COLUMBIANA CO. Juvenile justice service will go on

Contracts were awarded for a new facility for the mentally and physically disabled.
By NORMAN LEIGH
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LISBON -- Columbiana County commissioners have secured a payment plan that will allow the county to continue using a multicounty juvenile justice system, though the county can't afford to pay the entire bill for the agency's services.
Commissioner Dave Cranmer said Wednesday that the agency has agreed to accept only part of the nearly $917,432 it is billing the county this year.
The payment plan secures the county's right to continuing using the detention and counseling services the agency provides for troubled youths.
The county's fiscal crisis has made it impossible to pay the entire $917,432 owed this year, commissioners have said.
Payment agreement
Instead, the county will pay about $51,000 monthly for the rest of the year, which amounts to about $306,000. The money will come from the general fund.
Any balance remaining at the end of the year will be carried over into 2003.
The county has been struggling for more than a year to stay current on its payments to the justice system.
The county entered 2002 still owing the agency $316,718 from 2001. That debt already has been paid, Cranmer said.
In other business, the county mental retardation and developmental disabilities board told commissioners it intends to seek renewal of a 2.5-mill property tax levy that's used for operations, maintenance and building improvements.
The levy, which brings in about $2.5 million annually, has been on the books since 1998, said William Devon, the agency's business manager.
The levy is for five years, but the agency is considering seeking to have it renewed on a continuing basis, Devon said.
A renewal measure could be placed on the November election ballot.
Facility for the disabled
Commissioners awarded construction contracts for a project intended to convert a former five-and-ten store into a facility for the disabled.
Midwestern Builders Inc. of North Lima received the general construction contract for $543,530.
The plumbing contract went to Ellyson Plumbing of Salem for $85,085. York Mahoning of Youngstown will install the heating, ventilation and air conditioning for $99,400, and S.M. Electric of Austintown was awarded the electrical contract for $75,880.
Work on the project is expected to start July 1, Devon said.
The building being renovated is along state Route 45 in Center Township, north of Lisbon.
Once renovation of the 7,500-square-foot structure is completed, which will take about a year, it will be used for activities by mentally and physically handicapped adults.
Money for the project will come from MRDD funds.