OHIO State board approves request for YSU projects

Construction on the Bliss Hall project is scheduled to begin in late spring.
By MICHELE C. HLADIK
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
COLUMBUS -- A Youngstown State University official assured members of the Ohio Controlling Board the university would abandon one project in favor of another.
Members agreed to the university's request to transfer $770,000 from the school's Fedor Hall Rehabilitation project to its Bliss Hall project.
The Fedor project included the construction of larger classrooms and computer laboratories. The transfer of the funds is needed for the Bliss Hall project because the location of the addition to the hall has been changed to avoid disturbing a historical landmark, according to the request for transfer filed by the university.
Dennis Clouse, director of planning and construction for YSU, assured controlling board members the university would not be returning in the near future to request funds for a Fedor Hall project.
Bliss Hall project bids are expected by March and construction is expected to begin in late spring and be completed in 18 to 20 months.
Changing contract: Controlling-board members also agreed to allow the university to amend a contract with MS Consultants Inc. of Youngstown and to pay the associates an additional $116,913.
In other business, the controlling board approved a request for $3,157 for the Youngstown Developmental Center in Mineral Ridge. The funds are expected to be used to install fencing around the center's above-ground storage tank. The project was also awarded to Estherlee Fence Company.
Controlling board members also approved $97,350 for fiscal year 2002 and $210,600 for fiscal year 2003 to contract with Ehab Sargious MD Inc. of Canfield to provide a licensed psychiatrist for Northcoast Behavioral Healthcare's community services locations in Mahoning and Trumbull counties.