Concerns raised about county's permitting process for overweight and oversize vehicles
The Richland County commissioners have asked county Engineer Adam Gove to review the county’s permitting regulations for overweight and oversize vehicles traveling on county roads to see if they can be streamlined. The request followed a discussion with Mark Paule of Integrity Permits LLC of Castalia who told commissioners Tuesday the process needs to be easier for companies that need more than one permit for a project.
Paule said he represents C.J. Hughes Construction Company of Huntington, West Virginia, which is moving heavy equipment for pipeline repair and replacement work in Richland County for Columbia Gas. Paule said the company made local officials aware before work started that it would have projects at 10 sites around the county and that meeting county regulations that require commissioners to approve separate permits for each equipment move can be time-consuming.
Paule said the problem CJ Hughes is running into is when the company asks for a permit to move equipment the same day or the next day and the permit cannot be approved until the commissioners’ next meeting several days away.
“The other counties I have dealt with have given the county engineer the option to issue a permit on their behalf,” he said. “Most jurisdictions we get them back within an hour, a couple hours or maybe the next morning. We almost never have to wait days to get permits.”
Ohio law gives counties the authority to create regulations for permits to drive overweight and oversized loads on county roads so officials can protect the integrity of the road surface and provide for repairs if damage is done.Gove, who was at the meeting for other business, said most requests come in as individual, one-time permits. He pointed out that there are other options for moving certain types of equipment and agreed with a request by Commissioners’ Chairman Darrell Banks to work with the company on options.
“We want to be friendly with people who fix our infrastructure as well as friendly to business,” Banks said.
Paule is a retired Erie County sheriff’s deputy who worked as a commercial enforcement officer and said he started his business after seeing a need to help companies obtain their state and local hauling permits.
Bridge replacement, other projects approved
During their formal meeting with Gove, commissioners approved an $805,302 contract with V.O. Menuez and Son Inc. of Millersburg, which was the low bidder to replace a bridge on London West Road that has been closed since last May. The project is expected to be completed in November.
The board also gave Gove the OK to participate in the state’s road salt purchasing program for the coming winter. Gove said the county contracted for 2,500 tons last winter, purchased 2,250 tons and is looking to cut back to 2,000 tons this year.
“We’re sitting on quite the pile right now,” he said.
In other business on Tuesday, commissioners:
Approved a $474,677 design/build contract with Garland/DBS Incorporated for roof work at the Child Support Enforcement Agency building, the county Juvenile Justice Center, the Park Building and the county maintenance garage.
Approved a $59,282 contract with Schmidt Security Pro and a related ARPA expenditure designation for access controls for the remodeled L2 level at the courthouse.
Authorized the Dog Warden's Office to buy a 2021 Chevy Equinox from Buckeye Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge of Shelby with the $22,555 cost paid out of the county’s reinvestment fund.
Accepted a $40,300 quote from Purdy Construction for outside stair repair on the east side of the courthouse and a $28,600 quote from Matern Metal Works to repair the stair railing.
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Commissioners discuss overweight vehicle permitting process, contracts
