By Meladi Brewer

DailyAdvocate.com

DARKE COUNTY — Commissioners commemorated Robin Blinn’s 30 years of dedication and excellence. Commissioners Matt Aultman, Marshall Combs, and Larry Holmes were present.

Grant Consultant, Susan Laux, met with the commissioners to open bids for the Demolition of 11 vacant and blighted structures located throughout Darke County in conjunction with the demolition and site revitalization program.

“Basically this is just the end of our fiscal year 2023 Demo & Site Revitalization Grant Program,” Laux said. “This will be the last project with that. We have applied for a 2024 program, but we won’t know the outcome with that until July.”

The engineer’s estimate for the project is $170,000, and five out of six bids were received. The lowest bid was Mikesell Excavating, Inc. ($150,900) with Dirt Slingers Excavating ($156,500) close behind. The rest of the bids came in the following order: Advanced Demolition Services ($172,676.50), Durst Bro Excavating ($176,700), and Fillmore Construction LLC ($336,700). A bid from Running G Farms LLC was not received. The following bids were accepted and submitted for review by the commissioners.

A construction contract with H&H Environmental was authorized by the commissioners, and a notice to proceed was issued. They will be completing the project for the Demolition & Site Revitalization Program for the Asbestos Remediation & Removal. The project should be completed no later than June 1, 2024.

The contractor will be paid for the completion of the work in funds totaling $108,395, and Darke Count is responsible for the the total amount listed through the State of Ohio Demolition & Site Revitalization Program Grant. The contract for H&H Environmental will commence on May 14, 2024.

“The project with H&H Environmental is all grant money, as well as all the bids we took today ,” Laux said. “There is no county dollars, as it is all grants received by the county.”

The commissioners authorized the filing of the “Brownfield Remediation Program Application” Grant. This is to propose to support and submit an application for the environment assessment of the property located at 142 N. Broadway in Greenville.

In the filing, it is to certify that, to the best of their knowledge, they have complied with all the requirements of the Ohio Department of Development, and they authorize the submission for environmental assessment for review and approval.

A transfer of $2,500 for the DC Sheriff was transferred from the training and education fund into their machine and equipment fund. This is to cover the purchase of computers.

Robin Blinn, Administrative Clerk/Secretary celebrated 30 years of excellence in the Administrative Building. Her hard work and dedication was recognized at the Employee Appreciation Event for the county.

“I just want to personally thank Robin for achieving 30 years. Be proud of yourself,” Combs said.

Blinn received a certificate and a bouquet of roses and lilies as a small token of appreciation.

The commissioners meet every Tuesday and Thursday at 1:30 p.m. for their public Regular Session at 520 S Broadway Greenville.

To contact Daily Advocate Reporter Meladi Brewer, email [email protected]