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LISBON -- Leadership Columbiana County paid a visit to Columbiana County government this week, learning about the duties of the various officeholders, including county commissioners.
Both Commissioner Mike Halleck and Commissioner Roy Paparodis spoke to members of this year's class, who also visited with county Auditor Nancy Gause Milliken and county Recorder Jim Armeni. They also had plans to meet with state Rep. Monica Robb Blasdel, R-Columbiana.
Leadership Columbiana County Director Amanda Frost explained that the whole idea behind the program is to introduce participants to areas of the community they haven't been exposed to, such as the inner workings of government, businesses, community groups or social service organizations and teach them about leadership and becoming involved.
Frost said there's a misconception that there are no jobs here and nothing for people to do. She said they don't understand the great resources available.
"We open their eyes to what's available. We're exposing people to areas of the community that they didn't know existed," Frost said.
Leadership Columbiana County is a program that meets once a month from September through May. First started in 1999, the program also has a Junior LCC for high school sophomores and juniors, led by LCC Assistant Director Katy Mumaw. The junior program is free. LCC costs $1,200 for the year.
Each year, LCC chooses a project to benefit the community, in the past building beds and raising funds for mobile data terminals for the sheriff's office. This year she said they were choosing between a project to impact East Palestine or to work on suicide prevention.
Participants in the program are usually sponsored by their employer, including businesses, government agencies and even government offices. The program allows for networking, projects that impact the community and leadership skills training.
Since it's inception, Frost said they've raised more than $300,000 that has had an impact on the community overall.
To learn more about LCC or to apply for the program, which is overseen by a board of directors, visit the group's website at leadershipcolumbianacounty.org.
In other business, commissioners: approved a lease agreement with Pitney Bowes, Inc. for a postage machine for the county auditor for 60 months at a cost of $330 per month; established a new fund for the Columbiana County Aging Grant to certify and appropriate $345,928 to the county Department of Job and Family Services, which is overseeing the grant; authorize advertising for bids for gasoline, diesel fuel, kerosene, slag, gravel, crushed limestone, asphalt and ice control materials for 2024 for the county highway department; and agreed to allow the contractor for the Fields of Fisher Farm Phase 3 Calcutta Development to renew a second letter of credit for $40,000 extended to November 2024 for completion.
The next commissioners' meeting will be 9 a.m. Nov. 15 at the downtown courthouse.
mgreier@mojonews.com