Commissioners hire consultant for indoor track

Commissioners approved a waterline extension in Bazetta Township.
By ED RUNYAN
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Trumbull County commissioners have hired a consultant to determine the feasibility of building a $300 million indoor racetrack near the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport.
At their regular meeting Thursday, commissioners hired Public Financial Management of Cleveland at a cost of $370,000 for the study.
Commissioner James Tsagaris said the company was considered the most qualified and had done an earlier study. Four other companies submitted statements of qualifications.
The new study will provide information on whether to proceed to build "the world's first indoor motor-sports racetrack," including identification of needed infrastructure, a marketing study, economic impact analysis, engineering and design review and other studies, according to the county planning commission, which helped secure grant funds for the study.
The company carried out an initial $60,000 study, with the cost split between Mahoning and Trumbull county commissioners, 2 1/2 years ago that determined the racetrack idea had merit.
Location uncertain
Officials have not said where the facility would be built, but Alan Knapp, planning commission director, said the most likely place would be in Fowler Township because of land availability and the need to be far enough away from the airport to avoid air space problems.
Commissioners also approved an agreement and drawings for a waterline extension in Bazetta Township to run to the Broad Meadows Estates development near the intersection of state Route 46 and McCleary-Jacoby Road.
Gary Newbrough, county sanitary engineer, said previous approval was given to extend the waterline 1,034 feet north on Route 46 to the Stone Gate development north of the North River Road intersection. Plans call for about 20 homes to be built there.
This extension will take the line another 1,615 feet north to Broad Meadows Estates, which is planned for the west side of McCleary-Jacoby. The waterline currently stops at the Seasons development, also on the west side of Route 46.
Newbrough said the extensions are important to development in the area because they will help extend the waterline closer to an eventual tie-in at state Route 305 several miles to the north.
Amendment approved
Commissioners also approved an amendment to the contract with Arcardis FPS of Akron for consulting work on the North Road reconstruction project, which is expected to begin in six to nine months.
Randy L. Smith, deputy engineer, said the project is expected to take 18 months to complete and will involve resurfacing and widening of the road a couple of feet in each lane from U.S. Route 422 to East Market Street.
It will include curbs, a dedicated turn lane northbound at East Market, and turning lanes at Allenwood Drive South, Adrian Drive and Berkshire Drive, he said.
Commissioners also approved purchase of a boiler for $42,287 for the Cortland facility of the engineer's department.
Commissioners asked Rocky L. Riviella, administrator and comptroller for the engineer's office, whether the boiler could be removed and taken to another facility if the Cortland building is sold.
Riviella said it could be removed at little cost if the building is demolished and could be disassembled for about $15,000 if the building is sold. It could then be used in the Warren facility, he said.
Commissioners have asked the engineer's office to consolidate its operations into the one facility at North River Road by the end of 2007.
Commissioners also approved the hiring of Daniel A. Terreri & amp; Sons, Inc. of North Jackson for $3,700 to inspect the Park-Porter building in Warren to determine whether the facility should be used to house the combined county Job and Family Services and One-Stop job training facility. Tsagaris said the inspection should take between 30 and 45 days.