Columbiana County seeks project funds

The county needs $5 million for a new building to house offices.

STAFF REPORT

SALEM — Columbiana County has almost $23 million in projects ready for possible funding under President-elect Barack Obama’s economic stimulus plan.

Penny Traina, chairwoman of the county commissioners, said the commissioners and other officials are compiling funding requests.

Traina and Commissioner Jim Hoppel said they are mainly pushing for two projects.

One of the projects that is a priority but was not yet on the county’s stimulus list, would be about $5 million to help pay for a new building to house the county board of elections, the department of job and family services, and the veterans commission.

The current job and family services building on Nelson Street in Lisbon is in bad condition, JFS officials and the commissioners say.

The list of problems includes flooding, mold and mildew.

Hoppel said the county has about $1.2 million to spend on the project and needs an additional $5 million to complete funding.

The county’s other priority is the Glenmoor Sewer Project phases 1 and 2, which is on the list at a cost of $2 million.

Construction of a sewer line would bring service to Beaver Creek State Park, a nursing facility, homes and also would boost economic development in the county’s southern portion.

East Liverpool is seeking $3.6 million for street repairs. Salem wants $750,000 to complete the second phase of the East Pershing Street project that would give the city a third east-west corridor.

Hoppel said the federal government hasn’t announced how or when projects will be chosen and funded.

In the meantime, Traina said, county officials have been sending their requests to state Rep. Linda Bolon of East Palestine, D-1st. Obama’s economic stimulus plan is pegged at $775 billion.

These are the projects submitted thus far:

UGeneral road repair, replacement and resurfacing: $7.5 million.

UKnox School Road reconstruction, Knox Township, $500,000.

UColumbia Drive construction, St. Clair Township, $1.5 million,

UEast Pershing Street extension, phase 2, Salem, $750,000.

ULincoln Way Reconstruction, Lisbon, $1.5 million.

UStreet improvement package, East Liverpool, $3.6 million.

UCounty bridge program, $1.5 million.

USalineville waterline extension, Salineville, $2.5 million.

UGlenmoor sewer protect, phases 1 and 2, $2 million.

UCounty Home Road sewer project, Center Township, $750,000.

UBeaver Creek State Park lift station and force main project, $400,000.

UGuilford Lake sewer utility line lining, $250,000.

UHanover Township and Kensington sewer project engineering, $150,000.

Columbiana County total: $22.9 million.