MAHONING COUNTY Commissioners give grants to communities

Projects will include paving streets in New Albany.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Seven communities received community development block grants Thursday from Mahoning County commissioners for such projects as storm sewers and installation of curb ramps.
Green Township Trustee Donald Kuhns said the $31,200 awarded to his township will be used to pave streets in the crossroads community of New Albany, which lies along South Range Road, near the township's western boundary.
Kuhns said 80 percent of the people who live in New Albany are retired, and 75 percent of them are considered to be low income. The streets there need to be repaired but the township has not been able to afford it, he said.
Coitsville Township received an award of $101,700, which Trustee Walter Advey said will be used to make safety improvements to John White Road.
John White Road is in the extreme northeast corner of the county and is the longest road maintained by the township, Advey said. With a total operating budget of about $750,000, the township has been unable to afford the needed improvements, he said.
"Without this grant, we would not be able to do this project," Advey said.
Also on agenda: In other matters, commissioners have scheduled two public hearings to seek input on renewal of a 0.5-percent sales tax, which they plan to place on the ballot May 7.
The first will be at 10 a.m. Feb. 8 in the commissioners' hearing room, in the courthouse basement, and the second will be at 7 p.m. Feb. 13 in Green Township Community Hall.
County Administrator Gary Kubic said Ohio law requires commissioners to hold the hearings before passing a resolution to place the tax on the ballot, which must be done by Feb. 21.
bjackson@vindy.com