LISBON — An annexation of 22.729 acres from Unity Township into East Palestine has been proposed for land just north of where the village plans to build a new municipality/safety complex on North Market Street.

The Columbiana County commissioners agreed Wednesday to accept the Type II expedited annexation proposal for filing, with a decision for approval still pending. Village council had approved a resolution authorizing to sign and file the petition on behalf of the parcel owners, which includes the village itself and BF Ltd.

The village owns 2.745 acres which are contiguous to the corporation line. The rest of the proposed annexation area is 22.729 acres owned by BF Ltd, which are contiguous to the village property. The petition for annexation was signed by East Palestine Village Manager Antonio Diaz-Guy and BF Ltd. President Thomas J. Brittain.

A previously published story said the new village complex will be built on North Market Street using a $16 million grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development, with the grant covering 75 percent of the cost of the project which is projected to be finished in July 2028.

In other business, commissioners approved the notice to proceed for the building rehabilitation project at the former Lion and Lamb bookstore at 145-165 South Broadway Avenue in Salem, starting Oct. 20 and to be completed in 180 days. The Dennison Management Group, of Beloit, was awarded the project with a bid of $389,721.

The project calls for replacement of the roof, addition of an Americans with Disability Act accessible bathroom and electrical and waterline upgrades.

The private building rehabilitation project is partially funded by a $250,000 grant from the Target of Opportunity Program through the Ohio Department of Development and the Community Development Block Grant program, with the Columbiana County Port Authority administering the grant and overseeing the project. The building is owned by Teldar Real Estate LLC, which must pay at least 50 percent of the cost of the overall rehabilitation project.

Commissioners also authorized county Engineer Bert Dawson to submit applications to the Ohio Public Works Commission State Capital Improvement and Local Transportation Improvement Programs for funding for three separate 2026 projects, including bridge projects in Unity Township and on Hunston Road and a manhole rehab/replacement project on Dresden Avenue.

In matters related to the county Department of Job and Family Services, at the recommendation of Director Rachel Ketterman, the commissioners approved contracts from Oct. 2, 2025 to Sept. 30, 2026 related to administration of the Child Support Enforcement Program, with the county Clerk of Courts for clerking services with a spending ceiling of $58,410 and with county Juvenile Court for magistrate services with a spending ceiling of $295,682.

Also approved were amendments to contracts for the Senior Services Levy, increasing the ceiling for legal public guardian services from attorney Dan Solmen by $5,000 from $25,000 to $30,000 and decreasing the ceilings for public guardian services from Karen Reaggle by $500 from $6,000 to $5,500 and from Lisa Williams by $3,500 from $10,000 to $6,500.

Commissioner Mike Halleck announced the annual meeting of the Columbiana Soil and Water Conservation District will be Oct. 23 at the Salem Saxon Club.

The next meeting of county commissioners will be 9 a.m. Oct. 8 at the downtown courthouse.

(Staff Writer Stephanie Elverd contributed to this story)