HUBBARD Council shelves proposal

The federal government has approved $270,000 to repair flood damage.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
HUBBARD -- A communications tower won't be constructed in an East Side neighborhood, at least for now.
City council tabled legislation Monday that would authorize the city's controlling board to enter into an agreement with Alltel to construct the tower on city-owned land along Creed Avenue.
Councilman Richard Keenan, D-4th, chairman of the safety committee, asked that the measure be delayed until a public hearing can be held at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 9 in council chambers.
Keenan sought the delay after the city received a petition, containing 178 signatures, asking that the tower not be constructed in a residential neighborhood and that an alternative site be found.
The agreement being sought would allow Alltel to built a tower on a parcel on which a city water tower once stood. In exchange, Alltel would provide the city with communications equipment.
The petition effort was led by William J. Dobosh, a Creed resident. He maintains that radio-frequency emissions would be a long-term health hazard to those living nearby.
Flood damage
In another matter, Auditor Michael Villano said during a caucus session before the meeting that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved $270,000 to repair damage caused by summer thunderstorms.
The agency, however, has only agreed to pay about 40 percent of the $85,000 damage to city buildings and their contents.
Although Villano said he was appealing the 40 percent approved by FEMA, he pointed out the agency won't pay anything unless the city has flood insurance on its buildings.
Flood insurance will cost $7,000 to $8,000 annually and be a continuing expense because FEMA wouldn't pay for any future flood damage if the buildings aren't covered.
Generators
Villano also told council that the city might consider selling two generators it bought for $2.1 million.
The generators were bought two years ago in coordination with American Municipal Power-Ohio, but a site has not been found to install them. They are designed to supplement the city-owned power system.
Villano explained that AMP-Ohio has informed the city that the project will cost an additional $151,000. The auditor said he didn't know what caused the increase, but suspects the lack of a site is a factor.
The city has until the end of the year to reissue $2.1 million in notes the city borrowed for the project.
The auditor said that one option is for the city to abandon the project -- sell the generators and take the loss. He doesn't know how much the generators would bring in.
Concerning pay raises, Keenan asked that legislation be prepared to increase Police Chief Marty Kanetsky's salary from $39,158 to $49,500 effective Jan. 1.
The increase would put the chief's salary above the pay of sergeant, the highest union rank in the department.
No motion was made to increase the salary of mayor or law director. The salaries for these positions have not been increased since 1992.
yovich@vindy.com