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Trumbull County commissioners approve contracts, hires and grant application; resident questions CDBG estimate
Summary
At their March meeting the Trumbull County Board of Commissioners approved a slate of routine actions — including a $71,000 contract for sheriff's evidence-room upgrades, purchase approvals for equipment and vehicles, multiple hires and a $317,645.90 CDBG CIG application — and heard a resident question about an increase in the CDBG estimate, which the planning director explained.
The Trumbull County Board of Commissioners approved a series of routine contracts, personnel actions and grant-related steps at its meeting, including awarding a $71,000 contract for sheriff’s evidence-room upgrades and authorizing submission of a $317,645.90 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) CIG application for storm-drainage improvements.
The actions were taken by unanimous vote of the three commissioners present. The board accepted the low quote from United Contractors, Inc. to renovate the Trumbull County Sheriff’s evidence room at 150 High Street in Warren for $71,000 and authorized Board President Tony Bernard to execute the agreement. The board also authorized the purchase of four fully equipped Ford Explorer K9 vehicles using state opioid funds in a total amount of $283,916, approved a $269,166 purchase/lease for a Caterpillar 938 wheel loader, and authorized other capital and maintenance contracts reported at the meeting.
The board approved personnel actions that included hiring five candidates for the Department of Job and Family Services (Rashawn Dykes, Giancarlo DiPaolo, Ryan Hovis, Madeline Sloan and Christopher Holiday), the appointment of Jason Lee as the county’s 2026 apiary inspector (compensated at $12 per hour with a cap listed in the agenda as “not to exceed 1,500” and a mileage reimbursement listed as the IRS standard rate of 72.5 per mile), and the hiring of Stephanie Spagnaletta as a utility clerk for the Sanitary Engineers Department (agenda lists a pay range line noted as “1692 per hour,” units unclear in the transcript).
During the public-comment portion before an executive session, Shelly Jackson of Warren asked why the CDBG CIG amount shown on the board’s agenda differed from the figure discussed at Thursday’s workshop. Jackson said, “I noticed that yesterday during the workshop meeting, the amount was… Both amounts are different.”
Julie Green, Director of the Trumbull County Planning Commission, responded that she had reviewed the county engineer’s updated estimate and discussed it with the engineer, and that the revised figure included adjustments to engineering and inspection costs and added administrative funds. As Green put it, “The 317 also includes administration funds that I'm not sure were included as part of the original agenda item language. These are all estimates.”
The board also adopted a resolution to establish a surplus personal property donation program under Ohio Revised Code 307.12, approved Change Order No. 1 for the Sheridan Drive sanitary sewer improvements (increasing the contract by $22,000 to a total of $650,292), accepted a maintenance bond for an HSTS Reserve Program project, and set a second public hearing for the Frederick Street storm-drainage project for April 14, 2026 at 5 p.m. at the Liberty Township Administration Building.
The commissioners convened an executive session under Ohio Revised Code 121.22(G)(1) to consider matters related to discipline or the investigation of complaints regarding public employees or officials, reconvened, and then adjourned the meeting.
Votes at a glance - Dispensed with reading minutes (workshop March 24 and regular meeting March 25): approved (unanimous). - Awarded evidence-room contract to United Contractors, Inc., $71,000: approved (unanimous). - Authorized Ohio Department of Youth Services grant amendment signature: approved (unanimous). - Appointed Jason Lee, apiary inspector, $12/hr (cap noted in agenda): approved (unanimous). - Approved purchase of four K9 vehicles using opioid funds, $283,916: approved (unanimous). - Authorized 2026 CDBG CIG application for Frederick Street storm drainage, $317,645.90 and set public hearing: approved (unanimous).
What to watch next The board set a second public hearing on the Frederick Street storm-drainage CDBG CIG application for April 14, 2026. The planning director indicated the application amount is an estimate and may be adjusted as engineering and administration costs are finalized.
