Staff photo / J.T. Whitehouse Dave Bakalor from Thomas Fok and Associates, second from left, opens the Ohio Public Works Commission road paving bids for 2026 during Tuesday’s Canfield Township trustees meeting.

CANFIELD TOWNSHIP — Tuesday’s trustees meeting saw the official opening of the bids for the 2026 Ohio Public Works Commission paving program by Dave Bakalor from Thomas Fok and Associates.

Out of eight firms that showed interest in the program, only five bids were received.

All five bids came in under the engineer’s estimate of $456,000. The bids were as follows: Karvo Companies Inc. of Stow, $359,471.92; Lindy Paving Inc. of New Galilee, Pa., $295,719.65; R.T. Vernal Paving and Excavating of North Lima, $304,152.40; Fryer Excavating LLC of Beaver Falls, Pa., $375,530.72; and Shelly and Sands Inc. of North Jackson, $359,663.64.

Bakalor took all five bids and will have them checked on the legal aspects before recommending the best bid for the program. The recommended bid will be presented at a March trustees meeting.

Following the bid opening, Mahoning County Engineer Patrick Ginnetti presented a slide presentation involving the sales tax that will be up for renewal as early as this year.

Ginnetti started with the rising costs of repaving and repairing roads.

“National highway construction costs have increased 278.6%,” he told trustees. “(For Mahoning County), asphalt is up 265.7% and tack coat is seeing a 500% increase.”

He said other costs affecting his department include truck and equipment costs, which have increased significantly. He also pointed out ordering a new truck can take up to two years. The cost of a single-axle dump truck with a snow and ice plow package was $158,000 in 2017. That same truck in 2025 was $260,000.

“That is a $100,000 increase in eight years,” Ginnetti said. “For 2026, prices will be even higher.”

He said the costs all add up and are rising at a rapid rate.

“We are not funded through property tax or income tax,” he said. “Our (primary revenue) funding comes from gas tax and license fees.”

He said the federal gas tax has not increased since 1993 and the state gas tax was increased by only 10 cents in 2019. In November of 2021 in Mahoning County, a 0.25% sales tax was placed on the ballot and passed by 52% of voters. The tax was for five years and brought in between $8 million and $9 million annually. The new funds can only be used for roads, bridges and infrastructure.

“Approximately 150 miles of roads have been paved in the first three years of the quarter percent sales tax and OPWC grants,” Ginnetti said. “We are on pace to have approximately 250 miles paved by the end of 2027.”

Ginnetti also said that when the sales tax was passed, county residents were told the funds would be used in every township. Roads in every township have been paved and bridges repaired. He said when the renewal passes, the funds will continue to be used with OPWC funds to repave roads in every Mahoning County township.

“Western Reserve Road will be paved this year,” he told trustees. “This should not be confused with the sewer project that is taking place on Western Reserve.”

He said it is important that the quarter-percent sales tax is renewed for another five years. He said if it passes this year, it will mean no break in the paving program. He also said that between 30 and 40% of the tax is being paid by people from outside the county who come to shop at places in Boardman, Austintown and other areas.

In other business:

• Trustees discussed a “movie night” at Township Park that would include food trucks and a possible partnership with the city.

• Trustee Brian Governor asked that residents be informed to not blow or shovel snow into the road to create a dangerous situation.

• Trustee Marie Cartwright suggested the township look into having a strategic plan in place should the property tax be voted out this year. Governor agreed trustees need to have that conversation.

• Trustees scheduled a public hearing at 6:30 p.m.March 24 regarding the Westbury Lighting District.