AUSTINTOWN Trustees considering natural gas consortium

One trustee said he was disgusted by anonymous fliers put out before the election.
By JEANNE STARMACK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
AUSTINTOWN -- A township trustee is suggesting a consortium to help residents with natural gas costs this winter.
Trustee Lisa Oles said she's received calls from residents who are concerned about what their natural gas bills are going to be this year. A consortium would enable the township to join other communities to find the best rate for natural gas, she told her colleagues at Monday night's meeting.
Trustee David Ditzler said after the meeting that four years ago, the township was part of a consortium that used Shell Energy, but the rate was guaranteed for only two years.
A consortium would use a broker to find the best rate possible. Township Administrator Michael Dockry said the broker the previous consortium used cost $10,000.
"I'd like to sit down with the [township] clerk and see if we have money to hire a broker," Oles said.
Other business
Trustee Warren "Bo" Pritchard said he was disgusted by election tactics that included derogatory, anonymous fliers that "attacked David [Ditzler] and I."
"They were lies. They had no disclaimer," Pritchard said, adding, "I believe they had a lot to do with how the campaign ended. It was the best orchestrated negative campaigning in the history of Austintown, and they'll do it again."
Pritchard narrowly won his seat over challenger Samuel Swoger, and could lose it if a recount set for Friday determines Swoger is the winner after all.
Trustees changed the name of Austintown Trustees Park on Raccoon Road to 911 Memorial Park.
Pat Connolly, chairman of a committee overseeing the building of a gazebo at the park to honor 911 victims, asked the trustees to change the name. Connolly and co-chairman Paul Kubellis said the memorial should be finished by this time next year.