River consortium pushes license plates
The planning commission gave its permission to hire two planners.
WARREN -- Mahoning River specialty license plates are a way for people who otherwise don't contribute to environmental issues to help, the river consortium's president says.
Trish Nuskievicz, also a planner with the Trumbull County Planning Commission, updated commission members Tuesday about the plate sales.
She noted U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th, will be filming public-service announcements to be aired on WFMJ TV-21 to promote the license plates.
Dominion East Ohio and Inside Business Magazine have awarded the Mahoning River Consortium the 2005 Community Impact Award and a $10,000 check. Nuskievicz said the award was given primarily because of the consortium's river restoration project.
The specialty plate costs $25 on top of the annual renewal fees, and $15 of that goes to the consortium.
For more details, visit www.mahoningriver.com or www.OPLATES.com.
Personnel matters
In other business, the planning commission approved a resolution to return Gregory Bugnone to the planning commission staff as Planner III. Bugnone was laid off during the county's budget crisis last year and went to work for the county Department of Job and Family Services.
He will return to the planning department effective Feb. 27.
The planning commission also approved advertising for the hiring of another planner to work in the department to replace Bernard McDermott, who was also laid off last year but who wants to remain in his current job with the Trumbull County GIS/Tax Map Office.
The planning commission also swore in new member Gerald Henn.
Alan Knapp, planning commission director, had also proposed that several staff members, most notably Nuskievicz and planner Julie Green, had taken on additional duties because of the layoffs and deserved promotions.
Knapp said, however, those issues will have to wait because county commissioners are still preparing the county budget for 2006. Trumbull County is considering a new job study that would involve hiring a consultant to review job descriptions and make recommendations regarding promotions and raises.
Other issues
Knapp also reported that Public Financial Management of Cleveland needs to complete its $370,000 feasibility study on the Mahoning Valley Motorsports and Exhibition Center indoor facility by Sept. 30, but the county will be pushing to have it completed before that.
Also, Nuskievicz said the Trumbull Metro Parks Board took ownership one month ago of a 12-acre site along the Mahoning River in Braceville Township near Benedict-Leavittsburg Road for use someday as access to a 3.8-mile canoe/kayak run.
She also reported that surveying work is being done for a a boardwalk being proposed for wetlands behind Up-A-Creek restaurant on Warren-Sharon Road in Howland. The boardwalk would be 3,300 feet long and connect with Howland Township Park, she said.