Thursday, December 20, 2001
The board will use its own money, not county general funds, to buy the buildings.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Mahoning County commissioners were expected to vote today on the purchase of two buildings to house programs for the county board of mental retardation and developmental disabilities.
The buildings are on Javit Court in Austintown, said county Administrator Gary Kubic.
One, at 130 Javit Court, has an appraised value of $289,000 and is being bought for $160,000, he said. The other, at 153 Javit Court, has a mortgage balance of $450,000, which the MRDD board will assume over a 19-year term.
The MRDD board has its own funding sources and will pay for the buildings with its own revenue. Commissioners must approve the purchases, though, because they will be in the county's name.
Larry Duck, MRDD executive director, said it would cost about $2 million to build a facility like the one at 153 Javit Court.
Suited to agency's needs: The buildings were formerly part of the Gateways for Better Living system, which offers services similar to MRDD, Duck said. One was an intermediate-care facility for the mentally retarded and the other is an office building.
Duck said the agency badly needs more space and had been looking for buildings to rent. It found out about the Gateways buildings and decided to buy them.
"We have absolutely no space left here in our main offices," he said. "We have used every closet and nook and cranny we can find."
The office building will house case managers and residential staff, while the other building will most likely be used for habilitation services, Duck said.
"These buildings are very accommodating for what they need," Kubic said.
About MRDD: According to its Web site, the MRDD board has its main offices on Woodridge Drive in Austintown and operates seven facilities for disabled people in Mahoning County, including the Leonard Kirtz School in Austintown.
Its programs and services include case management, residential services and support, family resources, adult services, transportation and a retirement program.
bjackson@vindy.com