WARREN — With 2024 rapidly coming to an end, Trumbull commissioners on Wednesday discussed how to use the remainder of the nearly $38,557,294 in American Rescue Plan funds received by the county.

Auditor Martha Yoder said there is an estimated $176,689 still available from the original ARP money.

The county has until Dec. 31 to decide how to utilize the leftover funds. The county is required to spend its ARP funds by the end of 2025.

On Wednesday, the commissioners approved a memorandum of understanding to use $78,338 of the county’s ARP funds for roofing and other improvements at the Trumbull County Planning Commission building. Improvements will include the installation of a new elevator, a security system and a sink on the building’s second floor, replacement of damaged and missing ceiling tiles and carpeting, as well as American’s with Disabilities Act upgrades.

A proposal for using $326,150 of the county’s ARP funds for the total removal of the existing concrete stairs and retaining walls outside the Trumbull County Law Library did not receive sufficient votes.

Commissioners Denny Malloy and Niki Frenchko opposed using that money for the replacement of concrete steps.

“That was a pretty steep price,” Malloy stated, casting his vote against the project.

Frenchko abstained from voting.

Commissioner Mauro Cantalamessa noted this is a county building, and the county is responsible for its maintenance.

Commissioners approved establishing a memorandum of understanding with the Trumbull County Emergency Management Agency to provide $1 million for establishing a Mobile Command Post Project using ARP funds.

They voted to establish a memorandum of understanding to provide $850,000 in ARP funds for the replacement of a 4-H building.

Commissioners unanimously approved providing $50,0000 in ARP funds for Bess Purpose Inc., a nonprofit organization designed to help battered women and their children. It has offices in Trumbull and Mahoning counties.

Yoder told the commissioners that Attorney Tonya Rogers of the law firm of Baker, Dublikar, Beck Wiley and Mathews is reviewing ARP funding requests for a community family outreach program at a cost of $41,991, for a child-care center in Mecca at a cost of $170,000, for a Lordstown Village water booster at a cost of $200,000 and for a trailer and repeaters for the Warren Amateur Radio Association at a cost of $5,990.

Road projects under consideration for ARP money include a $100,000 project in Farmington and a $170,000 project in Mesopotamia.