TRUMBULL COUNTY Panel to seek planner applicants

The department employed 12 people at one time and now has nine workers.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- It's been four years since the Trumbull County Planning Commission has hired anyone, but members have agreed to advertise for someone to fill a $27,000 position.
Commission members passed a resolution at their meeting Tuesday to allow Director Alan Knapp to advertise the planner I position.
The resolution doesn't say that someone will be hired. Knapp is expected to return to the panel next month after receiving applications.
"We've been short a staff member since Gary Newbrough left," said Knapp, referring to the former director who left earlier this year to become the county sanitary engineer.
If hired, the planner would help other staff members with grant administration.
"We've gotten $6 million in grants for projects," Knapp said. That's more than 10 times our budget."
Projects
The grants are for projects such as the estimated $2,277,400 West Hill Sanitary Sewer Project in Brookfield. Several other projects dealing with sewer line installation, ordered by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, are on the department's priority list for next year, Knapp said.
"There are a lot of needs in this area," he said.
The last two staff members were hired in 2000 and all are busy, the director said.
"The staff high was 12 people," Knapp said. "I'm not saying we need 12 people, but we need 10."
The staff is now at nine.
Commission members also re-elected Lewis Kostoff, chairman, and Ed Beil, vice chairman, for the year.