Trio shapes development plans

The council presidents hope other local government leaders will join in.
By ROGER G. SMITH
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- A trio of city council presidents is taking to heart the message of one voice.
James E. Fortune Sr. of Youngstown, Robert D. Carcelli of Struthers and Robert P. Yankle of Campbell have formed the Coalition of City Council Presidents. They are seeking to lead a regional approach to economic development.
"It's only common sense. The approach we're taking isn't working," Carcelli said Tuesday.
Their first focus is a largely vacant industrial property where the three cities converge called the Mahoning River Corridor of Opportunity.
The idea is to show a unified front to maximize state and federal government grants to redevelop the old steel mill site.
Branching out
But the council presidents say they aren't limiting themselves to their own cities. They hope other top local government leaders in the three-county area will join them in taking a regional approach to economic development.
It's often said the Mahoning Valley's fractured politics is a main reason the region doesn't receive more state and federal dollars.
"If all of us are pulling together in the northeast corner, we'll get more bang for our buck," Fortune said. "We cannot survive by ourselves."
The group is based on a similar statewide coalition, he said. Fortune said he, Carcelli and Yankle talked for several months before going public.
Yankle couldn't be reached for comment.
Council presidents are the right people to lead such an effort, Fortune said. They're experienced, know what's needed and are in position to break down political walls, he said.
Future plans
They now are seeking talks with Mahoning County commissioners about how to get the funding needed to start the brownfield redevelopment. They also want to talk with county leaders about how the three cities can pool resources to lure new businesses to their towns and across the Valley.
Each city's tax base must expand, and governments must cut costs if they're going to survive, Carcelli said. None of the cities can afford to raise taxes, he said.
Youngstown is teetering financially despite already having the highest income tax in Ohio.
Campbell is in state fiscal emergency and will have a general operations levy on the ballot. Struthers is getting by, but just barely, Carcelli said.
He added that the council presidents will pursue consortiums across the three counties that would cut the costs of health-care insurance, equipment and supplies.
"Start looking at the big picture, not the small picture," he said.
rgsmith@vindy.com