Tsagaris appointed chairman, outlines commission's goals

The county is looking at acquiring the former TMHA building on Niles Road.
By ED RUNYAN
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Despite speculation about him having a heart attack last week, Trumbull County Commissioner James Tsagaris returned to the board Monday and was appointed chairman for 2006.
He took the opportunity to outline his goals for the year, including the possibility of buying or leasing the former Trumbull Metropolitan Housing Authority building on Niles Road to house county maintenance facilities, sheriff's department vehicles and the county's Emergency Management Agency.
Tsagaris did not attend last week's commissioners meeting. The reason given was health issues -- specifically a balloon angioplasty. Tsagaris said Monday he only had tests done and nothing more. "I feel fine," he said.
Commissioners Dan Polivka and Paul Heltzel voted him to be president of the board for 2006 at the reorganizational meeting.
Better buildings
Tsagaris said he hoped commissioners would put county buildings into better shape this year. Commissioners, in the past, have given a list of buildings needing improvements, such as the board of elections building at the corner of Youngstown-Warren Road and Eastland Avenue.
Tsagaris said he is not happy with the EMA's current offices at the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport and wants to see them moved.
He said the county would also like to sell to the Warren City Schools its maintenance facilities and sheriff's department road patrol division facilities at Elm Road and Panther Avenue, next to Warren G. Harding High School.
Russ Osman, TMHA grants and authority relations coordinator, said the Niles Road facility has 30,000 square feet and 31/2 acres. He said the building, built around 1977, includes 12,000 feet of office space and 14,000 feet in garage and general space.
"It's a good building. We just outgrew it," he said, noting the TMHA moved to its present facilities on Youngstown-Warren Road, across from Pineview Memorial Park, a couple of years ago. He said TMHA still uses the old facilities for storage.
Attending meetings
Tsagaris added that he also hopes more elected officials attend commissioners meetings this year than last year. He would not identify any particular office that has not been attending.
Commissioners also approved the issuance of credit cards for Trumbull County officials. Tsagaris said the policy only pertains to Administrator Tony Carson Jr.
runyan@vindy.com