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BDD board member questions candle facility

LISBON — Is the Beaver Creek Candle Company worth continuing? That was the question posed by county Board of Developmental Disabilities member Tom Andrix this week.

Andrix asked about the status of the company’s success during the board meeting, and said the board has invested a lot of money into the company and he had hoped the clients could “get a lot more out of it.”

The board has invested about a half a million dollars in the company’s building on County Home Road in Lisbon alone and has spent additional money over the years, Superintendent Bill Devon said after the meeting.

The company was started about seven years ago and has expanded from retail to both retail and wholesale business.

The candles are handcrafted and shipped by the BDD clients, who in turn earn a paycheck for their work.

All of the proceeds from the candle sales go back to the workers and operation of the facilities.

The board is in the process of implementing a new look for the candles, with the hope of attracting more customers.

Devon is optimistic they can find more buyers, but he believes the process will take some time.

“The formation is starting to be there, it will just take some time. We are preparing ourselves to sell more candles,” he said.

He added that if the board is not satisfied, they can always opt to get out of the business if they choose.

In other business, the board approved:

— Renewing liability insurance with the Ohio School Plan at a cost of $7,787.

— Renewing membership in the Family Children First Council at $5,500.

— Renewing a two-year contract with the East Liverpool City Hospital at $55 per hour for physical therapy, $37.50 for physical therapy assistant, $55 for occupational therapy, $37.50 for certified occupational therapy assistant and $45 for speech.

— Contracting with R&R Paving for work at the Adult Senior Center at a cost $44,375.

— Supporting the Educational Service Center pre-schools to purchase new curriculum to align with new state standards at a cost of $5,500.

— Leasing van no. 30 to EDI at a cost of $500 per month.

— Declaring four buses obsolete and no longer needed for public use and selling the four buses through sealed bids, to be opened at 10:30 a.m. July 12 in the administration board room.

— Joining the Work Force Investment Board at a fee not to exceed $2,100 a year for two years.

— Employment contracts with Melissa Andric as nurse manager, James McCauley as technical management coordinator, Shirley Bowald as community employment coordinator, Carrie Waters as service and support supervisor, Terra Radman as professional employment navigator/service and support administrator and Michele Brown as professional employment navigator/service and support administrator.

— Revising board policy 313-Employment First, which is required for accreditation in July.

— A contract with the Nutrition Group for lunch services at Robert Bycroft School, with lunches set at $2.78 and breakfast at $1.60.

— Permitting the CCH Environmental Group to store recycling containers on the old bus lot until July 21.

The next meeting was set for 4 p.m. Aug 1.

kwhite@mojonews.com

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