Commissioners authorize advertising for bids for security fencing at appeals court; paving to follow and costs shared with other counties

Trumbull County commissioners authorized staff to advertise for bids to install security fencing at the county’s court of appeals parking lot and discussed a second-phase paving project that would be shared among five counties.

Mike Slitsgate (sp?), representing county projects, briefed the commissioners that the fencing package is the first part of a two-part project. He said funding for the fencing is available in the capital improvement fund and that the county will initially advance the work before receiving reimbursements from four other counties that share cost responsibilities for the parking lot improvements.

Slitsgate described pavement deficiencies at the site, saying the lot has failed in places and requires an inch-and-a-half overlay, subbase repairs, localized grinding and prep. He said the county would return with firm paving cost estimates after the fencing procurement is complete.

County prosecutor Bill Danso explained property-ownership and easement details: the county owns the court building parcel and a driveway easement; a large portion of the driveway area is owned by the City of Warren but is subject to an existing access easement that allows the county to complete the fencing on city-owned land. Danso said Warren City law department had reviewed the plan and that no new easement would be required.

Commissioners discussed coordination with the city and shared parking and accepted staff’s recommendation to advertise for fence bids. No final contract award or paving contract was approved at the meeting; commissioners asked staff to return with a paving estimate and coordination plans with the engineering office and the city.

Ending: Commissioners authorized advertisement for bids for the security fencing and directed staff to return with paving numbers and a plan for interjurisdictional cost-sharing and construction sequencing.