Trumbull County

WHAT: Commissioners regular meeting Wednesday

PRESENT: Tony Bernard, Rick Hernandez and Denny Malloy

Commissioners:

• Voted to remove Mary Jo Hoso as a member of the Local Corrections Board.

• Voted to appoint Jenna Maze as a member of the Local Corrections Board for a three-year term starting March 24, 2026, to March 24, 2029.

• Voted to remove John E. Myers Jr. as a member of the Local Corrections Board.

• Voted to appoint Lauren Thorp as a member of the Local Corrections Board for a three-year term beginning May 13, 2026, to May 13, 2029.

• Voted to reappoint Tracy S. Hunt, Cynthia Wescott, Sean O’Brien and Jake E. Jones as members of the Local Corrections Board for three-year terms starting Jan. 3, 2026, to Jan. 3, 2029.

• Voted to appoint David Bobby to the Local Corrections Board beginning May 13, 2026, to May 13, 2029.

• Adopted a resolution proclaiming May 2026 as Foster Care Month in Trumbull County, honoring all foster parents and volunteers.

• Voted for the county clerk to advertise for a provider of “Employer of Record” payroll services on behalf of the Workforce Development Board of Trumbull County.

• Awarded a $395,750 contract to Murphy Contracting Co., 285 Andrews Ave., Youngstown, for the Trumbull County Emergency Management Agency relocation and renovation project to 773 Everett Hull Road, Bazetta. The project is being paid for with American Rescue Plan funds. The site is a former Bazetta fire station.

• Awarded a $3,000 professional service agreement with Pretek Group of Bellbrook to provide professional engineering services for the load rating of three bridges for the VAR-Trumbull County Bridge Load Rating Project.

• Approved a $12,700 professional services contract with GAI Consultants of North Canton to provide professional engineering services for completion of the County Engineers Association of Ohio speed zone and intersection studies.

• Approved a $735,080 contract with Shelly & Sands of North Jackson for a 142 North River Road paving project that is to be completed in 2027. It includes the resurfacing of North River Road from Elm Road to state Route 46 in Howland.

• Authorized applying for a $1,603,437.06 Ohio Department of Youth Services Subsidy Grant. The grant period will begin July 1, 2026, and end June 30, 2027. The grant will provide for early intervention, treatment and rehabilitative programs for delinquent and at-risk youth.

• Voted to reappoint Kevin Stringer and Curtis Green as members of the Trumbull County Mental Health and Recovery Board beginning July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2030.

• Approved providing a letter of support for Girard’s request to the Appalachian Regional Commission’s 2027 Area Development Program in its efforts to replace critical sanitary sewer lines.

• Awarded a $6,500 proposal to GeoTechnical Consultants Inc. of Youngstown for required third-party inspection services for the Trumbull County Law Library Monumental Steps Replacement Project.

• Approved a $631,839 per year contract between the city of Warren and Trumbull County 911 to provide dispatch services from Jan. 1, 2026, to Dec. 31, 2026.

— Raymond L. Smith

Champion

WHAT: Board of education April 20 meeting

PRESENT: Aaron Abrahamson, Marie Downs, Patricia Fisher, John Pitts and David Mahan

The board:

• Heard from Superintendent John Grabowski the school district received the Momentum Award, one of 20 school districts to receive the recognition. He said the district received five stars overall on the state report card for 2025.

• Received donations for the “We are Champions” Wall of Strength, which will be used for updates to the high school weight room. The funds are used for items for the weight room such as squat racks.

• Approved five-year administrative contracts to Zac Barson, assistant high school principal, and Austin Handrych, assistant middle and elementary principal, both effective Aug. 1, 2026, to July 31, 2031.

• Approved 102 seniors for graduation at 6 p.m. Saturday at the high school stadium.

• Hired Michael Rudloff as an intervention specialist and business teacher at the high school for the 2026-27 year.

• Hired Bob Linger as a full-time bus driver.

• Updated the job description for administrative assistant to the superintendent.

• Accepted resignation of Josh Cokrlic as elementary music teacher / steel drum band and music production at the elementary school effective April 13.

• Approved Jenna Birt as a substitute music teacher for the remainder of the school year effective April 13.

— Bob Coupland

Champion

WHAT: Township trustee meeting May 5

PRESENT: Doug Emerine, Tom Jeffers and Rick York

Trustees:

• Heard from Emerine he has received calls from residents upset over fiber optic companies digging in yards in the Kuszmaul Allotments area and other parts of the township. He said the crews need to make sure they restore and repair the dug-up areas.

• Hired Alan Patrick as a seasonal worker for the cemetery at $14 per hour.

• Accepted the resignation of Alex Russo as a part-time firefighter / paramedic from the fire department.

• Increased the revenue in the local public works commission fund by $111,000 to reflect Issue 2 monies to be received by the 2025 Ohio Public Works Commission Project award, which was postponed last year due to inclement weather. The project is for resurfacing Eldon, Shirley and Clearview roads.

Heard from fire Chief Tom Dempsey of the need for repairs to the main roof and replacing the center fire bay and the fire truck bay section at the fire department.

• Were informed a local discount drugstore was closing in the community.

• Declared the property at 356 Cleveland Ave. a nuisance.

• Announced a committee of local residents is being formed to plan for the township’s bicentennial in 2031.

• Reported the township’s website must meet Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility requirements by April 2027.

• Announced cemetery cleanup is being held through Saturday. Residents are to remove Christmas decorations and other non-spring or summer arrangements.

— Bob Coupland

Girard

WHAT: City council meeting Monday

PRESENT: Reynald Paolone, Todd Latell, John Moliterno, Wes Steiner, Lily Martuccio, Thomas Grumley, Keith Schubert and James Clark

ABSENT: Mayor Mark Zuppo

Council:

• Heard from Grumley of the zoning department about the need to cite residents who repeatedly allow their grass to grow 2 feet high or more.

• Heard from Fire Chief James Petruzzi that of the 330 transports by the fire department this year, 72 were for nonresidents, mostly from Liberty.

• Discussed making sure trash collection does not start before 6 a.m. because the noise from the trucks is waking up residents. Grumley said there have been concerns of trash being left on roads and sidewalks on collection days. Resident Annette Minitti said there is trash all over Stambaugh Street on collection day.

• Roberta Lawrentz questioned why the city does not have a full-time zoning inspector. The city has two part-time nonunion zoning inspectors.

• Rescheduled the next meeting to May 26 because of Memorial Day with a finance meeting at 6:30 p.m. A utilities meeting will be at 6 p.m. June 22. On May 21, there will be a zoning meeting at 5 p.m. and block watch at 6 p.m., both at the Girard Library.

— Bob Coupland

Mecca

WHAT: Township trustees meeting Tuesday

PRESENT: Tom Domes, Christen Clemson and Dan Gladd

Trustees:

• Announced a 5k race at 9 a.m. May 25 starting at Maplewood High School and traveling around the center and onto state Route 46.

• Announced that the public comment section of the meeting will now take place near the beginning of the meeting instead of near the end.

• Heard from Gladd the park playground equipment, which was damaged, will be repaired at $824. Officials said restrooms that were damaged have been repaired at the park. Broken sports field backboards also were replaced after being damaged, as was a fence that had a tree fall on it.

• Approved receiving opioid settlement fund payments by check instead of being wired into the township bank account. Funds can only be used for opioid addiction prevention, treatment and recovery.

• Announced cleanup day is 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 6. Not being accepted are batteries, paint, freon, chemicals, petroleum products and tractor or semi tires.

• Had the roof repaired on the park pavilion after it was damaged by a storm.

• Are preparing job descriptions for maintenance supervisor and maintenance worker. Trustees are seeking a part-time summer maintenance worker.

• Purchased a LIFEPAK monitor at $57,248, partly covered by a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant of $44,000.

• Approved Ohio Public Works Commission paving projects on West Mahan Denman, North Morrell Ray and Love Warner roads.

• Approved purchase of a zero-turn lawnmower for $7,000 from Spear’s Chardon Tractor and a John Deere tractor at $77,772 from Ag-Pro.

• Heard from residents about the loud noise from large groups of people on motorcycles leaving the bars. Domes said the township has no noise ordinance. He will contact the sheriff’s department about the issue.

• Heard from residents about a mobile home property at 6051 Hoagland Blackstub Road, which caught fire in 2022 and has become an eyesore with rodents, bugs and metal flapping in the wind making loud noise. Clemson said the property has been reported to the county health department. She said she was told the property is in probate court in legal proceedings.

— Bob Coupland