project is the completion of the “Mt. Olivett loop,” which was later revealed to be Barnesville’s “get” for taking on the project along with the estimated 184 additional water hookups.

Ewing said planners are pursuing funding through a number of sources, including a $750,000 Community Development Block Grant and a grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission, as well as a Water Supply Revolving Loan Fund Account and H2Ohio funding, which are both Ohio EPA programs.

Ewing said there had been various efforts to get water to Fairview going back 40 years, but that with only 40 homes there it had not been feasible. She added that in the past few years, Belmont and Guernsey counties both looked at the project while an engineer who had been working on plans with Fairview since 2015 “nominated” the project for funding, which helped to bring about a more committed stance from the Ohio EPA.

“To do this, it’s putting everybody on a really fast track because the nomination to the EPA program actually is the first week of March,” said Ewing, adding that this would be to get the EPA funding in 2026.

The estimate for the total project was given as $5.5 million, and while the various contracts, resolutions and ordinances needed to proceed were briefly discussed, Village Solicitor Richard Myser said he would need some time since this was the first he had heard of the project.

Ewing confirmed when questioned by Village Fiscal Officer Jeannie Hannahs that as proposed, Barnesville would be the project applicant and funding would go through the village’s books.

Mayor Jake Hershberger concluded the discussion saying, “We will have collaboration with Richard on the legal aspect and then prepare to take action or next steps at the next meeting.”

Meanwhile, officials discussed whether to take action to prohibit ice fishing on village-owned bodies of water after a man fell through the ice while fishing with his son at Barnesville Reservoir 1 on Jan. 17. The man was rescued and survived.

Myser said the village could either pass an ordinance to prohibit ice fishing or Hershberger could take executive action to implement the ban, but he added that neither action would make the village totally immune to liability claims.

A resident who was in attendance spoke up, saying that it would be unfair to enact a ban on all ice fishing due to one rare occurrence. The matter was eventually tabled with no action taken.

Fire Chief Tim Hall and Police Chief Rocky Sirianni both expressed appreciation for the teamwork between the various county and village departments during the rescue. Resident Lance Fisher also was involved in the operation.

In other business, council approved paying bills in the amount of $114,003.42, approved an ordinance increasing the clothing allowance for most village employees and another ordinance to amend the yearly budget appropriations to account for a loan that is part of the Ohio Public Works Commission paving project funding package.

Members also voted to renew a contract with Antero Energy, allowing it to withdraw water from the village’s Slope Creek Reservoir at a rate of $6.50 per 1,000 gallons.

Barnesville Village Council’s next meeting will be held at 7 p.m. today in the Municipal Building on Arch Street.