Trending
WARREN -- Trumbull County commissioners voted to allow the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office to do autopsies and other scientific testing services.
This arrangement would happen when demand within Trumbull County exceeds staffing capabilities of the Trumbull County Coroner's Office, according to the agreement.
Trumbull will pay Cuyahoga $2,000 per autopsy completed for the period between Jan. 1 this year to Dec. 31, 2028.
"I was told by the coroner that the maximum amount of time they will be need them is four and a half weeks per year, when the investigator is on vacation and in case there are emergencies," Commissioner Niki Frenchko said. "For example, if there is a homicide that happens on a weekend."
The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office provides autopsies and other scientific testing services for various communities in northeast Ohio that may not have the facilities to do autopsies and conduct other services, or for other reasons.
Trumbull has worked with Cuyahoga's office for several years to do some cases.
Trumbull County since 2018 has paid the Cuyahoga Medical Examiner's Office $168,770 for services, according to the county auditor's office.
It has been paying a declining amount every year, however.
Trumbull paid $66,300 in 2018. The county paid $14,750 to Cuyahoga in 2022.
The county has paid $2,950 to Cuyahoga so far in 2023.
"It was priced much lower in 2018," Trumbull Auditor Martha Yoder said.
NEXT 911 LEADER
In other business, Human Resources Director Alexandra Devengencie-Bush said she does not want to rush the decision on picking the next 911 center director.
• Frenchko questioned, if the remaining top two candidates are not chosen, whether the county go down the list of those previously interviewed and choose someone from that group.
Bush argued against that kind of decision, because their overall scores from testing and interviews were so much lower than the top three candidates whose names were given to the commissioners for consideration. One has withdrawn.
"I wouldn't recommend that," Bush said. "This process has worked well in showing the strengths and weaknesses of all the candidates."
Frenchko said her concern is the county does not have an updated feasibility 911 plan.
"If we don't have a plan done, we can't start charging more to cover our services we are providing for all of the communities, but, most especially the city of Warren," she said.
Bush agreed there are a lot of very important and pertinent things that need to be done by this upcoming director.
"The director will be tasked with, perhaps, moving into a new building," Bush said.
Frenchko requested being allowed to attend the Warren-Trumbull Regional Chamber's Washington Fly-In scheduled June 7-8. Commission President Denny Malloy agreed that Frenchko should be able to go.
"I would approve on your projected expenses for this conference, including the rooms, the flight, the meals that are not covered and the travel to and from the event," Malloy said. "I would advise you use the hotel the Chamber has arranged."
"You estimated it would be about $2,500," he said.