Officials agree to lend help to Delphi

The purchasing department has saved the county $500,000.
By ED RUNYAN
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Trumbull County commissioners said they will help the bankrupt Delphi Corp. any way they can.
Commissioners, meeting Thursday, approved a resolution extending their "full support" toward making all resources of the county available to the company.
"We are willing to do whatever we can to make sure Delphi stays in the area and does not get on the hit list," Commissioner Daniel Polivka said.
Commissioner Paul Heltzel said there is a possibilty the county's planning department could be of assistance. He said officials would be discussing the matter again next week.
Contracts awarded
In other business, the commissioners awarded to Independence Business Supply of Cleveland a six-month contract for copy paper, computer paper and index/ledger/postcards. They also awarded a one-year contract for office supplies to Cross Office Suppliers of Warren.
County Administrator Tony Carson Jr. congratulated commissioners for foresight in creating a purchasing department five years ago, to consolidate purchasing into one contract. Before that, departments bought their supplies individually.
Carson said the purchasing department has saved the county $500,000 in the five years it has been in business, including a 3 percent reduction compared with last year.
Trumbull County further tightened control over purchases after it was learned in 2002 that fired maintenance department director Tony Delmont was obtaining products at exhorbitant cost and kicking back money to vendors.
Delmont was indicted on charges of bribery, theft in office and money laundering and pleaded guilty last April. Since September 2002 seven people have been indicted. Prosecutions and sentencings continue.
Other business
Also Thursday the commissioners:
UApproved authorizing Polivka to execute a grant agreement with the federal Economic Development Administration for a $185,000 grant to fund a feasibility study for the Mahoning Valley Motorsports and Exhibition Center in Vienna Township. They also authorized the planning commission staff to solicit for "statements of qualification" from consultants to perform work on the feasibility study.
UApproved Polivka to execute a grant agreement with the EDA for a $340,000 grant for the Kinsman Township Sanitary Sewer Project. Heltzel voted no.
UApproved a change in the use of $19,600 in surplus street improvements grant money, now to be used for recreation facilities in Maplewood Park in Hubbard; and for $18,400 from the surplus now to be used on the Austintown-Warren Road waterline project; and $1,800 to demolish a house in Warren Township.
UReceived petitions signed by owners of lots on Woodland Avenue and Stewart-Sharon Road between Bedford Road and Broadway Avenue in Brookfield Township requesting sanitary sewers.
UAuthorized the firm Lynn, Kittinger & amp; Noble Inc., Warren, to assist the Trumbull County Engineer to prepare a proposal at a cost of no more than $7,050 on privatizing the water and sewer system at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station. The county will own and be responsible for operation and maintenance of the systems.
runyan@vindy.com