WARREN — The Trumbull County Commissioners are leaning toward finding ways to help the Trumbull County MetroParks board maintain and rehabilitate a Braceville log cabin found in 2018 under a condemned building.

During the commissioners workshop Tuesday, MetroParks Executive Director Zachary Svette provided them options about the cabin’s future, including maintaining it on the five acres on which it is located; maintaining the cabin, but only keeping enough of the five acres for its maintenance; or moving the cabin to a different site.

The MetroParks, which owns the cabin, earlier this year began exploring what could be done with the building because it does not have the funds needed to renovate or maintain it.

It was after taking a look at the MetroParks budget and what would be needed to maintain the cabin that Svette determined that something else had to be done.

“After two failed levy attempts where we tried to get money, I had to take a good hard look at the park district and determine what we are dealing with,” Svette said. “What can I actually maintain in the short term and the long term?” he said. “Would the commissioners provide an extra $10,000 or $20,000 if, God forbid, something happens on the property? We know what kind of situation that you guys are in.”

The commissioners fund the MetroParks as part of the county budget.

Terrance Shavers of the Braceville Historical Society noted if the log cabin is a historical site, they should do whatever it takes to save it.

“Are there grant funds available?” Shavers said. “We have a little team together to try to find a way to save this thing. We spoke to KO Consulting. If we could have a little time.”

There has not been an estimate on the renovation costs.

Commissioner Tony Bernard said that he spoke to state Rep. Sandra O’Brien, R-Lenox, about the log cabin and was told there may be federal dollars available.

Svette noted if the commissioners are looking to transfer the cabin and the five acres of property, they have between 11 and 18 months to make decisions because that is how long it would take to transfer ownership from MetroParks to either the county or a nonprofit organization like the historical society.

Commissioner Denny Malloy said the county will work with the MetroParks board.

“You guys will still own it, but it will not cost you anything to restore it,” Malloy said. “We can bring someone like Barnwood Builders in to restore it. It would then become a tourist attraction, which would attract people to the park.”

Commissioner Rick Hernandez said it appears to be the best decision to have the MetroParks Board maintain ownership of the log cabin, with the commissioners providing some financial assistance for maintenance and future improvements.

“He (Svette) can work off grants,” Hernandez said.

Commissioners told Svette to reach out to the county’s building inspector, Michael J. Sliwinski, to look within the cabin for an assessment of what must be done to maintain it and make it a possible tourist attraction.

The township’s fire chief reportedly told trustees that some of the bottom logs of the house are nearly rotted through and need to be replaced.

After receiving a report from Silwinski, the commissioners — working with the MetroParks board, the Braceville Historical Society and others — will begin to look at obtaining donations, grants and loans needed to save the building and maintain the property surrounding it.

Commissioners, in previous meetings, discussed taking over the cabin but are now leaning toward allowing the MetroParks to own and maintain it. The commissioners will work with the park board to find funds needed for the maintenance and renovation.

These costs have not been determined.

They reached out to Barnwood Builders of West Virginia, which has in the past worked with communities to renovate cabins.

Randy Fabrizio, chairman of the MetroParks board, expressed optimism about the cabin’s future after hearing the commissioners’ comments.

“I’m encouraged,” he said. “We are back in the right direction. They are open.”

Bob Ward, a member of the MetroParks board, added they cannot maintain anything without money.

“This was a positive and realistic discussion,” he said.