Trumbull County tourism pitch draws praise as commissioners approve routine transfers, water projects and ARPA amendment

Trumbull County commissioners on March 11 heard a presentation on the county's tourism marketing and unanimously approved a slate of routine financial and infrastructure items, including transfers of estimated 2025 sales-tax revenues to the general and bond retirement funds, a $1,000,000 amendment to an ARPA-funded home repair agreement, and multiple resolutions to apply for Ohio Water Supply Revolving Loan Account financing for local water projects.

The tourism presentation, delivered by Beth Carmichael with Truly Trumbull, highlighted the county's 2025 visitors guide and associated digital campaigns. "For every $1 we spend, to create Truly Trumbull trip ideas, it returns $6 in spending back to Trumbull County," Carmichael told the commissioners, citing print and digital distribution, photography investments and a cooperative marketing portal opening March 20. She also reported that advertising efforts in 2023'—2024 influenced what she described as $80,000,000 in visitor spending and that the office prints 40,000 copies of the visitors guide.

Why it matters: The commissioners said routine approvals and project funding decisions set the county's budget priorities and allow infrastructure work to proceed. Chair Richard Hernandez warned that carryover funds are limited and that the board will finalize budget delegations at a special meeting Friday, March 14. "We still are not 100% sure about where we will end up," Hernandez said, stressing the need to reserve funds for future needs.

Most important actions and details

- Sales-tax transfers: Commissioners approved transferring the 2025 estimated sales-tax revenues to the general fund on a monthly basis and to the general bond retirement fund in April and October to meet debt payments.

- ARPA amendment: The board authorized an amendment to the agreement with Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership, extending the period for a $1,000,000 American Rescue Plan Act local fiscal recovery fund award for the emergency home repair project through Oct. 31, 2025.

- Water and sewer projects: The commissioners created dedicated funds for the Still Wagon Road waterline project (Project 1-W-19, Fund452) and the Maplewood Park sanitary sewer project (Project 32-SD-05, Fund451), each initially funded by a $5,000 transfer from the water/sewer capital reserve fund 477. The board also adopted three separate resolutions authorizing Chair Richard Hernandez to apply for Ohio Water Supply Revolving Loan Account agreements for Blueprint Phase 2 water improvements (2-W-19), Still Wagon Road improvements (1-W-19) and the Champion/Bozzetta Water Booster Station (1-W-22).

- ARPA and grants: The board approved extending the Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership agreement previously passed Dec. 7, 2022, to continue emergency home repairs funded by ARPA.

- Personnel and administrative items: The meeting accepted the resignation of probationary dispatcher Dennis Lovelace effective March 2, approved sick and vacation conversion limits for non-bargaining Trumbull County Engineer's Office staff, and received the monthly Trumbull County dog kennel activity report for January and February 2025.

- Transit and procurement: Commissioners authorized recertification paperwork for Trumbull County Transit as the primary transportation provider for seniors and people with disabilities and approved mechanical-certification language for a transportation procurement that allows older vehicles (10 years or older) to operate if certified by a mechanic and approved by the county.

Votes at a glance (agenda items 1'18)

1) Dispense with reading the minutes of the 03/04/2025 workshop and 03/05/2025 regular meeting and accept video recordings as official minutes ' Motion approved (Bernard/Malloy/Hernandez: yes).

2) Approve bills ' Motion approved (Bernard/Malloy/Hernandez: yes).

3) Approve transfer of 2025 estimated sales-tax revenues to the general fund and the general bond retirement fund (timing specified) ' Motion approved (Bernard/Malloy/Hernandez: yes).

4) Receive/place on file Trumbull County dog kennel monthly activities (Jan/Feb 2025) ' Motion approved (Bernard/Malloy/Hernandez: yes).

5) Authorize Richard Hernandez to sign Amendment No. 2 to the Ohio Department of Youth Services subsidy grant FY2025 to realign funds for updated salary schedules for direct-service employees ' Motion approved (Bernard/Malloy/Hernandez: yes).

6) Concur with County Engineer to close specified county roadways March 12, 2025 for emergency culvert replacement and for tree removal (Hoagland Blackstub Road and Barclay Messerly Road) ' Motion approved (Bernard/Malloy/Hernandez: yes).

7) Approve sick/vacation leave conversion plan for non-bargaining personnel in the Engineer's Office (limits: vacation cash-in 80 hours, sick cash-in 40 hours for 2025) ' Motion approved (Bernard/Malloy/Hernandez: yes).

8) Accept resignation of probationary dispatcher Dennis Lovelace, effective 03/02/2025 ' Motion approved (Bernard/Malloy/Hernandez: yes).

9) Authorize advertisement of public notice in Tribune Chronicle (03/17/2025) for RFP packages for Emanuel Community Care Center masonry and window project (CDBG PY2023) ' Motion approved (Bernard/Malloy/Hernandez: yes).

10) Establish Still Wagon Road waterline project (1-W-19, Fund452); initial $5,000 transfer from fund 477 ' Motion approved (Bernard/Malloy/Hernandez: yes).

11) Establish Maplewood Park sanitary sewer project (32-SD-05, Fund451); initial $5,000 transfer from fund 477 ' Motion approved (Bernard/Malloy/Hernandez: yes).

12) Authorize payment of $51,594.99 to East Cape Regional Council of Governments for 2025 dues ' Motion approved (Bernard/Malloy/Hernandez: yes).

13) Authorize amendment to ARPA agreement with Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership ($1,000,000) to extend term through 10/31/2025 ' Motion approved (Bernard/Malloy/Hernandez: yes).

14) Adopt resolution authorizing Richard Hernandez to apply for/accept/enter Ohio Water Supply Revolving Loan Account loan for Blueprint Phase 2 (2-W-19) ' Motion approved (Bernard/Malloy/Hernandez: yes).

15) Adopt resolution authorizing Richard Hernandez to apply for/accept/enter Ohio Water Supply Revolving Loan Account loan for Still Wagon Road water improvements (1-W-19) ' Motion approved (Bernard/Malloy/Hernandez: yes).

16) Adopt resolution authorizing Richard Hernandez to apply for/accept/enter Ohio Water Supply Revolving Loan Account loan for Champion-Bozzetta Water Booster Station (1-W-22) ' Motion approved (Bernard/Malloy/Hernandez: yes).

17) Authorize Richard Hernandez to sign a letter to ODOT to recertify Trumbull County Transit as the main transportation service for seniors and the disabled in Trumbull County ' Motion approved (Bernard/Malloy/Hernandez: yes).

18) Approve mechanical certifications for RFP 2024-01 purchase transportation allowing vehicles 10 years or older if certified by a mechanic and approved by the Board (contract term 03/01/2025 through 02/29/2028 with possible 1-year extension) ' Motion approved (Bernard/Malloy/Hernandez: yes).

What commissioners said and next steps

Chair Richard Hernandez emphasized fiscal restraint and repeated that the board will meet Friday, March 14 at 11 a.m. to finalize budget delegations. "You do need to save that money those monies," Hernandez said, describing the need to preserve carryover funds for future obligations. Several commissioners praised tourism staff: one commissioner said, "You have a winning, just a gold class staff," in response to the tourism presentation.

The board scheduled the next public workshop for March 18 at 10:30 a.m. and a regular meeting for March 19 at 10:30 a.m. The tourism office said the cooperative marketing portal opens March 20 at 9 a.m. and provided a partner-resources page at trulytrumbull.com/partnerresources for signups.

Ending

No substantive policy changes beyond the listed approvals were adopted at the meeting; most votes were routine and unanimous. The commissioners indicated continued budget deliberations at the special session Friday, March 14, and said staff will return with additional details where required.