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LISBON -- Commissioners awarded the contracts for two Community Development Block Grant street improvement projects for Salem and Columbiana to R.T. Vernal on Wednesday.
The bids were opened last week and referred to the engineering firm Howells and Baird for recommendations. R.T. Vernal of North Lima was the low bidder for both projects.
The bid for the Salem project, which will include resurfacing portions of Newgarden Avenue and Mullins Street, totaled $362,388, with $100,000 coming from CDBG funds and the rest from the city.
The bid for the Columbiana project, which includes resurfacing Union Street between Columbiana-Lisbon Road and South Main Street, totaled $168,563, with $72,000 from CDBG and the rest from a local match from Columbiana.
In matters related to the Columbiana County Department of Job and Family Services, the commissioners adopted a proclamation recognizing May as Foster Care Month in Columbiana County.
According to the proclamation, in 2022, there were 106 children in foster care in Columbiana County and 144 children throughout the county lived with kinship caregivers "who increased stability for children by keeping them closer to their siblings, extended families, neighborhoods and schools."
The county has 20 certified foster families who can provide temporary homes for children who cannot safely remain with their primary families.
The national theme for Foster Care Month is "Strengthening Minds, Uplifting Families."
County DJFS Director Rachel Ketterman also gave commissioners some statistics regarding fraud awareness month, which is also in May.
Commissioners approved hiring the following personnel recommended by Ketterman: Justin Ritchie of New Castle, Pa. and Danielle Price of Salem as social service workers in the Children Services intake unit; Sheila Campbell of Homeworth as a social service worker in the Children Services adult protective services unit; and Tiffany Arthur of Salem as an intergovernmental case manager in the child support enforcement division.
In other business, Pete Conkle of the Columbiana Soil and Water District updated commissioners on a recent stream cleanup project by Sophia Sorboro, the Little Beaver Creek Watershed Coordinator, of the creek area behind Pondi's in Lisbon. The cleanup included 20 volunteers, with 16 tires recycled, a 10-yard dumpster filled and four bags of cans and plastic recycled, with the majority the creek bank cleared.
The next commissioner meeting will be 9 a.m. May 10.
mgreier@mojonews.com