COLUMBIANA CO. Interim recorder appointed

The new commissioner says he's hopeful improvements can be made in the county department he's leaving.
By NORMAN LEIGH
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LISBON -- Columbiana County commissioners tapped a longtime county recorder's office employee to serve as interim recorder.
Commissioners met Thursday in a special meeting to make the appointment. They chose Diana Reiter, 52, of Salem, for the post.
Reiter, a deputy recorder, has worked in the recorder's office for more than 10 years.
Commissioners Sean Logan and Jim Hoppel were joined in making the appointment by new Commissioner Gary Williams, who defeated Dave Cranmer in the November general election.
Williams had been serving as county recorder and had to resign from the post to start his commissioner duties, creating the need to appoint an interim recorder.
Since Williams is a Republican, the county's Republican party will name the person who will finish the nearly two years remaining on his term.
Republicans will gather Jan. 9 to undertake that chore.
Among the announced hopefuls for the post are Perry Township trustees Jeff Hochadel and Larry Parker.
Williams' agenda
Williams said he plans during his tenure on the commissioners board to lobby for more staffing and space, and new equipment for the recorder's office.
The department now has four full-time employees and one part-time.
Another full-time worker is needed, said Williams, who accounted for that staff member in the departmental budget request he submitted for 2003. The recorder's office is seeking a total of about $225,000 this year, about $30,000 of which is for salary and benefits for a new employee.
It's unclear whether the department will receive that much. Commissioners have adopted a first-quarter budget but will not adopt a full-year budget for about three months.
Besides more staff, the office needs more room to operate, Williams said.
One option would be for the recorder's office to rent space outside the courthouse, Williams said.
The department also needs new imaging equipment to record documents, he added.
If the department leases equipment, it would cost $75,000 to $100,000 annually, Williams said.
Another option would be to buy the equipment, which would cost between $150,000 and $300,000.
Williams said he would like recorder's office equipment to be updated sometime this year. The department has an equipment fund that can be used for that purpose.
The department's antiquated imaging equipment is largely responsible for the nearly six months it takes to return a document after it has been brought in for recording, Williams said.