Staff report

WARREN — The Trumbull County Planning Commission plans to re-bid the Golden Triangle Coalition and Improvement project after a bid opening earlier this month, officials said, was unsuccessful.

Darlene St. George, a planning commission member, was the one whose vision and leadership initiated the project.

At the September meeting, staff reported the bid opening Sept. 5 was unsuccessful, so project partners will re-evaluate the bid documents and re-bid the project in October.

Julie Green, director of the planning commission, said the project, funded through local matching funds and the Economic Development Administration, includes street improvements in Howland and Warren city, benefiting the manufacturing businesses in the area.

The board reported that the commission is working with Mecca Township in the development of their comprehensive plan, as well as developing the application for a historical marker program in Mecca, which will commemorate the origins of the Erie Dearie fishing lure.

Officials said the commission is providing technical assistance with the American Rescue Plan-funded Mecca township hall and childcare center project.

Mecca trustees have discussed having the new township hall at the community park off of Route 46.

Trustees have wanted the building to possibly house programs like Head Start through Alta, an afterschool childcare center, a senior center on weekends and a community health outreach program.

Trustees have also discussed their hope between 2026 and 2027 to install a sidewalk that would connect the new town hall to the high school and the community fishing area.

Trustee Chairwoman Christen Clemson said the township has around $500,000 to spend between a $100,000 capital improvements grant from the state and ARP funds from both Trumbull County commissioners and the township.

OTHER COMMISSION BUSINESS

Green reported at the meeting a comparative analysis of the Newton Township zoning resolution and the 2019 comprehensive plan was completed by the commission.

The board said assistance with updates to the zoning resolution for Newton Township will take place over the next year.

In other matters, the commission continues to address special flood hazard area violations identified for a number of households as a result of a 2020 Federal Emergency Management Agency / Ohio Department of Natural Resources audit.

The commission staff have also been working on grant administration, including 16 ongoing grant programs for projects with budgets in excess of $10 million.

Grant administration includes conducting environmental reviews for half a dozen different grant programs in cooperation with project partners.

Officials said the quality-of-life projects benefit residents countywide.