ELECTIONS Levies raise concern

The city will reapply for $300,000 to improve the West End, the mayor says.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
GIRARD -- Two safety forces levies that will appear on the Nov. 2 general election ballot will maintain current staffing, although the ballot language doesn't say so.
Concern about the absence of specific language to maintain staffing levels in the police and fire department was raised Monday at the city council meeting by Councilman Thomas Seidler, D-3rd.
Through an ordinance, lawmakers in August agreed to place two 3-mill levies on the ballot to support police and fire, with current staffing a primary reason for the issues.
Law Director Mark Standohar explained that although the ballot language does not specifically address staffing levels, the ordinance does.
Standohar said that if voters approve the issues, the revenue generated by the law will be used for the safety forces.
To reapply for grant
On another matter, Mayor James J. Melfi said he will reapply for a $300,000 distressed-cities grant after an application for the West End was turned down this year.
The Ohio Department of Development rejected the city's application for funds that would have been used for curbing, paving and sanitary and storm sewer lines.
"We're not going to give up," Melfi said, noting that he is seeking copies of the applications that successful cities submitted so the city will have a better chance of funding in 2005.
The mayor also said he will have an engineering study done to determine how to eliminate flooding of Gordon Street homes. Some residents complained that both water and sewage is backing into their basements.
Melfi said the study will look at a short-term and a long-range solution.
In another matter, the mayor said his administration is adding up the damage as the result of heavy rainfall this month to possibly get relief on a state loan.
In 1987, the city borrowed $8.1 million from the Ohio Water Development Authority for the construction of the sewage treatment plant.
Because of flood damage last year, OWDA forgave the $450,000 annual payment so the money could be used by the city to repair the plant and treatment-related equipment.
Melfi said the city has been notified that OWDA has made a similar offer this year, but the city has to document the damage, which probably isn't as much as last year.
The mayor explained that there is a sewage-type odor coming from decaying materials in Lower Girard Lake. The lake was ordered emptied because of safety issues with the dam. But because of rain, the lake began to refill, causing the odor. It will go away when the lake is again empty, he said.
yovich@vindy.com