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Trumbull County commissioners approve 2026 appropriation, public defender contract and multiple infrastructure agreements; proclaim April Child Abuse Prevention
Summary
The Trumbull County Board of Commissioners on March 25 approved the annual appropriation for fiscal 2026, a $775,256 contract with the Ohio Public Defender, several engineering and road‑work contracts totaling multimillion dollars in professional services, and a resolution designating April as Child Abuse Prevention Month; the board also accepted a veterans outreach sign for the courthouse lobby.
The Trumbull County Board of Commissioners approved the county’s annual appropriation resolution for the fiscal year ending Dec. 31, 2026, and a series of routine contracts and permits during its March 25, 2026 meeting in the commissioners’ hearing room.
Commissioners Denny Malloy, Rick Hernandez and Anthony Bernard voted unanimously to adopt the appropriation resolution to provide for current expenses and other expenditures across the general and other county funds.
The board also approved a contract with the Office of the Ohio Public Defender to continue providing a Trumbull County branch for indigent defense services for July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027. The county will pay $775,256 in four equal installments of $193,814, the commissioners recorded. Laura Bzanski of the Public Defender’s office thanked the board, saying, “we are committed to being effective partners in the indigent defense system as well as good stewards of taxpayer dollars.”
The meeting included multiple engineering and construction agreements tied to the State Route 45 new access road project. Commissioners approved a $1,340,518 professional services agreement with MS Consultants, Inc. for phase three of the project, a $298,958 agreement with Thrasher Group, Inc. for Lane West Road widening (phase one), and a $382,977 agreement for Bernett East Road reconstruction with the firm named on the agenda. The board also authorized advertising for bids on the Logan Gate Road resurfacing project and approved material and hauling contracts and several right‑of‑way and fleet permits requested by the county engineer.
The board authorized Commissioner Anthony Bernard to accept substantial completion of the Sheridan Drive sanitary sewer improvements (project 5‑S23) in Vienna Township on behalf of the county.
Commissioners approved a small design contract — $5,000 plus up to $100 in reimbursables — with Philip Secchanic Architects, Inc. to design a detached garage and storage space on the Veteran Service Commission parking lot at 253 E. Market St. in Warren. The board briefly discussed property‑permission language and asked county counsel to confirm whether an additional resolution is required; the prosecutor had previously reviewed the item.
The commissioners adopted a resolution proclaiming April 2026 as Child Abuse Prevention Month in Trumbull County and noted the 21st annual Pinwheels for Prevention event on April 1 at Warren G. Harding High School. The resolution says the county will plant 1,373 pinwheels to represent reports of abuse or neglect in 2025. Marilyn Pap of Children’s Services said the need remains high and told the board the office recorded “71 additional reports from 2024.”
The board also authorized two letters of support for Akron Children’s Hospital’s Warren Health Center funding applications and two letters for Liberty Township’s effort to preserve the 1913 mausoleum and chapel at Belmont Park Cemetery — one seeking $245,000 in federal community project funds and another for a state capital budget request; the project cost is listed as $270,000 with a $25,000 township match. A letter of support was also approved for Trumbull Neighborhood Partnerships’ T‑Mobile Hometown Grant/Main Street America application for North Park Commons.
During an extended comments segment, Commissioner Denny Malloy talked about migratory ducks at the causeway, skunk and coyote activity, and the start of the fishing season at Mosquito Lake, urging visitors to remove litter and noting the economic benefit of tournaments.
The meeting concluded after a three‑member unanimous vote to adjourn.
Votes at a glance • Approve minutes and accept video recordings (motion): Malloy, Hernandez, Bernard — yes. • Approve bills (motion): Malloy, Hernandez, Bernard — yes. • Annual appropriation resolution (budget adoption): Malloy, Hernandez, Bernard — yes. • Child Abuse Prevention Month resolution: Malloy, Hernandez, Bernard — yes. • Public Defender agreement ($775,256): Malloy, Hernandez, Bernard — yes. • Professional services agreements (MS Consultants $1,340,518; Thrasher Group $298,958; Bernett East contract $382,977): Malloy, Hernandez, Bernard — yes. • Various permits, contracts and letters of support: Malloy, Hernandez, Bernard — yes.
What happens next: Several items — notably the veteran parking‑lot design and the property‑permission question — may prompt follow‑up with the county prosecutor or an additional resolution if legal language needs to be added. The Pinwheels for Prevention event is scheduled for April 1, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. at Warren G. Harding High School.
