LISBON — The proposed annexation of more than 67 acres of Perry Township land into the city of Salem for the Salem school district’s new K-8 building now rests with the Columbiana County commissioners.

“It’s gonna go through,” Commissioner Mike Halleck said.

Commissioners on Wednesday accepted the filing of the annexation petition from the Salem city school district and are expected to approve the petition in the near future, possibly as soon as next week.

Because of the way the petition was filed and the fact that the city of Salem and Perry Township are in agreement and both favor the annexation, no public hearing is required.

The property in question is already owned by the school district and is vacant, located on the former Whinnery Farm to the east of homes on Fairview Avenue and south of homes on the south side of Merle Road. Southeast Elementary School, which currently houses district fifth and sixth graders, is located on the north side of Merle Road.

Per the annexation agreement dated July 14 between the city of Salem and Perry Township, the city will receive any and all property tax and income tax associated with the parcel moving forward from the date the annexation is approved by commissioners. Both the city and the township indicated the annexation will benefit their mutual interests.

The groundbreaking for the school construction is set for Aug. 20, according to Salem City Schools Superintendent Sean Kirkland.

In other business, commissioners adopted resolutions approving fiber optic permits for Charter Communications to install fiber optic lines on Leetonia Road, Salem Township and on Steubenville Pike Road, Washington Township and gave permission to hunt on the county’s County Home Road, Lisbon property to Donald Queles Jr.

At the recommendation of county Department of Job and Family Services Director Rachel Ketterman, the commissioners approved contracts for Family and Children First Council mentor and respite services with spending ceilings of $15,000 each for R.E.D.Y. and Trax Youth Services. The contract period for each contract is July 23, 2025 to June 30, 2026. The cost will be covered by FCFC funds.

Columbiana Soil and Water Conservation District Program Administrator Pete Conkle reminded commissioners to attend a pasture walk Thursday at the farm of the Duane Nickell family outside Lisbon where attendees will learn about livestock handling, management tactics for invasive species control, electric fence charging and zone fencing and other topics. The event will be presented by the Eastern Ohio Grazing Council in cooperation with SWCDs from Columbiana, Carroll, Harrison, Jefferson, Stark and Tuscarawas counties and the OSU Extension.

In other matters at a recent commissioners’ meeting, commissioners approved an Environmental Protection Agency grant program agreement related to $190,100 to help qualified homeowners get connected to the new sanitary sewer system in Hanoverton, gave the engineer’s office permission to advertise for bids for the Skyview Acres CIPP project, and requested no hearing for a liquor license permit for RBS Lisbon, LLC doing business as Tri State Beverage Barn in Center Township.

Commissioners also designated the city of Salem as a Heritage Tree Project Site as part of the America 250-Ohio program commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States next year. As part of the program, a ceremonial tree planting of a white oak tree will take place in June 2026 in Salem, coinciding with America 250 Ohio’s Natural Resources Month. Salem will be one of 88 sites in Ohio designated for a Heritage Tree Project site.

The next meeting of county commissioners will be 9 a.m. July 30 at the downtown courthouse in Lisbon.