Complaints continue about MS Consultants

CORTLAND — Legislation to hire MS Consultants Inc. of Youngstown to engineer a project has again brought displeasure to some lawmakers.

By a 5-1 vote, council advanced to a second reading legislation that would allow the mayor to enter into a contract with MS to design the Main Street resurfacing project.

The project, which is estimated to cost $625,000, calls for the resurfacing of Main, except for the downtown.

Councilman Terry Tackett, who cast the dissenting vote, pointed out that MS receives most of the engineering work for the city and it seems like other engineering companies “are being shut out.”

Service Director Don Wittman explained that about a dozen companies submitted proposals for the resurfacing project and MS was the most qualified. MS’ proposal was approved by the Ohio Department of Transportation, he added.

Mayor Curt Moll and Wittman told lawmakers that the agreement with MS isn’t based on the cost of the proposal, which will be negotiated later.

Council President Frank Stocz agreed with Tackett, arguing that he believes MS is now dictating to the city.

Wittman, who used to work for MS, said four other engineering companies have been used by the city since he became service director nearly three years ago.

Stocz said the city should try to hire other engineering firms and the city do some of the work.

“There is money that can be saved,” Stocz said.

Stocz and Tackett complained about MS during the Nov. 20 council session when the company wanted, and received, an additional $6,247 for inspecting the Rosewae Avenue sanitary sewer improvement project.