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Commissioners review ARPA-funded fairgrounds projects including 4-H building, PA system and swine-pen fabrication
Summary
Trumbull County staff briefed commissioners on March 26 about ARPA-funded work at the county fairgrounds, covering change orders to a new 4-H building, fabrication of swine pens, insulation purchases and a proposed $589,400 public-address system.
Trumbull County staff briefed commissioners on several related fairgrounds projects on March 26 that use ARPA dollars previously earmarked for fairground improvements, including change orders to a 4-H building project, fabrication of swine pens, an insulation purchase and a countywide public-address upgrade.
Mike Zielinski of the county presented background: ARPA funds had been set aside for fairground projects including barn roofs, paving and the new 4-H building. He said the 4-H building construction came in about $242,150 under the engineer's estimate, allowing reallocation of leftover ARPA monies to related work.
Zielinski listed a set of changes: a prime-contractor change order for $9,001.16 to address unforeseen site work and plumbing where an old foundation was encountered; a planned $18,000 purchase from Amos Welding (Arlington, Indiana) to fabricate swine pens per a memorandum of understanding that reallocated surplus funds; a suggested $10,000 PO to 84 Lumber to purchase insulation materials that the Fair Board would install as donated labor; and a professional services modification of about $1,840 to Sexton Associates to cover construction observation fees omitted from an earlier purchase order.
Barry Brown, president of the Trumbull County Fairgrounds board, described the public address (PA) system quotes and recommended a vendor that has provided sound services to the fair for 20 years. Zielinski said the PA system quote covers the entire fairgrounds, improves safety (weather/tornado announcements, lost-child messages) and that one vendor has price locks that would expire in about 30 days. The staff-quoted PA figure discussed in the meeting was approximately $589,400; staff said the purchase could be funded from the same ARPA allocation if other approvals held.
Bill Danso, county prosecutor, cautioned that some items might not technically be "change orders" to the existing 4-H contract and instead could be new procurements or modifications to the memorandum of understanding; he recommended confirming ARPA procurement exemptions and consulting the county's ARPA representative and attorney for compliance with bidding thresholds. Commissioners agreed they would try to get quicker guidance from the county attorney's office to avoid having to table the items.
Commissioners asked staff to verify whether ARPA rules allow treating the PA system procurement as a small-purchase ARPA exemption given Ohio bidding thresholds and to return with confirmation and any required documentation. Staff said the overall project cost remains below the $840,000 originally earmarked for the fairgrounds project after these additions, and that some funds remain in the account for additional items.
Ending: Staff asked for prompt legal review and a timetable to act before vendor price locks expire; no final contract award or formal vote on March 26 was recorded in the transcript.
