GALLIPOLIS — Each township in Gallia County will receive $4,000 from the Gallia County Board of Commissioners in 2010.

According to County Administrator Karen Sprague, the allocation is an annual occurrence that began in 1995 and commissioners voted Thursday during their regular meeting to keep the allocation in effect.

Sprague said township trustees can spend the $4,000 at their own discretion. The funds may be utilized through suppliers and/or the county engineer’s office. Suppliers will send invoices to the county commissioners.

The commissioners also met with Gallipolis City Manager Randy Finney concerning Davis Hall, the long-vacant First Ave. structure currently owned by the city. County commissioners had previously inquired about the amount of asbestos that in Davis Hall. Finney presented an analysis to the commission and said that he was advised, in light of the data, that demolition and removal could cost between $250,000 and $260,000.

Finney told county commissioners that previous estimates for remodeling just two of the three floors in Davis Hall topped $3 million. The city manager told commissioners that if the county was not interested in Davis Hall, that the city would put the building up for sale.

Commissioners told Finney that they will review the information he submitted to them on Thursday. No action was taken on the issue.

The county also conducted a loan proposal opening Thursday for the speculative building project at the Dan Evans Industrial Park, located on Ohio 850 north. The entire project will cost $250,258, according to the county.

Economic Development Director Melissa Clark recommended that the commission accept Ohio Valley Bank’s proposal of a 15-year loan with an interest rate of 4.08 percent. The commissioners voted unanimously to approve Clark’s recommendation.

Peoples Bank, Farmers Bank and Ohio Valley Bank submitted loan proposals. Peoples Bank submitted the following proposals: 5 years at 3.35 percent; 10 years at 4 percent; and 15 years at 4.5 percent.

Farmers Bank offered the following proposals: 5 years at 3.6 percent; 10 years at 3.85 percent; and 15 years at 4.15 percent.

Ohio Valley Bank submitted the following proposals: 5 years at 2.95 percent; 10 years at 3.62 percent; and 15 years at 4.08 percent.

The commission approved a resolution that will allow county employees who can obtain health insurance from sources outside the county plan to receive a $1,500 cash incentive. Employees who participate in the buyout program in the upcoming fiscal year will receive their cash incentive on the last payday of November 2010.

County commissioners approved a resolution that calls for the county to continue assisting townships and villages with garbage collection receptacles that will be monitored and maintained by townships and villages in 2010. The grant program will provide $15,000 for the upcoming fiscal year with a limit of $5,000 for each township or village.

The program calls for a 50-50 match and will be conducted on a reimbursement basis with no funding provided up front. Townships and villages will be reimbursed up to $5,000 and must provide documentation in the form of invoices and canceled checks.

Townships and villages will be chosen on a “first request, first serve” basis until the entire $15,000 grant fund has been expended. The funding is coming out of the county incinerator fund.