Commissioners OK option to buy land

By D.A. WILKINSON

VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU

LISBON — The Columbiana County commissioners have approved a six-month option to buy land for a new Department of Job & Family Services building.

But the commissioners said all ideas are still on the table.

Dan Bing, board chairman, said, “It’s only an option.”

“We’re keeping all of our options open,” said Commissioner Jim Hoppel.

Commissioner Penny Traina said, “We appreciate all the passion people have brought to this.”

The option gives the commissioners until Aug. 14 to buy 4.6 acres at the northern edge of the village at a cost of $290,000.

The commissioners just formally received a $247,000 federal grant for the project and expect to receive another $1 million in federal funds earmarked for the project.

In the meantime, the commissioners are trying to find an independent expert to see if the current DJ & FS can be salvaged. Hoppel said he has not found anyone to check the building. The cost is expected to be under $25,000.

The building at 110 N. Nelson Ave. leaks, has a number of heating and cooling systems and is overcrowded to the point people applying for benefits have little privacy.

Lisbon merchants have asked the commissioners to consider keeping the DJ & FS building somewhere downtown so the department’s 160 workers could shop locally.

Other potential sites include buying a closed grocery store east of the current DJ & FS, or building a new office south of the courthouse.

Ryan Hillman, president of the Lisbon Area Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber wants the DJ & FS to have decent facilities that fit its needs while remaining downtown.

Losing the 160 workers as customers would have a devastating impact on the village, he added.

The chamber wants to work with the commissioners to find a suitable location.

Preservationist Stevie Halverstadt of Lisbon has been promoting the renovation of the current DJ & FS building.

Halverstadt and her sister, Renee Lewis, of New York City, have also been privately renovating the Jacob Picking just east of the courthouse. The brick building was constructed in 1803.

That project should be complete by the end of the year, Halverstadt said.

The building’s windows have been put in place and external lighting will be added.

An extension of the building created a courtyard. Halverstadt said wrought iron railings will be added to steps at the back of the building.

The work is within the $500,000 estimate for the project, Halverstadt said.

wilkinson@vindy.com