Trumbull County commissioners approve bond anticipation notes, sewer projects, personnel actions and multiple leave-conversion plans

At a Trumbull County Board of Commissioners meeting, the board approved a package of bond anticipation notes, construction change orders, personnel promotions and multiple sick-and-vacation leave conversion plans and other routine business.

The board voted to authorize the issuance and sale of bond anticipation notes in several principal amounts to fund and pay issuance costs for county infrastructure projects, including up to $6,041,000 to retire outstanding 2024 bond anticipation notes, $500,000 for the Blueprint Phase 2 water system project, $750,000 for the Pendleton Gilmore sanitary sewer project and $250,000 for additional costs on the Meadowbrook sanitary sewer project. The commissioners also approved project-specific construction items such as change orders and timing extensions for county sanitary sewer improvement projects.

Other approved items included promotions and personnel appointments (for example, the promotion of Anuhav Viniak to fiscal specialist in the Department of Job and Family Services, effective April 7, 2025, and the hiring of Daryl Dunnigan as special projects/facilities administrator, effective March 3, 2025), concurrence with multiple right-of-way and supplier fleet permits, acceptance of an annexation-withdrawal petition for record, and contract renewals and amendments for county services and capital projects. The board also approved a one-year renewal of the contract with Direction Home of Eastern Ohio Inc. for use of a social assistance management system and authorized quarterly payments as local match dollars under Title III of the Older Americans Act for fiscal 2025.

The board approved multiple sick-and-vacation leave conversion plans covering bargaining and nonbargaining units across county departments and courts for the 2025 plan year. The commissioners said the conversions aim to reduce the county’s long-term payout exposure while preserving employees’ earned leave.

Other administrative approvals included awarding or amending contracts for renovation and design work for county facilities (including amendments to earlier awards to DJV Supplies Inc. and Straight Line Interiors for work at the Trumbull County Planning Commission offices, and a change order for the Trumbull County Engineer office project) and increasing the contract for dog pound design work to cover additional services not in the original scope.

Votes at a glance (items and outcomes): - Item 4: Resolution to issue and sell notes in anticipation of general obligation bonds not to exceed $6,041,000 — approved (Bernard: Yes; Malloy: Yes; Hernandez: Yes). - Item 5: Resolution to issue and sell notes not to exceed $500,000 for Blueprint Phase 2 water system project — approved (Bernard: Yes; Malloy: Yes; Hernandez: Yes). - Item 6: Resolution to issue and sell notes not to exceed $750,000 for Pendleton Gilmore sanitary sewer project — approved (Bernard: Yes; Malloy: Yes; Hernandez: Yes). - Item 7: Resolution to issue and sell notes not to exceed $250,000 for Meadowbrook sanitary sewer project — approved (Bernard: Yes; Malloy: Yes; Hernandez: Yes). - Item 11: Acceptance of withdrawal of petition for annexation (Wethersfield township property toward city of Niles) — approved. - Item 12: Personnel appointment of Daryl Dunnigan, special projects/facilities administrator — approved. - Item 13: Promotion of Kelly Lachowski to lead custodian — approved. - Item 24–25: Amendments to prior contract awards for planning commission carpet replacement and ceiling renovation to correct fund numbers and note ARPA as funding source — approved. - Item 26: Construction approval for Smith Stewart Road sanitary sewer improvements (Project 2-S-17) following a public hearing that reported 100% service-connection support — approved. - Item 27: Change order No. 1 for Pollard Land Services Inc., Scoville Drive Sanitary Sewer Improvements (0-sum change order extending completion to May 6, 2025) — approved. - Item 28: Authorization for sanitary engineer to issue notice to proceed to MJD Excavating Inc. for Phase 1 sanitary lateral assistance (17 household connections across Champion, Vienna, Brookfield and West Farmington) — approved. - Item 29: Authorization of local match payments to Direction Home of Eastern Ohio Inc. for Title III services (total not to exceed $5,000) — approved. - Item 30: One-year renewal with Direction Home of Eastern Ohio Inc. for social assistance management system access (base $5,000 plus license fees; total $7,676.48) — approved. - Item 31: Amendment to commit $750,000 from senior levy fund for grant matching through 12/31/2027 (extension of prior commitment) — approved. - Item 32: Change order No. 2 for Philip Sekanic Architecture Inc. / DeSalvo Construction for Engineer office project (net contract increase as identified in agenda) — approved. - Item 33: Amendment to ARPA grant agreement lowering required general liability insurance for Warren Amateur Radio Association from $2,000,000 to $1,000,000 — approved. - Item 34: Increase to contract for Baker Bednar Snyder & Associates for dog pound design ($13,700 increase, new total $205,700) — approved. - Items 35–36: Appointments of Mark Bodo and Rev. Dr. Yvonne M. Odom to the Trumbull County Children’s Service Board (3-year terms) — approved. - Items 14–23 and 37 (and associated items noted on the agenda): Multiple sick/vacation leave conversion plans for AFSCME locals, OPBA units, nonbargaining employees and court employees for the 2025 term — approved.

Most motions were moved and seconded on the record and recorded as passing with affirmative votes from each commissioner present. No recorded votes failed or were tabled during the session.

Ending: The commissioners scheduled a special departmental budget meeting at 1 p.m. after the regular session and noted upcoming workshops and regular meetings for early March. No controversial roll-call dissents were recorded on the items summarized above.