Commissioners approve bids, agreements and change orders; proclaim construction season and observe Fair Housing Month

Mahoning County commissioners approved a slate of administrative items during the meeting, including advertising for construction bids, multiple vendor agreements and several change orders, and they adopted a resolution recognizing National Fair Housing Month.

The board voted to advertise bids for two sanitary projects: Boardman wastewater treatment belt press replacement (Improvement Project No. 536 at 7980 East Park Drive, Boardman Township) and Girard (transcript shows "Scribe Beach"/Grandview Road) wastewater treatment plant belt press replacement (Improvement Project No. 544 at 2599 Grandview Road, Milton Township). A motion to advertise both bids was moved and seconded and approved by roll call.

Commissioners approved numerous agreements summarized on the agenda as letters A through N. Examples announced on the record included vehicle repair agreements with Bortnick Tractor Sales (approx. $3,523.01) and Vita Freightliner Youngstown (approx. $3,137.90); engineering services agreements for bridge load ratings with DLZ Ohio ($22,422) and MS Consultants ($44,443); lead hazard control and healthy‑homes contracts with Prime Carpentry LLC ($24,925) and JDM Inspections ($42,045 and $25,300 at two addresses); mold remediation with Galloway Construction and Restoration ($12,740) tied to a City of Youngstown Community Development Block Grant; and an emergency repair contract with Utility Contracting for water‑break repairs (approx. $5,757.79). The county prosecutor's office also sought approval of a $14,000 policy with the National District Attorneys Association for defense coverage in disciplinary litigation.

Change orders approved included a substantial increase with Lindy Paving for the 2024 OPWC road and bridge upgrade program and 2025 sales tax resurfacing project (change order No. 1 for $808,729.56, non‑general funds) and other smaller change orders for housing and lead‑hazard control projects.

The board approved a resolution to appoint outside counsel pursuant to the Ohio Revised Code (firm: Masnick, Raskin and Ryder; amount cited $25,000) and adopted a proclamation observing National Fair Housing Month, noting the 1968 federal law that prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental and financing of housing based on race, color, national origin, religion, familial status and disability. A separate resolution authorized a subgrant agreement with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services for the Department of Job and Family Services and routine personnel appointments were approved as listed on the agenda.

Earlier in the meeting a speaker (identified only by name in public comment) urged drivers to slow down in work zones after a proclamation recognizing construction season and work‑zone safety; another resident, Stephanie Clark of Canfield Township, requested relocation of a siren located near her home, saying it has caused sleep and hearing concerns for years.

All agenda motions and resolutions read into the record during the portion of the meeting recorded in the transcript were approved as presented; roll calls and motions were recorded for advertisement of bids, approval of agreements A–N, change orders A–D, and the listed resolutions.

Votes at a glance

- Advertise bids: Boardman wastewater belt press replacement (Project No. 536) — Motion to advertise approved (roll call recorded). Details: 7980 East Park Drive, Boardman Township. - Advertise bids: Grandview Road wastewater belt press replacement (Project No. 544) — Motion to advertise approved (roll call recorded). Details: 2599 Grandview Road, Milton Township. - Agreements A–N: Multiple vendor contracts (vehicle repairs, engineering services, lead hazard control, mold remediation, emergency repairs, risk pool participation, etc.) — Approved. Individual amounts for several agreements were read on the record; some items were noted as non‑general funds. - Change orders A–D: Approved. Notable: Lindy Paving change order No. 1 — $808,729.56 (non‑general funds). - Resolution: Appointment of outside counsel (Masnick, Raskin and Ryder) pursuant to Ohio Revised Code — $25,000 authorized; approved. - Resolution: National Fair Housing Month proclamation — Approved; County cited CDBG/CHIP grant obligations in connection with fair‑housing responsibilities. - Resolution: Subgrant agreement with Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (Job and Family Services) — Approved. - Personnel appointments (job and family services, treatment planning, maintenance positions) — Approved.

The transcript shows these motions were moved, seconded and approved; specific vote tallies beyond roll call confirmations given on the record were not provided in full in the transcript excerpt.