LISBON — The fee for a certificate of title for vehicles will increase to $23 effective March 1 in Columbiana County after county commissioners agreed recently to authorize the additional $5.

Clerk of Courts Anthony Dattilio said he can’t remember the last time the fee increased for the county, noting that Ohio House Bill 96 increased the fee from $15 to $18 effective Jan. 1, with the additional $3 going to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

The law also allowed for county commissioners to increase the fee further to $23, with the $5 going to the Clerk of Courts Title Department.

Dattilio said everything is going up. He explained that the increase will offset increases for supply costs for the title department, payroll and other expenses.

He couldn’t remember when the fee last increased, but said it’s been quite awhile.

In other business for county commissioners, county Engineer Bert Dawson was given permission to advertise for bids for the Elkton Wastewater Treatment plant raw pump replacement project in Elkrun Township, with the bids to be opened Feb. 4. He was also given permission to advertise for bids for a bridge deck and approach slab milling and waterproofing project on old state Route 45 in Madison Township, with bids to be opened Feb. 11. Dawson was given permission to purchase the Carman property at 224 S. Beaver St., Lisbon. He was granted authorization to join and maintain membership in eight professional organizations, totaling $11,445.

In matters related to the county Emergency Management Agency, commissioners certified that the Beaver Valley Power Station Radiological Emergency Response Plan will be activated in the event of an emergency at the power station and approved the EMA promulgation statement assigning emergency responsibilities during an emergency or disaster situation. Commissioners also approved the service contract between the EMA and the Local Emergency Planning Committee.

Commissioners appointed Ronald Caratelli as a general member of the Columbiana County Board of Developmental Disabilities for a four-year term from Jan. 1, 2026 to Dec. 31, 2029.

A lease was renewed for County Home Road, Lisbon agricultural land, approximately 171.72 acres, with the Yarian Family Farm for five years for $95 per acre paid annually. Also approved was an agreement with the Columbiana Soil and Water Conservation District for the conservation and management of agricultural land on County Home Road, Lisbon for $16,313 per year for five years.

The commissioners followed the recommendation of county Department of Job and Family Services Director Rachel Ketterman in hiring Ashley Ellis of Hanoverton, Mya Emmerling of Lisbon and Erica Jones of Youngstown as social service worker IIs in the social services division. They also approved one-year contracts from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31 with Fishel Downey Albrecht & Riepenhoff LLC for legal services for human resource management with a spending ceiling of $9,500 and with 821 Consulting LLC for professional coaching services with a spending ceiling of $5,000.

Commissioners increased the spending ceiling from $9,500 to $30,000 with the county Educational Service Center for Family and Children First Council service coordination. Ketterman was also granted authority to transfer money between various funds related to DJFS, which is an annual approval.

Commissioners approved the adoption of the county cafeteria plan related to the flexible benefits plan.

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

mgreier@mojonews.com