LISBON — Commissioner Tim Weigle said an architectural firm will be sought to design the new Columbiana County archives/records storage building instead of a design-build contractor.

Weigle reported the change in plans Wednesday, noting that commissioners had agreed last month to advertise for statements of qualifications from design-build firms, but that’s being rescinded.

Instead, the plan is to advertises for qualifications from architectural firms to design the structure, then they’ll advertise separately for construction companies to build the structure.

According to Weigle, there was some confusion and time constraints created by the idea of having the building designed and built by the same firm.

In January 2023, the commissioners authorized Weigle to sign a preliminary design agreement with ms consultants, inc. of Youngstown to do a preliminary design of the new structure slated to house old county records and determine a probable cost for construction.

The building will be constructed at the former location of the county Department of Job and Family Services, which is now a vacant lot.

The county-owned lot is bordered by East Chestnut Street to the north, North Nelson Avenue to the west and North Jefferson Street to the east.

Referring to the building as a records retention facility, Weigle said that any records the county is required by law to keep will be moved to the new building from the various locations where they’re currently stored, such as the basement of the county jail and Iron Mountain, an underground secured storage facility in Pennsylvania.

According to Weigle, plans call for construction of a two-story, 24,600-square-foot, climate-controlled, secure block and brick building with a dry chemical fire suppression system, a commercial shredder and office space. He also said it will be designed with a freight elevator. The front of the building will face East Chestnut Street.

During his report, Weigle praised the work of the Columbiana County Emergency Management Agency staff after announcing the county is in full compliance for 2024 PSAP Operations Rules. The county’s 911 system operates with five Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs).

In other business, commissioners appointed Jeff Schoch of Salem and Seth Walker of Columbiana as new members of the Columbiana County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board with four-year terms, granted permission to hunt on the county’s County Home Road, Lisbon property to Darryl Quensenberry and Derek Cox and approved a Roadway Use and Maintenance Agreement with Hilcorp Energy Company for part of Middleton Road to access the Fairfield Phoenix Well Pad in Fairfield Township.

The commissioners also authorized the Columbiana County auditor to sign an agreement with Woolpert Inc. for imagery, for two flyovers of the county, with the images used for reassessment of properties.

The next meeting of commissioners will be 9 a.m. Aug. 28 at the downtown courthouse.

mgreier@mojonews.com