COLUMBIANA CountyMRDD levy is drafted

Money will be used to maintain and operate facilities for people with mental and physical disabilities.
By NORMAN LEIGH
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LISBON -- It's likely voters will be asked in November to renew a levy benefiting programs run by the Columbiana County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities.
County commissioners gave conditional approval Wednesday to placing the 1.5-mill, 5-year renewal measure on the Nov. 6 general election ballot.
Where money goes: The renewal is necessary to help pay for maintaining and operating the Robert Bycroft School, sheltered workshops, a training center and residential facilities operated by the disabilities board.
MRDD serves youngsters and adults with mental and physical disabilities.
The 1.5-mill levy originally was adopted in 1981, said Gerald Baker, MRDD program superintendent. It raises about $1.1 million annually.
Commissioners' approval is conditional on Baker's review of levy language drafted by the county prosecutor's office.
A November levy attempt would be the MRDD's second such effort since November 1999.
At that time, voters approved a 1-mill, 5-year operating levy.
Purchases: In other matters, commissioners were informed by county Engineer Bert Dawson that his department has purchased two dump trucks.
The trucks, which cost about $63,000 each, can be used for re-paving operations and snowplowing, said Bob Durbin, deputy engineer.
Money to buy the vehicles comes from an engineer's department source that is funded with gasoline taxes and license plate fees.