Contractor seeks arbitration

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The local contractor for work being done at the Hi-Tech Center in Hillsboro is seeking arbitration with the county in regard to penalties assessed on the contractor by the county’s architect in regard to the unfinished project.

Randy Gilbert of Gilbert Construction last week first brought the matter to the Highland County Board of Commissioners in its weekly meeting and this week, in a letter dated Feb. 9, “demand(ed) arbitration on the disputed issues.”

Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins, present at Wednesday’s meeting of commissioners, said that while arbitration is typically done after a lawsuit is filed, she would “have absolutely no problem” with meeting with Gilbert’s attorney to work through the matter.

“The sooner, the better,” she said.

As reported last week, Gilbert said he was disputing the final payment with the county’s architectural firm, DS2, as Gilbert has been assessed $9,400 in penalties for the amount of time that has elapsed on the project. Adam Raines with DS2 said the project, while extended 49 days initially for weather, is now more than three months past the extended deadline.

In other business, Clay Township Trustee Kenneth Bohl updated the board of commissioners on a recent tire cleanup the township had to deal with and requested more funds on behalf of the township because the job is bigger than expected.

As previously reported in December, commissioners said a $3,500 grant had been secured through the county’s solid waste district to help Clay Township clean up a mess of tires.

Bohl said Wednesday the cleanup of tires is complete and the bill for cleaning up and disposing of the 1,516 tires came to $4,599. The bill also included labor on the cleanup, Bohl said.

He also said that in cleaning up the tires, “at least 10 dumpsters” worth of garbage was also discovered. On behalf of the township, Bohl requested more money toward that cleanup.

Bohl agreed that the cost of the cleanup was to be shared with the township, but that would come out of other township funds, like for maintaining township roads, he said.

Commission president Shane Wilkin said the board would consider it, but asked Bohl to “keep in mind” that there are other townships in the county.

“I understand that,” Bohl said. He said the commissioners likely would not know that Clay Township “ran out of money real quick” on the cleanup unless commissioners were informed of it. He added that the trustees truly appreciate the $3,500 in grant money to put toward cleaning up the tires.

Commissioners are to talk to Tom Davis, director of the Ross Pickaway Highland Fayette Solid Waste District, and get back to Clay Township on the possibility of the use of more grant funds to finish the cleanup.

The owner of the property is incarcerated, Collins said. The accumulation of tires on the property was previously deemed to have become a public nuisance.

Reach Angela Shepherd at 937-393-3456, ext. 1681, or on Twitter @wordyshepherd.

Commissioners Jeff Duncan, left, Shane Wilkin, center, and Tom Horst are pictured at Wednesday’s meeting.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/33/2016/02/web1_commish.jpgCommissioners Jeff Duncan, left, Shane Wilkin, center, and Tom Horst are pictured at Wednesday’s meeting.
Clay Township requests more money for tire cleanup

By Angela Shepherd

[email protected]

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