[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98,110],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6229637,"mediaKeyId","3458679-8dc785e2b4de8f5d44d518dfde287359","parentId",3458679,"title","Commissioners asked to clarify process after managed‑care proposals arrive late in workers' comp open‑enrollment period","audioSeconds",631,"startMs",4955000,"endMs",5586000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3458679-8dc785e2b4de8f5d44d518dfde287359&start=4955&end=5586","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3458679-8dc785e2b4de8f5d44d518dfde287359/thumbnail_4955000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6229637/Trumbull-County/Ohio/Commissioners-asked-to-clarify-process-after-managedcare-proposals-arrive-late-in-workers-comp-openenrollment-period","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6229637-fd1ddfd7623601961fd8c12b7d505bb1/orig.mp4?Expires=1773683245&Signature=Qex5pPjiCQ26TJrAkL-g4p7OPTeR4~007eBBrU55xigOKn2w3Lq0zdwHQcuURiQ-jUnOWs3Dyl8tlJlVMaJ36gJirCk1IVhxpXSwiKfFlXI7qqnYaOb6-b7mhAxn~MQdIe2QGQ~lpLbGmvAkUMAFqY49gmLUkHnKFV5M9gXJ3qj8vMkAIBj8V63lsvt96nLgPsa31dt6juEvUFX9xfhKZIatuugEwV-wv-r1Dmt61J3WRBcpGT8UU-LS46TcTgLNqpGqzapq3s4GtYaJbcxkvncr6X2mQdqAkMOhc99nnOjP9opxUsoXOO-WZE~ZfF3rOaL5iKMXLKUG0LD0ST-meg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Trumbull County, Ohio","date","2025-05-20T00:00:00Z","article","The county's human resources and claims staff briefed commissioners about a contested open‑enrollment period for managed‑care organizations (MCOs) that handle Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation claims management. Two proposals were submitted and discussed at the meeting; some commissioners said they had not received the materials in advance and expressed concern about consistency and fairness.

Human resources staff told the board that state rules do not require the county to solicit bids during the open‑enrollment period and that employees are free to choose an MCO, citing guidance from the Bureau of Workers' Compensation and an opinion from the prosecutor's office. The county representative said, \"The Ohio law does not require employers to formally solicit bids or engage in competitive bidding process during the open enrollment period for managed care organizations.\"

Commissioners, however, said they wanted time to review submitted proposals and asked for a clearer process going forward. One commissioner said the county should give all potential providers a fair chance and noted confusion about who had been contacted and why some firms had direct access to commissioners. Human resources offered to review the two proposals and provide recommendations within 24 hours; commissioners requested a consistent future schedule for receiving such materials so they would not arrive at the eleventh hour.

Ending

The board did not select an MCO at the meeting. Human resources will review the proposals, advise commissioners, and recommend next steps; the commissioners asked staff to develop clearer submission and review procedures for future open‑enrollment periods.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Trumbull County Commissioners-Workshop 5/20/2025","oneSentenceSummary","A dispute over submission routes and competitive fairness surfaced after two Managed Care Organization (MCO) proposals were presented late in the county's open‑enrollment period for Bureau of Workers' Compensation services; human resources and the prosecutor's office had differing guidance on whether a formal bid process is required.","taxTitle","taxId",18084,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},6229642,"Planning commission warns Trump administration budget proposal would eliminate key CDBG and HOME funding for Trumbull County",550,3812000,4362000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3458679-8dc785e2b4de8f5d44d518dfde287359&start=3812&end=4362","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3458679-8dc785e2b4de8f5d44d518dfde287359/thumbnail_3812000.jpg","/articles/6229642/Trumbull-County/Ohio/Planning-commission-warns-Trump-administration-budget-proposal-would-eliminate-key-CDBG-and-HOME-funding-for-Trumbull-County","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6229642-0ba715678bd4998b4d7fa60c04fc3397/orig.mp4?Expires=1773683245&Signature=Sca16Zh2B6rt9TsPoOPSH8WgyDSxTPgQevXBaVk9ICQr7HVIDCm5Pnutj3neVaoLlNh2NPiENm66bG-Qphxk~UErohsSmfMRjFNjg-rcExofh5mWEKDPg05IxluKpwKf5YGw9nBf4tLNMVsDKkhAfviNmaUGc8chEDVi4zV9OBZhWEEcoBYDfpDAM2DkfuBFRwO3ZJRTb8ExjLV~Z2U88dGGRr93UzyZ85bkm0rHXyenCCQlFx-AhFDWhqf6L53ji5eXw20FxLpJfgGh1I2OytqSYWB5dEfaP3Q1bOwcgVJQUyK1MwnNQEoEyGSPgeXe~iF3Uu5JLPv7rTXbULTQow__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Nick Coggins, representing the Trumbull County Planning Commission, warned the Board of Commissioners that the proposed federal budget under the current administration would drastically reduce or eliminate Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME program funding.

Coggins said the proposal would eliminate CDBG funding by about $3.3 billion and the HOME Investment Partnerships Program by about $1.3 billion, which would remove formula grants that the county uses for affordable housing, small‑business support, infrastructure projects and critical public services.

He listed local uses that would be affected: sanitary and residential public infrastructure grants, neighborhood revitalization, sewer extension projects in unsewered areas, storm‑sewer improvements, and bridge replacements. Coggins and other staff noted the county had recent and pending awards and applications — including approximately $600,000 in critical‑needs allocations and a pending residential public‑infrastructure application of around $750,000 — that would be at risk.

\"If this proposed budget were to pass this way, decreasing those funds, we would no longer receive that,\" Coggins said, and added that loss of funding would shift costs to local governments, township taxpayers or the general fund. He recommended the county send a letter and that each commissioner contact the federal delegation to oppose the cuts.

Ending

Staff said Director Green would draft a letter for the board to review and commissioners agreed to convey concerns to the congressional delegation; no formal vote on a letter was recorded during the meeting.","A county planning representative told commissioners the White House's proposed federal budget would cut or eliminate Community Development Block Grant and HOME program funding, which the county uses for sewer, bridge, housing rehabilitation and neighborhood revitalization projects, and urged them to contact federal representatives.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},6229646,"Trumbull County to shift competitive‑bid legal notices from local paper to commission website under revised Ohio code",400,1599000,1999000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3458679-8dc785e2b4de8f5d44d518dfde287359&start=1599&end=1999","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3458679-8dc785e2b4de8f5d44d518dfde287359/thumbnail_1599000.jpg","/articles/6229646/Trumbull-County/Ohio/Trumbull-County-to-shift-competitivebid-legal-notices-from-local-paper-to-commission-website-under-revised-Ohio-code","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6229646-236f52ed835a5551b7eb7eacb75b4721/orig.mp4?Expires=1773683245&Signature=LirVtjflt38jjLFqpKT0S35wxvdJzhEP4BNqEfzP-RFQSCHsTj8~s-Wg82wciK3aq4yt8KE7sXbivTrZApn801eK8ZIZasKkdVPYeU0VATKdKP1fUR9h5kof8YWAHxebmRlYRgv0XMETTFyvvs1xFHDpE63BoqNjlYqMZqhyoPD7Y6oxyVHNN-eNOwnp-23USzUgdo4t9laExPestkgQAXNa076ggNhBMnVJOoJeVL7SaELvXWe1e~9KxVFG0J0e7LAjHYmepsIvJaTPm-zhg47JAQri2LGG2g~ICxH8JZ97IR-qwcddgGM~nrdq-wTfPw7LG~EAusKIEq10yDHyaw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Commission staff presented a resolution to adopt use of the Trumbull County commissioner's website for publishing legal notices related to competitive bidding, citing changes in Ohio law that allow electronic outlets to satisfy publication requirements.

A staff member explained that revised Ohio code permits the county to use its website (or another electronic outlet) in place of a newspaper of local circulation for certain notices. \"This new update to a higher revised code changes the requirement from putting it in a paper of local circulation to using our county commissioner's website or ... any electronic outlet,\" the staffer said.

Commissioners and staff discussed implementation details: a consistent posting location on the county website, linking required bid documents and forms, and continuing to use DemandStar where statutory language still requires it. The board also discussed issuing a press release and notifying construction trade groups and vendors about the change so prospective bidders would know where to look. One attendee noted the county's bid portal already lists bid opportunities and associated forms.

Ending

Staff said the switch will save money on newspaper advertising and that a procurement tab or dedicated bid‑opportunities page would be maintained. Commissioners asked staff to communicate the change publicly and ensure consistent posting practices across departments.","Commissioners reviewed a resolution to post competitive‑bid legal notices on the county commissioner's website instead of a newspaper of local circulation, citing changes in the revised Ohio code and potential cost savings; staff agreed to notify stakeholders and maintain consistent posting practices.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},6229651,"Commissioners question use of ARPA funds after utility poles arrived before approval at county fairgrounds",625,341000,966000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3458679-8dc785e2b4de8f5d44d518dfde287359&start=341&end=966","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3458679-8dc785e2b4de8f5d44d518dfde287359/thumbnail_341000.jpg","/articles/6229651/Trumbull-County/Ohio/Commissioners-question-use-of-ARPA-funds-after-utility-poles-arrived-before-approval-at-county-fairgrounds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6229651-f69df2c84c96c62dced9007f55d2e1d6/orig.mp4?Expires=1773683245&Signature=kz1akpE0EDuWhhPGMcWC7DACOYKG~zK7yx9Qd3anuLj9CgiuTg19OjPWUIjDBPPPWSIHzXaKeXnHP8ClRVpBYfSBC5v8UiwNuINR0RzOtY-8ORB1Lh~PubvAaMV8WLQrOtjnNd1QzwJtODZotXHYZrsSUp1e2h0HGOhNnafoWt4MRiwqwO7dKOQnHicv~kr4hsnq6jfYDqPxpZ39GxuPXw1L1CFls~ayYvzPOUpf6mk8xE68HbBHFaaC~AOBLINJ~IVn-0Vl3Jo-H5X-E0TFOZj6L5euq9MJN~e-GwEfWXNTjy3pdGfbJOggCDlFd-DPeiYLHFVWrUrGJpRzvgyM6Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County staff brought an agenda item asking the Board of Commissioners to authorize payment to CLR for purchase and installation of 11 utility poles to expand a public‑address system across the county fairgrounds; the cost on paperwork was $11,009.50.

The request ties to residual ARPA funds from the 4‑H building project. Staff said the 4‑H low bid came in under budget, leaving roughly $850,000 available in a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that documents permitted additional uses, including sound systems and other fairground improvements. \"ARPA monies and small projects ARPA money ... our small projects threshold is 250,000,\" a staff member said while explaining federal thresholds for procurement.

Commissioners and others objected because, several attendees said, materials appeared to have been delivered to the fairgrounds before the county approved a purchase order. One commissioner said \"somebody's putting the cart before the horse.\" Questions focused on who ordered the poles, whether the fair board or county staff purchased materials, and whether procurement rules and federal ARPA requirements had been followed.

County staff said the fair board had identified the poles and that one vendor's scope read as \"price to purchase, unload upon delivery, and install.\" The county controller and commissioners requested the item be pulled and investigated; one commissioner instructed staff, \"Take it off.\" An engineering or purchasing review and contact with the fair board were requested to determine whether the poles were donated, purchased by the fair board, or ordered without proper county authorization.

Ending

The board did not approve the CLR invoice or installation order. Commissioners directed staff to investigate how materials arrived on site and to return with documentation of procurement actions, MOU language governing use of 4‑H project residuals, and whether any purchase orders were issued before delivery.","Commissioners debated whether ARPA funds from the under‑budget 4‑H building can be used to pay for 11 utility poles and public‑address coverage across the fairgrounds after poles were reported delivered before formal county approval; the purchase order request was pulled for investigation.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_47":116,"_49":117,"_51":118,"_53":119,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":120,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":121,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},6229655,"Trumbull County officials debate $93,000 design phase for troubled 911 center and ways to pay for a long‑term fix",1428,2037000,3465000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3458679-8dc785e2b4de8f5d44d518dfde287359&start=2037&end=3465","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3458679-8dc785e2b4de8f5d44d518dfde287359/thumbnail_2037000.jpg","/articles/6229655/Trumbull-County/Ohio/Trumbull-County-officials-debate-93000-design-phase-for-troubled-911-center-and-ways-to-pay-for-a-longterm-fix","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6229655-61299eab07a105df85103239ddc3b628/orig.mp4?Expires=1773683245&Signature=FEww31-IA21rjAspyKvUxgp8xkcv2rLb90v7ANRuWKjNUowCr0j1ZjkRVKgvYBEEuhX9~ZFVt8pYHyIv7aUg7uRm~tImp5KUVcMY~6n05aEbGNsaIAYm1UB23VtX02W0mG8mG35NCJ4ZEXv8~WPivLMWE0Hmr0ANA~urOrnTt882EEjHVl4Mt2a3ZhK5kofCPm1Socv0s0mR8FRPi5X~AVOlfekV9j2mo-5IxAhFNDCJ268PLDvLQDIVlr-nHUPRTycRvUjNuYFoFGnD6prnqdn1HIt026GPcBrJniXN~fk61DIBRInnl~5WfkoysUvHoWZNmaspA7opMON7U1GpOg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Casey McDonald, Trumbull County 911 director, asked the Board of Commissioners to approve a Phase 1 design and structural testing package to determine what it would cost to move or renovate the county dispatch center.

\"This project would be below $93,008.61,\" McDonald said, adding that the structural testing alone could cost about $30,000 and that the total relocation work — mechanical, consulting, furnishings, technology and network migration — would be confirmed only after the feasibility work.

McDonald told commissioners the existing dispatch facility was built as a temporary space in 1999, has flooded twice and is deteriorating. He showed photographs and described cramped, damaged workspaces and recurring maintenance problems that he said make recruitment and retention difficult. \"We're at the point where we need to move. We can't just keep kicking the can down the road,\" he said.

The director proposed several potential funding paths. He suggested using an earmarked special fund left by a previous clerk for the Phase 1 work, pursuing voter approval of a county sales tax increase or asking voters to approve an improved‑parcel assessment of about $40 per improved parcel annually. McDonald said an improved‑parcel assessment could bring in roughly $3 million a year based on preliminary auditor figures and that similar measures elsewhere funded 911 upgrades.

Commissioners pressed on affordability and sequencing. One commissioner questioned whether the county should pay for design of a building if a local city (Cortland) was negotiating temporary occupancy of the same site and whether the county had the funds to follow through if the feasibility study returned a multimillion‑dollar price tag. Another commissioner said the board did not have a clear revenue source and signaled reluctance to place a tax question on citizens without more study.

County staff and commissioners noted a prior feasibility study that cost about $400,000 and evaluated multiple buildings; any new site would likely require another full study, potentially increasing consultant costs. McDonald recommended proceeding with Phase 1 to buy four months while the county considers funding strategies and potential ballot measures. He also suggested that, if an assessment or sales tax passed, the county could stop charging municipalities dispatch fees and redirect revenue locally.

The board did not approve Phase 1 at the meeting. Commissioners agreed to seek additional information, confirm whether the Cortland option remains available, and revisit the item when more members were present and funding options were clearer. McDonald said he would provide follow‑up material and welcomed calls from commissioners.

Ending

Commissioners left the request unresolved; McDonald said Phase 1 would take about three to four months and that confirming costs would be necessary before any bond, levy or ballot measure. The board asked staff to gather additional budget and feasibility details and to report back.","County 911 director urged commissioners to authorize a design and engineering phase to determine costs for relocating or renovating the county dispatch center, while commissioners debated funding options including a parcel assessment and sales‑tax increase; the board tabled a final decision pending more information.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commissioners asked to clarify process after managed‑care proposals arrive late in workers' comp open‑enrollment period

Planning commission warns Trump administration budget proposal would eliminate key CDBG and HOME funding for Trumbull County

Trumbull County to shift competitive‑bid legal notices from local paper to commission website under revised Ohio code

Commissioners question use of ARPA funds after utility poles arrived before approval at county fairgrounds

Trumbull County officials debate $93,000 design phase for troubled 911 center and ways to pay for a long‑term fix