During a brief work session Monday afternoon, the Warren County Commissioners reviewed two bids to refinish the front doors at the courthouse and a request for festival funds.
A bid of $4,750 from an Erie company was beaten by a local woodworking firm. Loizeaux Woodworking of Youngsville submitted a bid totaling $4,155. The cost would include refinishing and repair work on the doors, which would be done one set at a time in order to leave an open entryway.
Commisioner John Bortz questioned whether the bid included cleaning, repair or replacement of hinges and other hardware. Commissioner John Eggleston noted the hinges were ball bearing, and, in his opinion, shouldn't need replaced. The commissioners agreed to contact Loizeaux about the matter before taking action.
The commissioners also received a request from Sheffield Township officials for funds to aid in holding their annual Johnny Appleseed Festival in October.
"Did we do anything last year?" Bortz asked.
Chief Clerk Pam Matve replied, "We haven't done event funding in a couple of years."
"We've been staying away from event funding," Eggleston agreed.
"If we have some unforseen windfall, maybe," Bortz said. "We should keep it on file."
Bortz added that he felt the people of Sheffield should be proud of their festival. Bortz, Eggleston and Commissioner Chairman Stephen Vanco agreed the inability to contribute was a regrettable financial reality.
"We've done things in the past," Vanco noted, "but it's not something we've been able to do (recently)."
"We've had the money before, but that was then and this is now," Bortz agreed. "This year we've had more unforseen things come across our desk... We have to run it real tight."
The commissioners agreed to send formal correspondence denying the request.