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LISBON -- Lisbon Mayor Peter Wilson talked to Columbiana County commissioners Wednesday about establishing a countywide building department.
Wilson pointed out how the cities of Salem and Columbiana and the village of Leetonia all use Elevate Building Solutions, a company which was created in Salem through the Sustainable Opportunity Development Center and provides those entities with building department services, such as the issuance of building permits.
He explained that the village of Lisbon and other entities in the county have to go through the state of Ohio, which takes longer. He relayed how his brother purchased a building in Lisbon and the permitting process through the state took two-and-a-half years to complete.
He said it should be a county initiative and should be countywide.
"It would increase our attractiveness," Wilson said, referring to companies wanting to build here.
"That's not a bad idea," Commissioner Mike Halleck said, asking Wilson to meet with county development director Tad Herold regarding the suggestion.
The cities of Columbiana and Salem joined forces with the SOD Center to create Elevate Building Solutions in 2023 for building department services, with both cities each agreeing to pay $25,000 per year for three years. SOD Center contributed also and then later Leetonia also joined in.
In other business, commissioners awarded the bid for the county engineer's 2025 multi highwa paving program to Shelly & Sands Inc. of North Jackson for the bid of $1,543,535. The only other bidder was The Shelly Company-Northeast Division for $1,739,964. Bids were opened last week.
Commissioners also approved the Community Corrections Act 2.0 Grant agreement with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections for adult probation for $443,501 and gave permission to hunt on the county's County Home Road property in Lisbon to Todd Duvall.
At the recommendation of county Department of Job and Family Services Director Rachel Ketterman, commissioners approved a memorandum of understanding for reimbursement of county Family & Children First Council service coordination services from June 30, 2025 to June 30, 2026 and contracted with Lisa Felekey-Bigelow for FCFC service coordination with a contract ceiling of $32,500 from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026.
Ketterman also met with commissioners behind closed doors in an executive session to discuss employee discipline. Upon their return to open session, the commissioners agreed to the discipline of two employees as Ketterman deemed necessary. Ketterman said the two public service employees will be suspended without pay for three days for deception.
The next meeting of county commissioners will be 9 a.m. July 9 at the downtown courthouse, with a tax budget hearing at 9:05 a.m. July 9.
mgreier@mojonews.com