Weighing plans for J&FS facility

One of the proposals considered for years was hindered by a lack of money.

By D.A. WILKINSON

VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU

LISBON — The Columbiana County commissioners say they’ll consider restoring old buildings to create new headquarters for the Department of Job & Family Services.

No quick decision is expected because the county doesn’t have enough money for the estimated $8 million project, the commissioners said Friday.

“With $2 million more, we could do it,” Commissioner Dan Bing said.

Architects Norma J. Stefanik of Youngstown State University’s Center for Urban and Regional Studies, and architect Robert A. Mastriana of The 4M Co. of Boardman, have presented three proposals to the commissioners.

The commissioners have also received other proposals for sites for a new building, which would be located on the northern or eastern outskirts of the village. The proposed new building would also include the county board of elections and its veterans services board.

The commissioners said the architects think a renovation project would be about the same cost as new construction.

“We’re trying to explore our options,” Bing said.

Proposals

The proposals are:

URenovate the board of elections, 41 N. Park Ave., and buy land behind it for parking; renovate the J&FS, 110 N. Nelson St., and buy a former grocery store one block east of the J&FS, to provide space for parking. The veterans office at 996 N. Market St., would move to a renovated older private building just north of the village square.

URenovate the elections board, buy the former grocery store for a site for a new J&FS building and a separate veterans building, and parking.

URenovate the elections board, and put the veterans in the older building off the square. A new J&FS office would be built on the parking lot south of the courthouse.

The parking lot proposal has been considered for many years, including renovating the buildings that were there at the time for a new J&FS. The buildings, including an Isaly’s restaurant, have since been demolished. The county didn’t build a new J&FS for a lack of funds.

One point in favor of the last proposal is that the county in the 1990s purchased property on the western side of the block that could be turned into parking.

wilkinson@vindy.com