HUBBARD Generator snafu irks finance panel's leader

City council's utilities chairman is also angered by the latest utility bills.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
HUBBARD -- The chairman of city council's finance committee says heads should roll over the botching of a $2.2 million electrical generator project.
"Somebody should lose their job over this," Councilman William Williams, D-at-large, committee chairman, told fellow lawmakers Monday. "I'm thoroughly disgusted with this project."
The city bought two large generators two years ago by borrowing $2.2 million. The generators would be used during peak demand periods and supplement the city-owned power system, to keep bills more constant during periods of high demand.
Although the city has paid $175,000 in note payments and other expenses such as engineering, there is no site for locating the large generators.
Two sites have been eliminated because the ground is too wet to support the equipment.
Preparing site
A site north of Myron Street and west of North Main Street that was donated to the city was being prepared when the work was stopped by Mayor George Praznik. Praznik said he halted the work because the site didn't meet the zoning regulation dealing with setbacks.
Williams said the city now looks "foolish" because no city official checked to determine if the proposed site met zoning requirements.
Williams voted for the project, but he now acknowledges he went against his better judgment.
Councilman Richard Keenan, D-4th, said Law Director Gary Gilmartin should find out who made the mistake in the city and disciplinary action should be taken.
The owner of adjacent land has offered to sell a 75-foot-by-200-foot parcel to the city for $40,000. Praznik said a city appraisal put the value of the land at $3,500.
$50 fee announced
In another matter, Williams expressed displeasure because the latest utility bill says customers will be charged a $50 fee not only if their utilities are shut off and turned back on, but also if there are late payments. Williams asserted the legislation creating the $50 charge does not mention the late fee.
Praznik explained that he asked that the late fee be added to the bills, but not the language that was used. Customers have complained that they have had to pay a $50 charge even though their utilities have not been terminated.
Sewer cleaning
During a council caucus session before the meeting, Williams complained that a Cleveland company is cleaning sewers when the city could be doing the work.
Because of this summer's flooding, MS Consultants Inc. of Youngstown, the city engineering firm, has hired AKE Inc. to photograph the sewers with a camera and clean them out if needed.
Williams complained that not only has AKE not provided a report to the city on the condition of sewers, but the city could save money doing the clean-out work.
yovich@vindy.com