Hearing to decide what do do with old county home

By D.A. WILKINSON

wilkinson@vindy.com

LISBON

The Columbiana County commissioners will have a public hearing Tuesday to help decide whether to tear down most of the former county-home buildings before they fall down.

Commissioner Jim Hoppel, who oversees properties for the commissioners, said Friday, “It’s nothing but an eyesore.”

He added, “The buildings are in terrible shape.”

He estimated that it would take $3 million to $4 million dollars to repair the five buildings.

The buildings are at 8330 County Home, west of Lisbon, and are close to the county sheriff’s office and the jail.

The buildings include the infirmary, which would be saved since it is being used for storage of old records and computers.

The other buildings, officials said, include the hospital for the insane, the superintendent’s house, a middle building that contained a chapel and various rooms, and the boiler house.

Dray said that rooms in the hospital for the insane contained only a bed.

The buildings are on the National Register of Historic Places, which requires a hearing before they are removed.

Officials said that the buildings are deteriorating daily.

The hearing will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in the commissioners’ meeting room in the courthouse.

Hoppel said that the bricks could be used in renovations, and foundation stones could be used by the county engineer’s office for bridge work.

One possible hurdle to the plan is whether asbestos was used in the plaster, which could cost $200,000 to $300,000 to remove.