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Trumbull commissioners ready to hire architects for vet services
By Ed Runyan
WARREN
Trumbull County commissioners are moving forward with the selection of architects to design a new building to house the Trumbull County Veterans Service Commission.
Herman K. Breuer with the Veterans Service Commission informed the commissioners Tuesday that his board of directors wishes to accept the commissioners’ offer to build a new building on land the county acquired in the purchase of the former First Place Bank building on East Market Street.
The veterans commission was considering renting existing space because of a desire to move into a larger facility with better parking as soon as possible.
The former bank building and about 22 parcels of land were officially transferred to the county’s ownership for $750,000 last week, according to Atty. Jim Misocky, special-projects administrator to the commissioners.
A resolution hiring an architectural firm to design the 4,000-square-foot building will be on the commissioners’ agenda in the next couple of weeks, said Commissioner Frank Fuda.
The architects also will be asked to create a master plan for the vacant land the county acquired behind the former First Place Bank and just east of there. In all, the land takes up nearly an entire city block.
The Veterans Service Commission, which is currently housed in the county-owned Job and Family Services building on North Park Avenue, will move into its new building within a year, the commissioners said.
It will be located either on the High Street or East Market Street side of the newly acquired property, said Commissioner Paul Heltzel.
Commissioners believe the space will give them an opportunity to provide space for government agencies or commercial opportunities.
At Wednesday’s commissioners meeting, they approved a resolution approving a $240,000 project to install 3,800 lineal feet of sidewalks on the north side of Colonial Drive in Liberty Township from Belmont Avenue to Fifth Avenue.
Eighty percent funding for the project is coming from a federal enhancement grant received through the Eastgate Regional Council of Governments. The other 20 percent match comes from county engineer’s funds.