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Lawrence County commissioners table recreation maintenance bids, approve RACP agreement and routine budget and contract measures
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Summary
At its March 11 meeting the Lawrence County Board of Commissioners tabled two bids for county recreational-area maintenance to allow further review, approved a required local-government agreement tied to a $3.5 million RACP grant for a Steelite expansion, and passed several routine budget, grant and contract measures.
Lawrence County commissioners on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, voted to table two bids for maintenance of county recreational areas to allow staff review, approved a required agreement tied to a Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant for an industrial expansion in Shenango Township, and adopted several routine financial and contract measures.
The action to table bids followed a public bid opening. County Controller David Restefine said the county received two proposals for mowing, trimming and trash collection: one from BeyondCorp of Edinburg, Pennsylvania, and one from Piant's Landscaping of Newcastle, Pennsylvania. Restefine reported, "We got two," and read a total figure aloud for one submission as "$700,960." Planning Department staff said they would need time to review the submissions before recommending an award; the board then voted to table the bids for further review.
The board also approved Resolution 50, an agreement between the county and the local economic development corporation that is required by the Pennsylvania budget office for projects funded through the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP). Commissioners said the agreement supports phase 2 of an expansion by Steelite at the Millennium Park site in Shenango Township; the project was awarded a $3.5 million grant from the Commonwealth. Commissioners noted that counsel had been copied on the agreement and that the county solicitor had not raised objections in the email chain.
Other approved measures included a renewal contract for emergency placement services with Collective Consulting (Resolution 51), authorization for a county employee to participate part time in the Commonwealth's CWEL (Child Welfare Education and Leadership) program through Pennsylvania Western University while remaining county-employed (Resolution 52), a $15,000 allocation from the county's affordable housing fund to a local home-repair program (Resolution 53), and a budget amendment for the 911 office (Resolution 54). The board also approved routine items: the warrant register dated March 6, 2025; adoption of the March 4 meeting minutes; and a $3,000 intra-departmental transfer in Human Resources from contingency to advertising.
Votes at a glance
- Bids for maintenance of county recreational areas: Motion to table for review — passed (unanimous roll call). Staff direction: planning and controller offices to review bids and report back.
- Resolution 50 (RACP agreement for Steelite expansion Phase 2): Approved (unanimous roll call). Project: Steelite expansion at Millennium Park; Commonwealth RACP award: $3,500,000; requirement: agreement with a public taxing body per Pennsylvania budget office.
- Resolution 51 (Children & Youth contract renewal with Collective Consulting for emergency placement): Approved (unanimous roll call).
- Resolution 52 (Children & Youth employee participation in CWEL program via Pennsylvania Western University): Approved (unanimous roll call). Employee to participate part time online while remaining employed; post-graduation employment term per CWEL contract.
- Resolution 53 (Affordable Housing Fund allocation to local home-repair program): Approved (unanimous roll call). Allocation amount: $15,000.
- Resolution 54 (Budget amendment for 911): Approved (unanimous roll call). Transcript lists the increase as "$13.87 dollars and 93¢" to the 911 grant disbursement revenue account, to be applied to the state project line for incumbent local exchange carrier post-migration expenses (as read into the record).
- Warrant register dated March 6, 2025: Accepted (unanimous roll call).
- Minutes of March 4, 2025 meeting: Adopted (unanimous roll call).
- Human Resources intra-departmental transfer ($3,000 from contingency to advertising): Approved (unanimous roll call).
Discussion and context
County Controller David Restefine handled the bid opening and said the county received two timely responses. Rebecca Schafer of the Planning Department told commissioners the county has worked with the bidders in prior years and that both firms were bonded and insured; she and commissioners indicated they wanted time to consult with engineering and controller staff before awarding a multi-year maintenance contract. The board's stated reason for tabling was to allow that review rather than to reject either submission on the spot.
On the RACP item, commissioners discussed timeliness: members said site work had begun and that they preferred not to delay finalizing the required agreement given the project's momentum. Commissioners confirmed the county solicitor had been copied on the agreement and that no objections had been raised via email.
On Children & Youth items, director-level staff described an emergency placement that required use of Collective Consulting as a backup provider and noted that the placement rate will remain the same as the prior year. Commissioners also heard that the CWEL (Child Welfare Education and Leadership) program now allows asynchronous online participation through Pennsylvania Western University, enabling a current employee to continue full-time county work while pursuing the degree part time; the employee will have a post-graduation employment commitment under the CWEL contract.
Commissioners made several announcements before adjournment: the board will not meet the following Tuesday (the County Commissioners Association spring conference is next week), the next regular meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 25 at 10 a.m., the Prison Board will meet March 19 at noon, and the Salary Board will have a special meeting Thursday, March 13 at 9 a.m. The board also noted a $25,000 façade-type redevelopment grant administered by the county redevelopment authority that requires a local match and has an application deadline of March 31; commissioners asked the redevelopment authority to help publicize that opportunity countywide.
Ending
No contested votes or abstentions occurred on the recorded items; all roll-call votes in the meeting record were recorded as "yes" for each commissioner present. The board adjourned after completing the agenda and announced it will reconvene on March 25, 2025.
