Renovate J&FS building, Center trustee urges

The elections board said it needed more space.

By D.A. WILKINSON

VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU

LISBON — The debate is continuing over what to do with the building that houses the Columbiana County Department of Job & Family Services.

Joseph Csonka, a Center Township trustee, told the county commissioners Wednesday that the building at 110 Nelson St. could be renovated.

Csonka, who has been a builder and plumber, said he had worked on the building in the past.

“People understand where the commissioners are coming from,” Csonka said. “It’s terrible in there.”

But he said the structure itself is in good shape.

The commissioners had been considering building a new facility inside the village at its northern edge. But the Lisbon Area Chamber of Commerce has said the move could cut spending at stores around the historical square.

“It would be good to keep jobs downtown,” Csonka said.

He suggested that any renovation take place from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Workers would clean up debris before regular operations resumed in the morning.

Csonka pointed out the Trumbull County Job & Family Services and One-Stop job-training facility consolidated offices last summer in the Park-Porter Building, 280 N. Park Ave. The Trumbull County commissioners purchased the building for $699,500 in 2006 and remodeled it.

The Summit County Courthouse also recently underwent a 14-month renovation, he added.

Lisbon preservationist Stevie Halverstadt has been working with Boardman architect Robert A. Mastriana, who oversaw the recent renovation of the Columbiana County courthouse.

“I get the impression he’s not getting a lot of cooperation, and if he’s not, that’s too bad,” Csonka said of Mastriana.

The commissioners had planned to put Job & Family Services, the board of elections, and Veterans Services in the proposed new building.

Mastriana has said the elections board at 41 N. Park Ave. could be renovated.

But Larry Bowersock, the chairman of the elections board, told the commissioners his agency needs more space.

“We are half the size we need. We need 10,000 square feet,” Bowersock said.

The elections board’s problem is the need for storage space. Voting equipment is kept in a separate part of the building that houses the elections board.

Part of the board’s voting machines are stored at a private company.

Commissioner Dan Bing said the commissioners are now considering renovating a closed grocery store east of the J&FS.

But Bing said, “We’re not ready by any means to make a decision.”

wilkinson@vindy.com