MAHONING COUNTY Austintown board discusses Channel 19
Trustees approved a lease for fire station No. 3.
By IAN HILL
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
AUSTINTOWN -- Township Trustee Lisa Oles says she's planning to meet with school officials later this week to discuss the status of Channel 19, the township's community television station.
Trustees have yet to sign a contract to fund the channel this year. Last year, trustees spent $15,000 on Channel 19, down from $30,000 in 2002.
The cut was part of trustees' efforts to save money and avoid a deficit.
Ralph Grossen, Channel 19 coordinator and a Fitch teacher, has said that without additional funding, the channel most likely won't survive after this year.
Oles talked about Channel 19 at Monday's trustees' meeting. She said her meeting with school district officials would be informational and she expected to discuss how township money had been used by the channel in the past.
Uses
The money has been used to maintain equipment, buy new videotapes and help pay a part-time staffer to help direct some of the tapings, school officials have said.
The school board pays the channel's other three staff members, two of whom also have other duties with the schools, and provides the channel with a studio, control room and small office in Fitch High School. High school students operate the equipment for most of the tapings, with the assistance staff.
Grossen has said that for now, the channel is paying for supplies using money that was set aside.
The channel is in its 19th year. It broadcasts trustee and school board meetings, school and community events, a community calendar, school sports, and programs created by students and local residents.
Oles noted that she wasn't in favor of funding Channel 19 last year, as she couldn't justify the expense when township employees were being laid off.
Township Clerk Michael Kurish has said that because of increases in revenue and savings from layoffs and budget cuts, the township is expecting to have a $300,000 carry-over at the end of this year.
"We just need to take another look at our budget and see if we can fund Channel 19," Oles said.
Fire station lease
On Monday, trustees also approved an agreement that will allow Lane's LifeTRANS paramedics to lease a section of fire station No. 3 for five years. Under the lease, Lane's will pay the township $1,400 a month and pay for utilities.
Lane's is expected to store ambulances and maintain a sleeping area at the station, which is used by part-time firefighters.
Trustees had given conditional approval to the lease in March but noted at the time that details needed to be finalized.
Lane's can begin using No. 3 on Thursday.
hill@vindy.com.