Proposed site sits north of mental health center

The tentative cost of a proposed new building is $6 million.
LISBON -- Columbiana County commissioners are discussing whether to build a new home for its Department of Jobs and Family Services.
County Engineer Bert Dawson gave the commissioners a drawing Tuesday that would move the agency to a site north of the county Mental Health Center, 40722 state Route 154.
Preliminary plans call for a one-story building, which would eliminate costs for elevators.
Here's the situation
The agency's 155 workers share a building just off the village square. The building also includes a bowling alley. But the cramped and often-remodeled county-owned structure often leaks. Workers have to leave the building to go to other agency offices in the same building when that happens.
The agency offices also have eight heating systems.
Commissioner Jim Hoppel said part of the proposed site is in the village and part of it is not. Whether the proposed building is in the village would depend on where the building is located on the land.
Land north of the village costs $50,000 to $100,000 an acre. The proposed site is owned by the mental health center, which is offering it a lowered rate, Hoppel said. The site is about 6.7 acres.
The area has access to Lisbon's sewer service. Water would be supplied by wells.
The estimated $6 million cost would be repaid over 20 or more years through rent paid by the department to the commissioners. Hoppel said the county would not use general fund revenue for the construction.
Hoppel said there would be significant savings in the heating costs alone.