JEFFERSON — Ashtabula County Commissioners want to know what condition county buildings are in and what maintenance they will need so they can prioritize improvement projects in the years to come.

On Tuesday the Board of Commissioners voted to spend not more than $13,500 to get answers to that burning question.

The commissioners contracted Smolen Engineering of Jefferson to perform the survey for the old courthouse, courthouse, Granger-Kinsman building, health department, Donahoe Center, Juvenile Court/Youth Detention Center and Ohio State University Extension Office.

The funding will be taken from the county’s permanent improvement fund.

“County commissioners have to develop a plan to maintain the buildings we have. Even in these tough economic times, buildings still deteriorate,” said Commissioner Daniel Claypool.

The newest of the county’s buildings is more than 30 years old; the original courthouse dates back to the 1850s.

Commissioners pointed out they chose a local firm to do the survey and have been very pleased with the work Smolen has performed for the county.

“He’ll do a great job, we know that,” Commissioner Joseph Moroski said.

In other action Tuesday,

commissioners:

n Received and laid on the table proposals for prescription assistance for the seniors program through the Ashtabula County Department of Job and Family Services (ACDJFS). There were four responders with proposals ranging from $8,004 for the Conneaut Human Resource Center to $22,500 for the Ashtabula County Council on Aging.

n Approved the purchase of Key Opportunities Program services from the Ashtabula County Joint Vocational School. The program provides assessments, training and employment placement for eligible participants assigned by the ACDJFS. Cost is not to exceed $14,640.11 for Key assessment, $72,683.82 for training and $12,672.85 for placement. The funding is through Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF).

n Approved a contract with Boczar Excavating of Jefferson for improvements to the Lenox Community Center, including Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant sidewalks and parking spaces. The bid was $24,682. Boczar was the only contractor to submit a proposal for the project, which has been put out to bid three times.

A Community Development Block Grant will pay for $18,200 of the project; the balance is coming from Lenox Township in-kind services and $5,182 paid to the contractor.

n Passed a resolution supporting an application by the Ashtabula County Soil and Water Conservation District to apply for a Clean Ohio Green Space Program grant. The money will be used to protect the forested riparian corridor of the Pymatuning Creek on the property of Ricky and Peggy Sue Zaebst of Cherry Valley. The funding would purchase a conservation easement for the property.

Jim Welker, district technician/education coordinator for the district, informed commissioners that his office has been working with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to secure 500 acres of easements that have brought $500,000 to local landowners.

n Approved a contract for referral services with Extended Care Information Network, doing business as Allscripts, not to exceed $1,650 for the remainder of 2009.

Allscripts will in turn post the Ashtabula County Nursing and Rehabilitation Center’s information listing on its database and provide access to referrals and customers through that resource. Monica J. Williams, administrator of the nursing home, told commissioners in a letter that the home is pursuing the contract to increase referral sources.

“It is a company that will extend us referrals before other facilities that don’t currently use this service. We are contending it will increase our census,” she wrote.