MAHONING COUNTY Seeking grants for building renovation

Council also hired three part-time police officers.
By MARY GRZEBIENIAK
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NEW MIDDLETOWN -- Mayor Robert Carson told village council he feels "pretty good" about the possibility of getting a federal or state grant to help renovate the municipal building.
Preliminary estimates for the renovation are $170,000 for a "bare bones" job and $250,000 for more extensive work, Carson reported at council's Monday night session. The original expectation had been that it would cost $120,000.
In March, council earmarked, by a split vote, $61,500 the village will receive from the Mahoning County sales tax this year for the project. Council member Dan Stanton voted against the plan at that time, objecting to a lack of specifics on the renovation and funding.
The recent announcement that the library will move out of its quarters in the municipal building, freeing up badly needed space for the police department, has given additional impetus to the project.
Carson said he contacted U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland's office and was encouraged by the response there. He said he was told the project has a better chance of getting funding than many requests because it deals with building renovations instead of adding personnel.
Carson said he plans to also ask State Rep. John Boccieri of New Middletown, D-61st, to help obtain grants when he returns from military service in Iraq next month.
Other action
Later in the meeting, council hired three part-time police officers to bring the department back up to full staffing after several resignations. The officers are Brent Heffinger of North Lima, Andrew Soloman of Hubbard and Phillip Schaper of Boardman. Each will be paid $9.81 per hour with no benefits and will be on probation for one year.
In other business:
*Carson said he will obtain two estimates for installation of about 180 feet of sidewalk on the west side of Main Street, across from the Shell Station, so that once the library completes its move, children walking from the elementary school to the library will not have to walk on the street.
*Council approved buying 80 feet of fence from Estherlee Fence to partially enclose the basketball court at Welker Park, stipulating the cost may not exceed $3,000. The village will pay $1,500 with the remainder coming from Ohio Department of Natural Resources grant money.
*Council gave first reading to amendments to the ordinance that prohibits carrying concealed weapons on village property. The amendments make the village ordinance coincide with the state prohibitions.
*Council announced that summonses to mayor's court will be sent this week to property owners who have not complied with the high-grass ordinance.
*Lawmakers accepted a $3,000 state EMS grant, which Bill Opsitnik, village fire chief, said will be used to buy a device to help carry people down steps.