An orange hazard sign that states “men working ahead” on Chamberlain Drive in Devola recently. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

MARIETTA – Washington County Commissioner Charlie Schilling said the commissioners met with the developers on Wednesday to discuss what the PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) would look like if the project were to come into fruition.

He shared a few project updates about the potential data center in Waterford during the regular commission meeting on Thursday.

“It lasted about an hour, we’re starting to work through what a PILOT arrangement can be and we’re starting to work through what a community development agreement can be,” he said. “Understanding there are concerns from the community that are going to have to be addressed.”

Schilling said there will be no agreements on the process until there has been a public meeting with the developers for the community to have an opportunity to share their concerns and ask questions.

“There are opportunities for the developer to be able to impact certain areas whether that comes down to infrastructure or public safety, things like that we are working through,” he said.

He said he didn’t have any updates on when the public meeting would be but he hoped to have more information during the next regular commission meeting Thursday.

In other business, multiple long-term, county-wide projects progressed following the approval of the commissioners.

Added and approved on the agenda were proposals for the EPA Brownfield Grants and a finalized contract for the Hune Covered Bridge among other items.

The commissioners also approved an invoice for additional funding on the Muskingum Township Paving Project which coincides with the finalization of the Devola Sewer Project.

Commissioner Charlie Schilling said the county partnered with Muskingum Township to each put in funds towards the project. In August 2025, the commissioners contributed $310,874 and the township contributed $59,512 along with an OPWC loan of $397,755.

“The estimates came back and it’s about $60,000 higher than what we’ve anticipated, so the ask from Muskingum Township is the county put in $30,000 and they (township) would put in $30,000 as well,” said Schilling. “I think it’s an ideal solution to the project.”

Schilling said the project went hand-in-hand with finalizing the Devola Sewer Project because there was a lot of work done in Devola that impacted the roads as well.

“We’re trying to be proactive on things,” said Muskingum Township Trustee Alex Pfaff.

Pfaff said the township has been spending money on fixing the over 50-year-old culverts in the area that needed to be replaced and they’re happy to start working on the roads.

“When you look at the finalization of this Devola Sewer Project it’s been something in the making for over 15 years now,” said Schilling.

The final bid total for the project was $1,150,296. With the approved additional $60,000 in funding ($30,000 each) the county would fund a total of $340,630 and the township would fund a total of $427,511.

Schilling said there are 565 homes with sewer and soon the yards will be completely restored and the roads will be paved.

“Some were against it, some were for it but now we’re getting it finalized and we’re going to be able to leave the community in a really good spot out there,” he said.

After the Hune Covered Bridge had to be rebid due to bids exceeding the county engineer’s estimate, the commissioners approved the contract for the bridge.

The Righter Co. bid $2,463,197, which was within 10% of the engineer’s estimate. According to previous information provided by county Engineer Roger Wright, the project will be funded 95% federally and 5% locally. There was $75,000 from the Capital Budget request awarded to the project from 2019.

“We have about $190,000 in a $2.4 million contract,” said Washington County Engineering Department Office Manager Emily Griffin. “He did a great job stacking funding and partnerships with different entities and this is basically the execution of the contract.”

Griffin said once the contract has been signed by the commissioners the contractors will be notified and can begin work on the bridge.

In previous meetings, Wright said the bridge will undergo complete rehabilitation but will be open to pedestrian traffic only.

The commissioners approved two Brownfield Remediation Program grant proposals which furthers the process of Brownfield remediation to phase two. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced in 2024 more than $6 million would be distributed to seven projects across Ohio for assessment and cleanup of brownfield sites.

Washington County had received about $1.5 million and Phillip Schaffer with the county grant department said the process has been approved and they can start site testing.

“Our grant department has been able to administer the grant and facilitate some of the projects that we’re working on as far as identifying brownfield sites,” said Schilling.

Schaffer said the proposals are the next step forward towards sampling specific sites.

“We’re moving along,” he said.

The sites that will be sampled are located at 308 Putnam St., Marietta and Jefferson Ave. in Guernsey County.

Schilling said the grant includes Pike and Guernsey County in the sampling and remediation process.

Amber Phipps can be reached at aphipps@newsandsentinel.com