LISBON — The land where East Palestine plans to build a new village complex to house the fire and police departments and municipal government is now in the village limits.

The Columbiana County commissioners approved the Type II annexation of 22.729 acres from Unity Township into East Palestine during their meeting Wednesday. The land is located just north of the village line on North Market Street.

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 Diaz-Guy and BF Ltd. President Thomas J. Brittain.

East Palestine Village Manager Antonio Diaz-Guy attended last week’s commissioners’ meeting and asked what the commissioners were planning for the maintenance of the road for that annexation. He was told to contact the engineer’s office and both he and

Unity Township Trustee Bryan Henderson, who also attended last week’s session, said the township could take care of one section and the village could take care of the other.

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 also didn’t request hearings for two liquor license permits, with one for Rootstown 44 Corp, East Lake Road, Lisbon in Hanover Township, and one for East Palestine Country Club, Carmel Achor Road, Negley, in Middleton Township.

The commissioners followed the recommendation of Columbiana County Department of Job and Family Services Director Rachel Ketterman and approved a contract with Help Network of N.E. Ohio for after hours support from Jan. 1, 2026 to Dec. 31, 2026 with a contract ceiling of $40,000.

They also approved amendments to contracts paid through the senior services levy, which was just renewed by voters Tuesday night, with Ketterman commenting, “I’m very thankful for that.”

The spending ceiling was increased by $5,000 from $30,000 to $35,000 for homemaker services provided by Clean Choice Maids for the contract ending Dec. 31. The contract ceiling for Companion Care for homemaker, home health aide and chore services was decreased by $5,000 from $115,000 to $110,000 for the contract ending Dec. 31.

She also reported that repairs should be finished today on the air handlers for the Government Services Building. The building lost electric Monday and one of the air handlers at the back of the building blew and one area filled with smoke.

The next meeting of county commissioners will be 9 a.m. Nov. 12 in the downtown courthouse.