Tunnel, Trail Project Begins

(Bruce Yarnall photo)  

By Diane Reynolds and Bruce Yarnall, Barnesville Area News

During a brief and early Barnesville Village Council meeting this past Monday night, most of the 20-minute business session was filled with reports from Village Administrator Roger Deal.

Deal said the ODOT-grant funded railroad tunnel and the 1.3-mile walking trail project officially launched on February 13.

The railroad tunnel will be closed to pedestrians for the duration of work on Railroad Street, and Railroad Street itself will be blocked “at times,” said Deal said in response to a query by Mayor Jake Hershberger. Some Excavation work along the bank on Railroad Street began February 13th, with some earth movement currently underway, and is projected to be finished in October.

During the estimated 10-month construction period, ODOT and the general contractor have rented the Barnesville Depot and grounds as their headquarters and construction staging area.   

According to reports from Isaac Goodson of ODOT, beginning the week of March 3, work will begin on the tunnel as workers excavate down 3.5-feet for a foundation for the new liner.       

Signs are already in place letting the public know not to use the tunnel.

Village to receive Coal Company gift of land parcel

At the next council meeting, the village expects to sign a deed transferring 1.55 acres of land to the village, a gift from CCU Coal and Construction LLC. The company previously donated 12+ acres near Pultney Ave near Barnesville Hospital for baseball fields. The additional gift comes after it became evident more land would be needed for parking for the fields.  

Reservoir is Rebounding, Culvert Replacement Set   

Deal also reported that the water level at Slope Creek Reservoir is within one foot of the spillway. During the drought this past year, the level was down over 7 feet.

Following a visit by the Somerset Township Trustees last August, Deal noted Belmont County will replace the large culvert at the north-east end of Slope Creek where Somerset Twp #514, South Sixteen Road, passes over the reservoir. The road is expected to be closed from March 3-14 during construction.

The culvert, almost totally filled with silt, was visible last summer when the lake level dropped. It was installed in 1964 during the reservoir’s construction built when the roadway was raised.

Cemetery Clean-up Underway

All Barnesville cemeteries— Southern, Northern, and Crest—are due for their annual cleaning: all decorations must be removed from graves by March 15, Deal said, or the village will dispose of them. 

In Other Business….

Deal also shared with members that village employee Pat Keiser recently achieved his Ohio Water Supply Operator’s Certificate. He achieved this in record time, Deal noted.

A payment ordinance of $155,141.55 was unanimously approved by the three members present, Tony Johnson, Robyn Misner and Les Tickhill.

Finally, Fire Chief Tim Hall invited council members to the department’s upcoming Spaghetti Dinner fundraiser. It will take place at the fire station, Thursday, March 20 from 4:00-7:00.

The Council’s next meeting will take place Monday, March 10 at 7:00.