TRUMBULL COUNTY Company volunteers to put up decorations

The county's lack of finances prevented officials from renting holiday decorations this year.
By STEPHEN SIFF
and PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Yes, commissioners, there is a Santa Claus.
About two weeks after the Trumbull County commissioners came under fire for paying a company $1,800 in previous years to put rented decorations on county-owned artificial trees, the same company volunteered to do it again this year, but for free.
"They certainly don't have the money for it this year," said Jo Reese of Reese Floral Arts. "The county building is part of the county, and we can't have it look bare."
Before Reese made her offer Thursday, commissioners had not decided how they would celebrate Christmas this year, said Roselyn Ferris, the county clerk-administrator.
The county's financial situation precluded renting decorations again, Ferris said.
"We weren't going to do anything," said Commissioner James Tsagaris.
No decorations were bought
Although the county owns three artificial trees, which are stored with Reese's company, it never purchased the lights or baubles to trim them.
For the last several years, the county has paid the company to assemble county trees on each of the three floors of the county courthouse, hang wreaths and provide and decorate a fourth tree for the administrative building.
This year, there is no money from the county, but Reese will still try to get to the county buildings early next week to set up a single tree in both the courthouse and administration building. The company also will hang wreaths, she said.
"I think this is very generous of the company, and we wholeheartedly accept the donations," Commissioner Michael O'Brien said.
A check of other government entities failed to turn up any who rent their Christmas decorations. Like most people, most cities and counties seem to own decorations, which they keep in an attic most of the year and put up themselves.
siff@vindy.com
sinkovich@vindy.com