Columbiana officials plan completion of renovations

April 8, 2011 at 12:00a.m.

LISBON

Columbiana County commissioners hope to finally complete the renovation of the courthouse and fix the leaky roof at the Columbiana County Municipal Court.

Commissioner Penny Traina on Wednesday said that the county courthouse will be able to update the two restrooms for men and two restrooms for women.

The courthouse underwent a major overhaul in the late 1990s that included new heating and cooling and refurbishing the building.

But there wasn’t enough loan money available from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to do the restrooms.

Traina said she has been looking for funds for five years.

She said she received a “Dear John” letter from the USDA stating that it would not fund the project.

But she believes the county can get about $225,000 in Community Development Block Grants to pay the cost.

There would be few changes, but the restrooms would comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Renovations also would retain the courthouse’s historic look.

As for the roofing project, the municipal court opened in September 2005 at a cost of $3.6 million but quickly developed roofing problems.

The commissioners now are asking area architects for ideas for dealing with the ongoing problem.