Workers continue construction on the roof area of the Columbiana County archive/records building on East Chestnut Street in Lisbon where the American flag can be seen flying. The contractor is C. Tucker Cope Design-Build Inc. of Columbiana. County Commissioner Tim Ginter said completion is expected in mid-2026. (Photo by Mary Ann Greier)

LISBON — Trusses are going up, bricks are being put in place and utilities will be installed soon in the Columbiana County archive/records building which remains under construction in Lisbon.

“The building’s starting to look like a building,” county Commissioner Tim Ginter said.

Ginter gave an update on the progress during the commissioners’ meeting Wednesday, saying the goal is to complete construction by mid-2026.

He said they’re looking at a price tag of $7.3 million for the project on the county-owned lot bordered by East Chestnut Street to the north, North Nelson Avenue to the west and North Jefferson Street to the east. The land previously housed the county Department of Job and Family Services building, but was vacant for several years after the building was razed.

C. Tucker Cope Design-Build, Inc. of Columbiana is the contractor. Previously announced plans for the records retention facility called 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, freight elevator and office space.

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.

The commissioners committed $4 million from American Rescue Plan Act funds towards the cost of the project and received $2.9 million from the state capital budget.

“That was a tremendous gift to the county,” Ginter said.

Any remaining costs will be covered by the county’s capital improvements fund.

The front door will face East Chestnut Street.

In other business, commissioners authorized Ginter to sign a real estate contract for the proposed purchase of a building on state Route 45, Lisbon which will be used to house vehicles for the county Veterans Service Commission at a proposed cost of $200,000. The county will own the building, with the money coming from the capital improvements fund. Ginter said an inspection of the building still needs to be completed. He said the building will house four vehicles used by VSC.

The commissioners renewed the contract with Public Defenders of Columbiana County through agent/incorporator attorney Shelli Freeze to provide public defender services at a cost of $795,000 from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2026. By law, the county must provide an attorney to a defendant who’s unable to pay for one.

Commissioner Mike Halleck said that since the switch was made to a defense company made up of local attorneys instead of having a county public defender’s department, “it’s been quite a savings.”

Halleck estimated the savings at $2 million a year and said it’s about equal to what he said the county is saving with the privately-operated jail.

The commissioners gave permission for an application for a credit card for certain expenses of the county Office of Economic Development and Geographic Information Services Department, with land bank executive director Bobby Ritchey authorized to apply for the credit card through Huntington Bank. The credit card will be used for general expenses, including recurring electronic purchases. Usage of the card will be governed by the county’s credit card policy. Ritchey said he’ll know more about the spending limit once the card is secured.

In other matters, the commissioners: authorized county Prosecutor Vito Abruzzino to sign a maintenance agreement with Borden Office Equipment for two new copiers purchased for his offices; approved load limit reductions of up to 50 % on certain county roads and roads in Middleton Township; appointed county Port Authority Executive Director Brittany Smith and Lisbon Mayor Peter Wilson to serve two-year terms on the county Transportation Improvement District; and didn’t request a hearing for a liquor permit application for 1830 Gathering Place, LLC. Elkton’s Pub & Restaurant, state Route 154, Lisbon.

The next meeting of county commissioners will be 9 a.m. Nov. 26 in the downtown courthouse. The commissioners did announce that the meeting Dec. 24 will be canceled.