AUSTINTOWN COG panel meets to rank projects' importance

Projects will be funded according to how their ranked in terms of importance.
By MARALINE KUBIK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
AUSTINTOWN -- How $8.9 million in grants and loans from the state will be distributed among more than 70 proposed road, water and sewer projects throughout Mahoning and Trumbull counties is yet to be determined.
The Eastgate Regional Council of Governments' District 6 Public Works Integrating Committee met Monday morning for the final evaluation of projects; it will meet again Wednesday to see how projects stack up after those evaluations and then make its recommendations.
Assigned points: Projects will be funded according to how high they rank in terms of importance. The committee assigned points to each project based on such things as how many people would benefit and whether the project would improve safety or eliminate health hazards.
Among those ranking at the top are the Shannon Road sanitary sewer project in Trumbull County, which is seeking $650,000 in grants, and the Canfield/Boardman water improvement project in Mahoning County, which is seeking $562,419 in grants.
A total of $3.9 million in Issue 2 grant funds will be awarded, along with $1.2 million in Issue 2 loan funds, $642,500 in revolving loan funds and $3.2 million in Local Transportation Improvement Program funds.
Before assigning points Monday for the impact each project would have on the region, the committee voted to deduct five points from the 50 points previously assigned to a Jackson Township project. Points were deducted from the proposed Blott Road safety upgrade project to bring the number of points it was awarded in line with the number of points awarded similar projects.
The committee also voted to increase the amount billed each recipient from 1 percent of funds awarded to 11/2 percent of funds used. These funds are used to pay Eastgate's operating expenses.
kubik@vindy.com