WARREN — Trumbull County’s Emergency Management Agency director and coroner are expected to seek bids for the renovations of their respective buildings before spring ends, and construction of the sites likely will begin soon afterward.

Early estimates are projected by architects from Baker, Bednar and Snyder to be around $358,000 for the EMA relocation and construction, and another $790,550 for the redesign and construction of the coroner’s office.

Final costs will not be determined until after the projects are bid out to construction companies. Both of the offices now share the EMA building at 640 North River Road. The coroner moved into the North River Road building in 2024 because of the closure of Trumbull Regional Medical Center, later Insight, in Warren.

Trumbull County Coroner Lawrence D’Amico has been seeking a new office since 2021. County officials have looked at various locations for a coroner’s office, including the former Trumbull County Combined Health District office, 176 Chestnut Ave. NE in Warren. However, because of the need to completely change the building’s HVAC system and other necessary improvements, the projected cost of that move would have been approximately $2.2 million. EMA Director John Hickey in 2024 offered to allow the coroner to move into his building.

He asked commissioners previously to consider moving the EMA to the former Bazetta Fire Department, 773 Everett Hull Road. If all goes as expected, the EMA director expects to complete his move into the Everett Hull Road building by September.

David Snyder, a partner with Baker, Bednar, Snyder & Associates, said the majority of the cost of converting the current EMA building into a full-service coroner’s office will be creating a permanent autopsy space, including adding the necessary ventilation needed for the coroner and his staff to do their work, and so bodies can be stored.

Snyder added there will be some other offices, including a public viewing section, a bay location where bodies are delivered, coolers and a place for necessary equipment.

D’Amico told the commissioners his office will remain open throughout the construction process. He noted that during the past several years, they have come into the office at 4 a.m. so they could get the majority of their work done before it becomes too hot.

“This is much better than the plan we had when we were considering the Chestnut building,” Commissioner Denny Malloy said. “We are saving about $1.2 million. Even considering the EMA costs, we’re saving by doing this. We still are going to be ahead by $600,000 or more.”

Snyder said they can have the architectural drawing out by mid-April and obtain the bids by mid- to late May.