A resolution recently approved by the Columbiana County commissioners will allow for the county Port Authority to apply for a $500,000 critical infrastructure grant to help fund a West Railroad Street renovation project in Columbiana.

CCPA Assistant Executive Director Brittany Smith explained that CCPA administers the Community Development Block Grant program for the commissioners, with the resolution authorizing the legal authority for commissioners to apply for grants and execute the programs through CDBG and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Smith said the Columbiana project calls for replacement of the storm sewer and water line, along with renovation of the street for an estimated $3.4 million.

“The impact of the project will serve the entire community of Columbiana,” she said, adding that it will be an asset for the businesses on that side of town, especially the truck traffic.

According to Smith, other funding sources lined up for the project include $1 million from the Jobs Ohio 629 fund, $200,000 from the the Ohio Department of Transportation, $500,000 from the Appalachian Regional Commission, along with preapplications for loans of $748,000 from the Ohio Water Development Authority and $500,000 from ODOT State Infrastructure Bank.

In other business, commissioners approved the notice to proceed for the Third Street resurfacing project from the intersection of Main Street continuing northwest to the intersection of Lisbon Street in Wellsville. RT Vernal Paving & Excavating of North Lima was previously awarded the contract for $118,316. The project is being funded by a county Community Development Block Grant from 2024.

Commissioners approved several agreements, including a programmatic agreement with the State Historic Preservation Office required by HUD and CDBG program, a citizen participation policy for the CDBG program, a resolution to approve a community corrections grant agreement with the Department of Rehabilitation and a resolution to declare intent to receive funds through the Ohio Public Works Commission for the Calcutta pump station replacement project.

The commissioners gave permission for Family Recovery Center to use the downtown courthouse parking lot for the annual overdose event on Aug. 30, for the county engineer to advertise for bids for this year’s multi-county highway paving program, and for David II, David III, Kanton, Kaiden, Kayla and Brentin Duval to hunt on the county’s County Home Road property in Center Township.

Bids opened for the county line striping program were $336,905 by Aero-Mark Company LLC and $408,954 for Oglesby Construction Inc.

In business related to the county Department of Job and Family Services, Director Rachel Ketterman requested the board approve the hiring of Steve Ullom of Columbiana as the Family and Children First Council Coordinator. She explained that the FCFC now falls under the DJFS instead of the Educational Service Center, so Ullom had to be named as coordinator through DJFS even though he has been serving as the coordinator for several years.

DJFS contracts approved included: CLEAR to provide locations of individuals apart of family services programs, with funding through the Child Support Enforcement Agency and covering two years from June 1, 2025 to May 31, 2027; Community Action Rural Transit System, NET and Pre-Natal transportation services, July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026, $1 million contract ceiling; CARTS, SNAP employment and training program transportation services, July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026, $50,000 contact ceiling; and Complete Pest Solutions, extermination and treatment for pests in homes of PRC Children Services clients, July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2025, $6,000 contract ceiling.

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

mgreier@mojonews.com