Trumbull County commissioners approve routine business, set Pine Avenue vacation hearing and authorize multifactor authentication purchase

The Trumbull County Board of Commissioners on Dec. 3 approved routine agenda items, reappointed Kimberly Hines to the Board of Developmental Disabilities and authorized a planned purchase of multifactor‑authentication software for the county’s information‑technology operations.

The board dispensed with reading prior meeting minutes, approved bills and transfers, and adopted several resolutions and agreements. Commissioners set a public viewing for a proposed vacation of approximately 5,580 feet of County Highway 69 (Pine Avenue / Niles Warren River Road) for Dec. 16, 2025, at 1 p.m. and scheduled a public hearing on the matter for Jan. 14, 2026, at 10 a.m. at the commissioners’ hearing room, 160 High Street in Warren.

The board reappointed Kimberly Hines to the Trumbull County Board of Developmental Disabilities for a term from Jan. 1, 2026, through Dec. 31, 2029, and heard brief remarks from Edward Stark, superintendent of the Trumbull County Board of Developmental Disabilities: "She's been a great board member. She has a son in our program, so she's very involved," Stark said.

Under a procurement vote, commissioners authorized the county IT department to enter a purchase agreement with CBTS Technological Solutions LLC for a multifactor authentication solution: $20,160 for 400 licenses and $7,918 in professional services. A motion maker described the purchase as a preventive cybersecurity measure, emphasizing it is "a precautionary measure, not a reactive measure to a crime that's occurred." The board approved the contract to be paid from fund 0010111010101505507.

The board also approved a $2,700 annual membership agreement with GNX Core USA (to replace the current 'Facility Dude' system) for a work‑order management program and authorized President Rick Hernandez to execute the agreement.

During the public business portion, the prosecutor’s office raised a vendor‑payment issue involving a senior‑levy program. Bill Danso of the prosecutor's office advised the commissioners to discuss details with Diane, the Senior Services director, before authorizing payment; "I think it is something that you wanna talk to Diane about," Danso said. Commissioners agreed to invite Diane and the vendor to a workshop to review the invoice and related documentation.

Other routine items approved included concurrence with the county engineer on special annual supplier fleet permits (including XPO Logistics Freight Inc. and Quadri Lawn Maintenance and Landscaping) and a right‑of‑way permit request from Enbridge Gas Ohio. The board also adopted a resolution recognizing the 2025 '20 Under 20' honorees, as read by the clerk.

The commissioners entered and reconvened from two executive sessions: one under Ohio Revised Code §121.22(G)(6) to discuss specialized security arrangements and one under §121.22(G)(1) concerning personnel matters. The meeting adjourned following routine closing procedures.

Votes at a glance (selected items): - Item 1 (approve minutes & accept video recordings): Approved, votes recorded as Yes — Mister Bernard, Mister Malloy, Mister Hernandez. - Item 7 (reappoint Kimberly Hines): Approved, votes recorded as Yes — Mister Bernard, Mister Malloy, Mister Hernandez. - Item 10 (authorize county engineer work under ORC 5543.19 for 2026): Approved, votes recorded as Yes — Mister Bernard, Mister Malloy, Mister Hernandez. - Item 12 (approve GNX Core USA agreement, $2,700 annually): Approved, votes recorded as Yes — Mister Bernard, Mister Malloy, Mister Hernandez. - CBTS multifactor authentication purchase (authorization): Approved, votes recorded as Yes — Mister Bernard, Mister Malloy, Mister Hernandez.

Next steps: the board scheduled the public viewing and hearing on the Pine Avenue road vacation, will invite Senior Services director Diane and the vendor to a workshop to clarify the pending invoice, and will proceed with the IT procurement process for multifactor authentication.