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Columbiana Co. officials plan new government building
LISBON
The Columbiana County commissioners expect to break ground on a new government building early in 2011.
The Columbiana County Governmental Services Building, once complete, will house four county departments. They include the Department of Job and Family Services, 110 Nelson Ave.; the Veterans Service Office, 966 N. Market St.; the Mahoning-Columbiana Training Association, 7860 Lincoln Place, and the Columbiana County Board of Elections, 41 N. Park Ave.
The building will be in the northern part of the village.
The bids for the building construction and the plumbing, electrical, fire protection and heating and cooling systems totaled $8.8 million, which was much lower than the estimated $10.6 million.
Nancy Milliken, the county auditor, said that when the county goes to borrow money to finance the construction, the cost could change again depending on the market.
The building will have about 76,000 square feet. The JFS and the MCTA will pay rent to the county, and that will help finance the project. The commissioners will pay for the space for the elections board and the veterans’ office.
County Commissioner Jim Hoppel said he already has a plan to use the present board of elections building but declined to provide any information.
The building that now houses JFS has been criticized by the commissioners themselves and JFS managers and staff. The building often leaked, wires were exposed, and space problems made having private conversations with social workers difficult.