Mahoning County Board of Commissioners on Thursday, March 20 approved the low bid of $3,723,104.50 for the Market Street Bridge Rehabilitation Project and a package of related contracts, change orders and appointments, commissioners said at the meeting at the county courthouse.

The board awarded the Market Street Bridge Rehabilitation Project to BG Trucking and Construction Inc. and approved a separate agreement with Manic Smith Group Incorporated for construction administration and contract administration services for the same project in the amount of $350,181. County staff said the Market Street award is a non‑general‑fund project with roughly 95% funding from the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), as reported at the meeting.

The commissioners also approved a resolution authorizing a total contribution of $334,000 for a project referenced during the engineers' briefing, with $244,000 described in the meeting as a generated amount and $90,000 described as for the sanitary engineers; staff said funding has been identified through the Ohio State University Extension. The resolution language and the numbers were presented by county staff during the engineering items.

Separately, the board approved a package of agreements and change orders across county departments: a motion to advertise bids for the Pickering Neighborhood Roadway Improvements Phase 4 project; a request for proposals for the county’s summer youth employment program from Job and Family Services; agreements with vendors including Caliber Graphics for vehicle graphics, Imperial Glazing Concepts for Justice Center window replacement, Trinity Door Systems for lobby door replacement at the Oak Hill Renaissance Building, and a small emergency repair contract with AirVac for vacuum equipment at the Damascus Wastewater Treatment Plant. These items were presented as a block and approved by roll call.

Under change orders, the board approved change order No. 2 with Catholic Charities Regional Agency in the amount of $10,000 (general fund) to extend shelter services for people experiencing homelessness during extreme cold-weather months. County staff reported that, from Dec. 15 through March 3, the program sheltered 96 families at various times and identified about 16 families with repeated stays who received follow-up. The board also approved a $15,987 change order with Marucci and Gaffney Excavating for the Western Reserve Road widening project, and smaller change orders for CHIP (Community Housing Improvement Program) rehab and lead-hazard control work (amounts presented by staff and approved as a block).

The commissioners approved appointments to the Mahoning County Correction Planning Board effective Jan. 1, 2025, for two‑year terms; staff cited “pursuant to higher vice code 51 49.34” when presenting the appointments list. The board also approved an amendment for sheriff’s uniform allowance procurement to add cooperative purchasing and a 1% discount with Blue Line LTD and Red Diamond Uniform and Police Supply.

Public comment at the meeting included a resident who announced a downtown rally in support of “democracy” and noted additional community events; other public remarks at the meeting focused on veterans and upcoming veteran commemorations. Ceremonial remarks honoring a long‑serving county employee opened the session but were not material to the board’s formal actions and are not covered here.

Votes at a glance (as recorded at the meeting):
- Award Market Street Bridge Rehabilitation Project to BG Trucking and Construction Inc., $3,723,104.50 — motion approved by roll call.
- Approve agreement with Manic Smith Group Inc. for construction administration, $350,181 — motion approved by roll call.
- Approve resolution authorizing $334,000 total contribution (breakdown described in meeting) — motion approved by roll call.
- Advertise bids for Pickering Neighborhood Roadway Improvements Phase 4 — motion approved by roll call.
- Approve RFP/digital notice for summer youth employment program (Job & Family Services) — motion approved by roll call.
- Approve agreements A–H (including Caliber Graphics, Imperial Glazing Concepts, Trinity Door Systems, AirVac, and Job & Family Service vendor/process agreements) — motion approved by roll call.
- Approve change orders including Catholic Charities Regional Agency ($10,000) and Marucci & Gaffney Excavating ($15,987) and CHIP rehab items — motion approved by roll call.
- Approve appointments to Mahoning County Correction Planning Board (effective 01/01/2025, two‑year terms) — motion approved by roll call.
- Approve sheriff uniform purchasing amendment adding Blue Line LTD and Red Diamond Uniform and Police Supply — motion approved by roll call.

The board adjourned after the roll call votes; staff noted the next meeting schedule at the close of the session.