TRUMBULL COUNTY Lack of EMA center worries commissioner

The commissioners met behind a locked door after a public meeting.
By PEGGY SINKOVICHand STEPHEN SIFF
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- A Trumbull County commissioner says he wants to find a new home for the county Emergency Management Agency as soon as possible.
Commissioner Michael J. O'Brien said after Tuesday's regular meeting that he is concerned the agency does not have an emergency command center.
"We need to take care of this problem as soon as possible," O'Brien said.
Since the discovery of toxic mold evicted the EMA from the health department building's basement in May, the county has been without an emergency command center -- a place with telephone lines, radio equipment, flip charts and maps that would permit officials to coordinate a multiagency disaster response.
Temporary quarters
County commissioners temporarily placed the EMA offices on the second floor of the county 911 center, the former Hillside Hospital tuberculosis ward, after the three-member EMA department had to leave the health department's Chestnut Avenue building.
Radio equipment, which would allow top officials to communicate with officers in the field and the state Emergency Management Agency, has been packed for storage in old hospital rooms.
"We would be able to handle an emergency, right?" asked Commissioner Joseph Angelo Jr. during Tuesday's meeting.
Linda Beil, the agency director, said her department is trained for a disaster, but it does need a command center.
She added that because the agency doesn't have a permanent base, it has had to ask fire departments to store its trailers.
The agency is also forced to park its mobile command unit, a converted classroom trailer decked out with about $100,000 worth of equipment, in the open because it lacks a garage, Beil said.
Waterline approval
Meanwhile, commissioners decided Tuesday to allow Consumers Ohio Water Company to build and maintain a short waterline off the county system to deliver drinkable water to 10 homes on Richardson Drive in Hubbard.
The decision contradicts the county's long-standing policy of requiring waterline extensions from the county system to be turned over to the county. If Consumers Ohio goes ahead with the plan, it will set rates and bill the 10 customers on the street.
"It is getting to be a health nuisance right now, and people need water as soon as possible," said Angelo.
Consumers Ohio can build the line more quickly than the county could, or than residents could through a standard waterline extension agreement, officials said.
Methane has been found in some wells on the street, as well as other contaminants that turn the water nearly black.
"This is, in a way, an emergency," said Jim Brutz, the assistant county prosecutor assigned to the Trumbull County Sanitary Engineer's department. "It should not be seen by anyone as a precedent."
O'Brien concurred.
The county generally wants control of waterline extensions in order to maintain the integrity of the systems and control rates. Historically, private companies such as Consumers charge more for water, Brutz said.
Private, loud meeting
After Tuesday's meeting, commissioners and Tony Carson, county purchasing director, met behind closed doors inside Angelo's office for about 10 minutes.
Under state law, elected officials are allowed to meet in a closed session for specific reasons if they state the reason publicly and a majority approve it by roll call.
Commissioners did not vote to go into an executive session.
Yelling could be heard coming from the locked room.
"We were discussing personnel issues," Angelo said. He declined to elaborate.
Commissioner James Tsagaris refused to answer questions and said reporters were not allowed back by his office. O'Brien said he was asked to join the meeting and declined to say what was discussed.
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