Among the usual transfers and appropriations approved during the Washington County Commission agenda, the commissioners passed the professional services contract with Woolpert Inc. on Thursday.

Woolpert Inc. will complete the preliminary overview and design for the wastewater collection system that runs along State Route 7 South which is between the cities of Belpre and Marietta.

“We’re excited to start the process,” said Commissioner Charlie Schilling. “It starts the process and allows us to meet with everyone involved and in that area to further discuss the plan.”

Schilling said this is the first step in the process and the company will begin multiple stages over the course of a few months to advance the project forward.

The contract states that Woolpert Inc. will prepare a preliminary report and prepare a detailed design, gather bid documents and provide administration oversight until the project is complete.

“Once the preliminary overview is done, we’ll then start working with the state and grant processes,” said Schilling.

The project consists of wastewater collection for unsewered areas along SR 7 and is expected to be finalized within the next few years, said Schilling.

The scope of services contract was presented by Washington County Engineer Roger Wright.