ST. CLAIRSVILLE — In September 2020, the Belmont County Board of Commissioners announced some good news for the seven families residing on Otto Road off Mount Victory Road in Pultney Township, who have been without water service for more than 60 years.

However, the long-hoped-for project has yet to materialize.

Resident Jim Morrison, who had petitioned the commissioners for help for years, said the project to construct a waterline has yet to begin even though the projected completion date had been Dec. 21.

“They were supposed to start it in January or February,” Morrison said after the weekly commission meeting.

“Three times this year it’s been talked about and delayed.”

He said residents have been in contact with the Bel-O-Mar Regional Council, which is preparing for the work. He said the agency has not provided them an updated schedule.

“Whether it’s the pandemic putting all these delays on it, I don’t know the real reasoning behind all the delays … but it seems like when we even write up a schedule we can’t stick to the schedule because something always comes up, so we just want to find out really where we’re going with the project and how long it’s going to take,” Morrison said.

He said the original plan had called for a 6-inch waterline but he believes the waterline size may be reduced.

“We don’t’ want a reducement because we have a well pad right by the road we have to pass it. We live on a dead-end run. That’s the only way in and the only way out, and if we don’t have that safety there, heaven forbid if something ever happens. Where are people going to be if something happens?” Morrison said.

He recalled a well pad explosion in 2018 in Powhatan Point.

“They wanted to put a 6-inch hydrant by that well site in case there should ever be a fire and they had to fight a fire, because the area we live in is wooded, pretty heavily wooded,” Morrison said.

“It’s not a definite, but they might have to change it to a different size because of the EPA rules for using chlorine and the number of folks that’s on the line.

“There’s going to be seven folks using the line, but there’s other roads that have a 6-inch line with less folks,” Morrison said. “They said the EPA rules have changed in the last year.”

He added that the area has the potential to grow should projects such as a potential ethane cracker plant along Ohio 7 come about.

“If that thing materializes, people are going to have to live somewhere,” Morrison said.

Environmental concerns may also be causing a delay.

“They had to do an environmental impact study because of bats in the area. That didn’t happen either, at least we haven’t seen anybody out there,” Morrison said.

“They have to check on people, then they have to put it out for bids,” Morrison said. “None of that stuff has taken place that we know of. If it has, it’s been kept under their hat.”

Morrison said he expected the residents to meet with Bel-O-Mar next month.

“We just need people to be more up-front and more transparent,” Morrison said.

Last year, the commissioners had announced the $280,000 project would be fully funded by a loan from the state. Morrison said residents have often resorted to other methods including collecting and treating rainwater for water needs.

“Sounds like you don’t really know where you stand right now,” Commission Jerry Echemann said.

Commissioner J.P. Dutton agreed the situation has been frustrating, particularly when dealing with funded projects.

“It’s great when the money comes through, it’s great when the dollars are there, but there’s a lot of strings attached,” Dutton said. “I think we all expected the project to be done now. That’s the frustrating part of all this. … I thought we were pretty much on the home stretch. I think we still are on the home stretch, it’s just taken a little longer than we thought.”

“How come the oil companies can run pipelines every which-way, all through the hillsides and everything, but we can’t get a waterline?” fellow resident Sharon Newell said.

Dutton said oil and gas companies work with different agencies.

“The funding isn’t going anywhere. The project will get done,” Dutton said.

Bel-O-Mar and Belmont County Engineer Terry Lively could not be reached for comment.

Richard Hord of Martins Ferry also inquired about the county Department of Senior Services and East Ohio Regional Hospital in Martins Ferry. Commissioner Josh Meyer said meetings between the county and EORH have taken place. Dutton said there have been prior discussion between the county and hospital.