WARREN — Commissioners approved providing $63,040 to allow the Trumbull County MetroParks to obtain two easements from the Ohio Edison Co., which will allow phase IV of the Western Reserve Greenway Bike Trail to be nearly completed.

Nearly 80% of the county’s costs, $50,432, will be reimbursed by the federal government.

The Trumbull County MetroParks Board also is working on an agreement to obtain an easement with Norfolk Southern Railroad. The total ask for the Norfolk property is $138,248. Trumbull will be expected to pay 20% of that cost, approximately $27,000.

Once these easements are obtained and the work completed, Trumbull’s portion of the Lake the River Bike Trail will be done.

Commissioner Denny Malloy questioned whether there is money available to help counties pay for the maintenance of the trails.

“There are portions of it in Champion that are in disrepair,” Malloy said.

Planning Director Juilie Green stated the government generally does not provide grants that would help counties pay for maintenance for trails.

Last week, Trumbull County MetroParks Director Zachary Svette told the commissioners they needed to provide the final funds to complete the bike trail or risk having to return nearly $1.4 million the federal government already provided for it.