JEFFERSON — Emergency repairs began Wednesday to replace several underground electrical conduit lines furnishing power for the Ashtabula County Courthouse Justice Center.

Ashtabula County commissioners Tuesday awarded the $42,000 contract to Broad Street Electric of Ashtabula, said county administrator Janet Discher.

“There are two main underground electric trunk lines, which supply power to the courthouse heating and ventilating needs. One line over 30 years old had apparently broken. The work had to be done as an emergency contract,” Discher said.

Broad Street Electric owner Rob McVoy had crews with Conneaut Telephone Co. bring in equipment to lay the new electrical conduit under a section of the courthouse parking lot. Crew roped off the 30-minute parking spaces at the courthouse for two days while the work was done. McVoy said the work should be done by today.

Discher said the warmer weather allowed the contractor to get the project started. After the courthouse offices closed Wednesday, power was shut off temporarily to allow the new lines to be connected.In other business, commissioners authorized an agreement with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources that will install a 1.5-mile walking/ cycling trail within Geneva State Park.

The meeting was the first official session for Peggy Carlo since she was selected last week to replace Deborah Newcomb on the three-member panel. Newcomb departed to become the county’s state representative.

“I look forward to working with you all,” said the former Saybrook Township trustee.

The courthouse power problems were detected last fall and were believed corrected with a new electrical panel and reworked wiring. Another analysis, however, uncovered faulty wiring in the second conduit that services that portion of the courthouse.

The wiring dates back to the early 1970s, Discher said.

Broad Street Electric of Ashtabula Township will perform $24,700 worth of work, while Conneaut Telephone Co. will handle additional repairs valued at $17,318. The work will begin as soon as possible.

Equipment that acted strangely tipped off courthouse staff to a potential problem last fall, said Commissioner Daniel Claypool.

“We thought we could fix it one way,” he said. “The problem was worse than was anticipated. There was bad wire in both conduits.”

The repairs must be done before warm weather arrives and courthouse air conditioners are activated. Air conditioners could put a terrible strain on the system, blowing out power, members said.

The Ohio Revised Code allows the county to bypass competitive bidding when “a real and present emergency” exists, according to legislation.

The Geneva State Park trail will be 12 feet wide and stretch 8,800 feet, generally following the Lake Erie shore. It will commence at a point near the intersection of Route 531 and Route 534, Claypool said.