Mercer Co. officials OK pact to lock in natural-gas price

By Mary Grzebieniak

A bridge replacement in Greenville won’t take place until 2010 or 2011.

MERCER, Pa. — Mercer County commissioners approved a contract that will lock in a natural-gas price for county buildings for the winter, which is about 3 percent higher.

They approved a contract Thursday with National Fuel Resources Inc. to pay $8.90 per dekatherm from Oct. 1 to June 30, 2009. County Controller Tom Amundsen said the contract was negotiated with National Fuel for the 20 schools, businesses and churches which, along with the county, make up the Mercer County Gas Consortium.

A dekatherm is a measure of energy, in this case cubic feet of natural gas.

Amundsen said agreement protects the county from market swings, which included a rise to $13.9 per dekatherm during the summer.

Commissioners also hired Gary Kern of Jackson Center as a law clerk for Judge Reed. His pay rate will be determined later.

Meanwhile, county officials announced that replacement of the structurally challenged Ohl Street Bridge in Greenville will not get under way until 2010 or 2011.

The truss bridge was built in 1909 to replace a footbridge and rehabilitated in 1980.

After a recent inspection, the sidewalk on the bridge was closed and load limits were reduced to 3 tons, which essentially bars truck traffic.

County Engineer Mark Miller told the commissioners earlier this week that HDR, a consulting firm from Pittsburgh, has been chosen out of 18 firms that submitted proposals to do engineering and design for the project.

Miller said preliminary engineering will take a year and design, an additional year and both must be complete before the project is let for construction bids.

He said that the bridge’s historic nature will be a factor in planning for its replacement.

HDR’s proposal of $452,516 must be approved by commissioners, who plan to do so at a future meeting.

The bridge is one of two major crossings over the Shenango River in Greenville and borough officials have stated they want the bridge to be kept open.

Miller said inspections of the bridge will continue and that emergency repairs could be made to keep the bridge open if necessary before the reconstruction.